You use up to 60 protean bars at once in the Make-X interface. Although the in-game timer shows a rate of 7 ticks (4.2 seconds), each one actually takes 8 ticks (4.8 seconds) to be smithed. At 750 bars per hour the experience is greater than other methods. The bars are stackable, subverting the need for banking. Additionally, it is completely free provided you have the protean bars, and requires almost no input – 60 bars take about five minutes to make. If you use a Portable forge while smithing the bar, the forge will occasionally save you one protean bar. If you attempt to boost your level from one range to the next (e.g., 14 to 15) you do not get the option to make the higher level protean smithing item.