Can't build iron smelter - can't find an iron axe

[madwoman1]

how do you get an iron axe in order to build an iron smelter - i've looked everywhere

[gregoriskat]

I found iron on island 6 in a cave.

[newhorizongamestudio]

You don't need an iron axe to build the Furnace in order to smelt iron ore. The furnace needs clay and fired bricks that you can obtain through the kiln.

If you want to build an iron axe, you need to smelt iron ore in the furnace, than build a forge and forge your iron bloom to an iron axe head. Than you can craft the axe in your inventory.