How to Make Smooth Stone in Minecraft Bedrock: A Comprehensive Guide and the Curious Case of the Floating Cactus

Minecraft Bedrock Edition offers a plethora of crafting possibilities, and one of the most sought-after items is smooth stone. Smooth stone is not only aesthetically pleasing but also serves as a versatile building material. In this article, we will delve into the step-by-step process of creating smooth stone, explore its various uses, and touch upon some intriguing, albeit unrelated, Minecraft phenomena—like the floating cactus.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Smooth Stone

1. Gathering Raw Materials

Cobblestone: The journey to smooth stone begins with cobblestone. Cobblestone is abundant and can be mined using a pickaxe from stone blocks found almost anywhere in the Minecraft world.
Fuel: You will need a fuel source to smelt cobblestone into stone. Common fuels include coal, charcoal, and wood.

2. Smelting Cobblestone into Stone

Furnace Setup: Place your furnace on the ground and right-click to open the interface.
Adding Fuel: Place your chosen fuel in the bottom slot of the furnace.
Smelting Process: Place the cobblestone in the top slot. The furnace will begin smelting, converting cobblestone into regular stone.

3. Smelting Stone into Smooth Stone

Second Smelting: Once you have regular stone, place it back into the furnace with additional fuel.
Final Product: After the second smelting process, the regular stone will transform into smooth stone.

4. Alternative Methods

Stonecutter: In Bedrock Edition, you can also use a stonecutter to convert regular stone into smooth stone slabs, which can then be crafted back into smooth stone blocks.
Villager Trading: Some villagers, particularly stone mason villagers, may offer smooth stone in exchange for emeralds.

Uses of Smooth Stone

1. Building and Aesthetics

Modern Structures: Smooth stone is a popular choice for modern and minimalist builds due to its clean and polished appearance.
Pathways and Floors: Its uniform texture makes it ideal for creating pathways, floors, and other flat surfaces.

2. Crafting

Smooth Stone Slabs: Smooth stone can be crafted into slabs, which are useful for creating stairs, roofs, and other architectural elements.
Blast Furnace: Smooth stone is a key ingredient in crafting a blast furnace, which is used for smelting ores and metals more efficiently.

3. Redstone Contraptions

Piston-Friendly: Smooth stone is a non-sticky block, making it suitable for use in various Redstone contraptions where block movement is required.

The Curious Case of the Floating Cactus

While smooth stone is a staple in any Minecraft builder’s inventory, the game is also filled with oddities that defy logic. One such phenomenon is the floating cactus. Unlike smooth stone, which follows the rules of gravity and physics within the game, cacti can sometimes be found floating in mid-air, especially in desert biomes.

Why Does This Happen?

World Generation: Floating cacti are often a result of world generation quirks. When the game generates a desert biome, it may place cacti on sand blocks. If the sand is later removed or falls, the cactus remains suspended.
Player Interaction: Players can also create floating cacti by placing them on sand and then removing the sand block beneath them.

Implications for Gameplay

Aesthetic Quirk: Floating cacti can add an element of surrealism to your builds, making them stand out in an otherwise logical world.
Redstone Potential: While not directly related to smooth stone, floating cacti can be used in Redstone contraptions to create unique triggers or barriers.

Conclusion

Crafting smooth stone in Minecraft Bedrock Edition is a straightforward process that involves smelting cobblestone twice. Its versatility in building and crafting makes it an invaluable resource for any player. Meanwhile, the floating cactus serves as a reminder of the game’s whimsical and sometimes illogical nature, adding a layer of charm to the Minecraft experience.

Q: Can smooth stone be used for anything other than building? A: Yes, smooth stone is also used in crafting blast furnaces and smooth stone slabs, which have various applications in building and Redstone contraptions.

Q: How do I get smooth stone quickly? A: The fastest way to obtain smooth stone is by smelting cobblestone in a furnace twice. Using a blast furnace can speed up the process.

Q: Can smooth stone be found naturally in the world? A: No, smooth stone cannot be found naturally. It must be crafted by smelting regular stone, which is obtained by smelting cobblestone.

Q: What is the best fuel for smelting smooth stone? A: Coal and charcoal are the most efficient fuels for smelting smooth stone, but any burnable item can be used in a pinch.

Q: Why do cacti float in Minecraft? A: Floating cacti are usually a result of world generation quirks or player actions, such as removing the sand block beneath a cactus.

Q: Can floating cacti be used in Redstone contraptions? A: Yes, floating cacti can be used creatively in Redstone contraptions, though they are not as commonly used as smooth stone.