One blaze rod can smelt twelve items, burning for 120 seconds. One coal/charcoal can smelt eight items, burning for 80 seconds. Blaze rods are the best non-lava bucket source of smelting fuel in the game.

You'll need to hunt down a blaze, hope it drops a rod, and then crush that rod into powder on a crafting table if you want to acquire some. Once you've got some, there are several things you can craft with it.

Stripes. Stripes is an impetuous tiger truck who's always ready for action. With a signature growl, he leaps and pounces like a cat, and he's great at jumping and climbing. He has tiger claws that help him to climb trees (or just about anything), as well as super senses, especially his sense of smell.