Quicksand with cork and water

[DarthMau]

Hi! This post is a query for Dave, Fred and Jim Weathers. You who have worked with cork and water to create quicksand. It's possible to use the cork in the same way that the sand is used to create quicksand, providing water from bottom in a container completely filled with cork? Thank you for your attention.

[dlodoski]

Hmm. Just imagining that is quite a feat. I think the pit would pretty much erupt.

But really, I think you have to take a step back on this and ask whether a pit with dry cork on top is desirable over a pit with nothing by wet cork.

In my opinion, it's best to have dry cork showing. So, I wouldn't try it.

[DarthMau]

Thanks Dave. I appreciate your comment.

[Fred588]

Yes, I believe it would work if I understand correctly what you suggest, although it would be very expensive.

I am not quite sure if you mean running water at the bottom or just water. I don't think running water would accomplish much of anything. Let's consider the physics involved, which is, i believe, simpler than that involved with sand:

Cork is a buoyant material. I am not sure what its specific gravity is, and it would probably change some overtime as the cork becomes waterlogged. Let's assume that when fresh its specific gravity is 0.7. If this is a correct figure then any thickness of layer of cork will float with 70 percent of its volume below the surface and 30 percent above. If a pit is 5 feet deep and you filled it with, say 3 feet of cork, then 30 percent of the three feet, approximately 11 inches would be above the water surface and approximately 25 inches would be below the surface.

One issue one would have to be very careful about is that a person would NOT float above the surface of the cork. Therefore, if the pit was made deeper than the person was tall, that person would have to jump to breathe. They might not be able to do this adequately and could easily end up inhaling some of the cork. This could be quite bad.

The original cork pit at Studio 588 was designed on the above principle, although the total depth of the cork was more like 20 inches; not 36. It looked fantastic but, unfortunately, a good deal of the cork became waterlogged after the first season, so the second season it was a thinner layer.

[DarthMau]

Thanks Fred. I appreciate your contribution, I want to create a pit of quicksand, identical to the scene of the Brazilian soap opera "Beleza Pura", where the sand look more solid and not water. Thank you again.

[Fred588]

Thanks Fred. I appreciate your contribution, I want to create a pit of quicksand, identical to the scene of the Brazilian soap opera "Beleza Pura", where the sand look more solid and not water. Thank you again.

I should have mentioned one more point. A good deal depends on whether a pit is to be used once or for a relatively short period, or if it is to be used for a whole season or longer. For a one-shot pit you have a lot more options. Dry peat moss, vermiculite, peanut shells, and a whole host of other things are possible. I once had a pit (for a few weeks) that used a paper product treated so as to be water repellent and thereby to stay buoyant. The paper stayed buoyant but fairly quickly developed an unpleasant odor. The peanut shells, vermiculite, or peat moss will quickly become wet and sink unless supported from below. I expect the same would apply to sawdust. [Dry materials can be a dust-breathing problem, of course]

[DarthMau]

Thanks Fred. The pit that I intend to do it for a week. I have not found vermiculite in my region, but I will consider others materials not so light to prevent breathing troubles.

[DarthMau]

I take this opportunity to apologize to Mike for Damsels in Distress Visual Productions, I forgot to mention him in this post, he has also worked with the cork and I'd like his experience. Thanks.

[wysvp]

I take this opportunity to apologize to Mike for Damsels in Distress Visual Productions, I forgot to mention him in this post, he has also worked with the cork and I'd like his experience. Thanks.

I built an indoor set with cork - worked perfectly at first (e.g. "Lost Dog" and "No Escape" ). The models, for the most part, did not mind it either, although Ludella has told me it was her least favorite "sinking set." Cleanup is much easier than an indoor clay or mud set.

Of all the things I've used, the cork makes the best photos, as, I think, most folks would agree. It really does look like sand in the images.

The odor is a real issue - started about 1 week after I loaded all the cork in. My guess it was tannin leaking out of the cork, causing the set to smell. If I had to do it all over, I'd remove the cork after each use, then let it dry, and reuse it as needed.

Let me know if you have any specific questions. Sorry for the delay in replying.

Mike