Red Dragon’s newest barrel technology recently landed with us for testing, and it marks something of a departure from the norm. Furnace is are the first darts built on TCT (Tungsten Core Technology), a multi-layer construction that pairs a 90% tungsten core with a steel outer shell.
With various factors likely to affect the availability and cost of tungsten in the future these innovative products are of great interest. The guys over in the AIM180 Bunker have had time to get some throwing done ahead of launch, and here’s how it stacked up.
- Product: Darts (Steel Tip)
- Technology: TCT – Tungsten Core Technology
- Construction: 90% tungsten core, premium steel outer shell
- Weights: 22g/24g
- Points: Standard stock black
- Shafts: Black TRX
- Flights: Standard, flame-effect design
- RRP: £29.99 from Red Dragon Darts
First impressions:
Out of the box, Furnace doesn’t try to hide what it is. The packaging leans hard into the TCT branding, and the barrel itself has a distinct two-tone look.
With the red and orange rings sitting on that slimmer, tungsten-core profile, it’s a barrel that photographs well and certainly looks the part on the oche.
In the box: The distinctive but simple Red Dragon packaging opens to reveal; 3x barrels, 3x standard flights, 3x TRX Shafts and a 1-month Autodarts Plus membership voucher*.
A Closer Look:
The multi-layer construction is more than just cosmetic, as the grooves seem to guide the hand toward a specific grip zone, and it’s something our testers picked up on immediately, with the design giving a clear steer on where to place your fingers before you’ve thrown. The feel is a genuine surprise and becomes very throwable, very quickly.
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What is TCT?
TCT is Red Dragon’s way of splitting the barrel’s job into two parts. A 90% tungsten core does the heavy lifting on weight distribution and structure, concentrated through the centre of the barrel for balanced flight.
Wrapped around that is a steel outer shell, machined purely for grip and feedback, not for weight. It’s a genuinely different approach to barrel-building from Red Dragon, and worth understanding on its own terms rather than as a straight substitute for anything else in their already vast range.
How They Feel to Throw:
This is where Furnace splits opinion a little, in a good way. More than one of our testers flagged the feel as unusual to begin with, but grew into something they liked.
The grip is more aggressive than the barrel first suggests, and one of our testers summed it up well: “I liked these, they’re reliable in the hand with a more aggressive grip than it first seems.”
Players who release early or aren’t out-and-out rear-grippers seem to get the most out of the barrel’s shaping, with the steel outer and grip giving a repeatable, controlled release once you’ve found your spot on it.
Our Testers Said:
The finish and design are a clear strength. Sharp to look at, and the coloured ‘grip zones’ are genuinely useful rather than purely decorative. The value case is strong too, and one tester at AIM180 put it simply: “At that price, these days, that’s gotta be worth a go.”
The grip pattern won’t suit every throwing style straight away, and players used to a more traditional barrel may need a session or two to adjust before it clicks, and with that time, click it will.
Verdict:
Furnace is a confident first outing for Red Dragon’s TCT construction. Distinctive to look at, thoughtfully designed around grip, and priced to make it an easy recommendation for players looking to try something a bit different.
*The Autodarts membership sells at circa £5.99 and thus reducing the net cost of Furnace to £24!
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Tested by Darts World, with thanks to AIM180 and their testers for additional feedback.
Images: AIM180 and Red Dragon Darts
