Quicksand Fans

Is it possible to cover the surface of a thick mass like clay or cornstarch with sand or granulated cork without these sink into the mass? Thank you!

DarthMau wrote:Is it possible to cover the surface of a thick mass like clay or cornstarch with sand or granulated cork without these sink into the mass? Thank you!

I tried that a long time ago using Styrofoam peanuts. I figured they would float back up to the surface fairly promptly and restore the granular appearance of the surface. It didn't work. I would expect that granulated cork would work even less well as it is less buoyant and the smaller particle size would increase the effects of friction as they tried to rise. I have not actually experimented with that, however.

You could certainly create a granular-looking surface this way for a one-time use.

The problem I see is when the grain is mixed with the mass below the surface, during use all the grain will be buried affecting mass itself and it would continually invest in buying more grain, not to mention that the pit should will need more treatment.

In the recent video of Dave with Candle, I have noticed that under the surface of his "Hollywood Quicksand Pit" there is a thick mass, is not the water that once used to have, I do not know if this is the mixture of sand with water or cornstarch, but now this looks like a real quicksand trap.

Thanks Fred.

Doomsand wrote:I've tried this with spreading large amounts of dry sand over a natural mud area. Worked very well. But the mud/clay needs to be fairly thick, and as Fred said, it's a "one time" use only thing really.

Even more difficult in natural locations, I think I would lose more than 40% of the synthetic grain, I will try with small buckets with cornstarch and granulated cork. I think it could liquefy to clean the mass of the grain, the problem is to take it to a larger scale of a bucket.

Thanks Doomsand!

I cannot comment on whatever the "thick mass" referred to might or might not be, as I have been there or seen it. A number of years ago when there was a cork pit at Studio 588 the pit contained quite a few very large chunks of sponge rubber. If these were shaped correctly and most of the air squeezed out of them they floated right at the surface of the water. This helped to lift the cork and also served to enhance the illusion of thickness.

DarthMau wrote:Is it possible to cover the surface of a thick mass like clay or cornstarch with sand or granulated cork without these sink into the mass? Thank you!

The answer to this is yes.

Private Message or email me and I will explain.

Dave

dlodoski wrote:

DarthMau wrote:Is it possible to cover the surface of a thick mass like clay or cornstarch with sand or granulated cork without these sink into the mass? Thank you!

The answer to this is yes.

Private Message or email me and I will explain.

Dave

Hi Dave!... I sent an e-mail this morning. Thanks!