Smithing Leveling

I wanted to share with everyone that IMO the best way to level smithing is NOT by killing tons of animals (although you should do this when you come across them). The best way to level smithing is to accumulate a decent amount of money (around 10k) by picking up all of the goodies you find around Skyrim and selling them. Then buy all of the iron ingots, iron ores, leather strips, and leather from the blacksmith and his wife in Whiterun. Make as many iron daggers as you can, then continue to make hide bracers until you run out of materials. Then wait 48 hours and repeat. I went from level 40 smithing to level 100 smithing in about an hour using this strategy. Tell me if it works for you!

That's true. And it's even better if u go with ores and use the smelter to make the ingots and then make the armour or weapon.

U get smithing experience for smelting, forging, and improvement that way.

It is indeed better to use iron ore, because, as you said, it gets you more experience (and it's cheaper!). With regards to the improvement strategy, I must say I never tried that.

Smithing IMO is the best skill in the game because smithed items are FAR superior to those that you find, and they look much better too.