How To: Create an Automatic Obsidian Generator in Minecraft

Create an Automatic Obsidian Generator in Minecraft

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Mining obsidian is not only time consuming, but dangerous. Looking for caves with obsidian and risking death by creeper, zombie, or lava just isn't worth it sometimes. Luckily, obsidian can be farmed, just like cobblestone! You'll no longer need to put your life on the line for this most-indestructible of building materials. 

Step 1 Create a Controlled Water Flow

(1) Since obsidian can only be made by lava contacting flowing water, you'll need to make a contained flow. Dig a hole three blocks wide and surround it with non-flammable blocks. (2) Place water so that it flows into the hole and nowhere else. (3) Place blocks on the opposite side of the water flow so that they enclose a three block wide trench just touching the flowing water.

Step 2 Place Pistons to Control Lava Flow

(1) On the opposite side of the water trench, place three pistons facing inwards. , (2) Place redstone repeaters behind them and connect them in a redstone chain. , (3) Run that redstone chain to a block with a stone button on the other side. (4) Place a fourth piston at the end of the trench facing in. Activate it by placing a redstone torch behind it. This piston must be positioned so that when it is extended, there is a block of extra space in front of it. (5) Run redstone from the torch behind the piston you just placed to the front of the machine. (6) Connect this redstone wiring to a lever.

Step 3 Place Lava

(1) Enclose an empty space above the piston at the end of the trench so that lava will fit safely on top of the piston. (2) Place lava in the hole. (3) Fill the trench with redstone as seen above.

Step 4 Generate Obsidian 

(1) To activate the machine, first press the lever so that the piston deactivates and lava flows out. , (2) As the lava flows, it will remain above the redstone. (3) In an instant it will create an obsidian block below itself. , (4) This flow will continue until it reaches the third block in your trench, keeping you safe. (5) This next step is very important. When the lava flow has stopped FIRST press the lever so as to stop the lava from continuing to flow. If you do not deactivate the lever, lava will begin to flow after you have removed your obsidian. , (6) After you have hit the lever, press the stone button and the pistons will clear the obsidian of lava. Mine your obsidian, remembering to place redstone in the trench again. You can now repeat this process over and over again creating as much obsidian as you please!

You'll be doing no more spelunking with spiders and undead monsters now that your automatic obsidian generator is complete.

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13 Comments

I've played minecraft since the alpha days, and never had I heard or seen this before! This is amazing!
no more wasting lava!

Glad you liked it, it's seriously efficient.

would have never tought of it great job

Hi I see you couldn't make an automatic mob killer.
I already made one!
But I don't know how to share it can you tell it?

Hey Lukacs!

You can go to https://minecraft.wonderhowto.com/corkboard/ and post your tutorial there! Just pick which post it will be submitted as (video, image form, a link, or a post) and fill in everything there.

Thanks for wanting to share your version of the automatic mob farm!

Can't wait to see it!

Thanks for helping it will come in 3 days.

we'd love to see what you've got!

I can't figure out how to make this work I keep doing just like the pictures but as soon as I activate it it breaks the red stone and turns into cobblestone. Help. Playing on the most updated version of Xbox one. Thanks.

I made it and followed the instructions but each time it makes cobblestone. Is it because I'm playing on the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft or did I mess up?

This didn't work...
Minecraft 1.12.2, Java Edition

Hello, well, The Tutorial is about 6 years old and probably alot changed in those years, zo that's most likely The reading why IT doesn't workshop. :(

Same problem. I tried building it in Creative and Survival, and never worked!

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