I have a smith 86.8 smithing what should I do for gains at what skill? Any decent guides or help on this? I haven't found any good info on this....Thanks

Good question. We are still writing guides, and you just HAPPEN to ask about the one we have not gotten to yet. Posting a mini-guide up to 120, maximized for minimal resource use.
*don't forget to smelt as you go*

daggers
Ingotns needed 3
stop at 44

Short Spears
Ingots needed 6
Stop at 83

Plate Gorgets
Ingots needed 10
Stop at 100

Plate Helms
Ingots needed 15
stop at 1038

Plate Arms
Ingots needed 18
Stop at 1182

Plate Tunics
Ingots needed 25
Stop at 1187

Order or Chaos Shields
Ingots needed 25
Stop at 1200

That's awesome thanks

Over on Stratics, in the blacksmith forum, in their FAQ, are a couple of different approaches people have taken.

I know the one posted by UsedToBeRandom still works, and the numbers are still 99% spot on. That was my log on my first GM Smith (I used to be UsedToBeRandom on Stratics - quit for a while, and my account over there disappeared as well). I re-did it again on Guido, and was within 500 ingots of the total count.

I am finally scrolled to 120, but haven't finished yet. I have read, from multiple places, that Circlets and Royal Circlets can take you all the way to 120, for the fewest ingots used. I can not personally verify if this is true or not.

Guido

I have updated the original matrix used to generate all the post-pub 21 charts. I will be constructing a guide this week (ish) utilizing it. It now includes UOML items, which nothing on stratics has,and saves TONS of ingots. Go check the skill forum, under CRAFTER (or click this link: Effects of using a 120 smithy scroll )