- Sandustry Lava: Essential for automating slag disposal and producing Cinder.
- Cryo Blaster: The required tool to freeze lava into Scoria for processing.
- Cinder: A burning sand variant created by freezing and mining lava.
- Automation: Use lava streams to burn slag continuously without manual intervention.
- Safety: Lava in Sandustry does not damage the player, allowing safe exploration.
Understanding Lava Mechanics
Lava is a critical resource in Sandustry for advanced factory automation. Unlike water, which is abundant and used for basic cleaning, lava serves a specialized purpose in high-level processing: automatically burning slag and creating Cinder.
Video Highlights:
- Discovering a natural lava cave deep underground.
- Using the Cryo Blaster to freeze lava into Scoria.
- Setting up automated slag burning systems.
- Managing water overflow and steam generation.
Players can walk directly on lava blocks in Sandustry without taking damage. This allows for easy manual mining and placement of lava infrastructure.
The primary utility of lava lies in its ability to instantly burn Slag, a byproduct of gold processing. While manual burning with a flamethrower is effective, it is tedious. Lava provides a passive solution, but it must first be processed into a usable form for transport.
| Resource | Source | Primary Use | Transport Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lava | Underground Caves | Burning Slag / Making Cinder | Buckets / Piping |
| Scoria | Frozen Lava (Cryo Blaster) | Intermediate Material | Conveyor Belts |
| Cinder | Mined Scoria | Advanced Fuel / Automation | Conveyor Belts |
| Steam | Lava + Water Interaction | Power / Physics | Rises Upwards |
Cryo Blaster & Cinder Production
To utilize lava in your factory, you cannot simply pipe it. You must convert it into a solid state. This requires the Cryo Blaster, a tool unlocked via the research tab.
Unlock the Tool
Access the research tab and unlock the Cryo Blaster. This tool shoots snow projectiles that can freeze lava blocks.
Freeze Lava Pools
Locate a lava cave (often found deep underground near bedrock or behind cracked stone). Shoot the lava with the Cryo Blaster until it turns into Scoria.
Mine Scoria
Use your mining tool or rockets to break the Scoria blocks. When destroyed, they drop Cinder.
Collect Cinder
Cinder acts like sand but burns. Collect it with grabbers or conveyors to move it to your main base.
Cinder is a finite resource based on your lava supply. Once a lava pool is converted to Scoria and mined, it is gone. Plan your Cinder usage carefully.
Cinder is unique because it retains the burning property of lava but behaves physically like sand. This means it can be stacked, filtered, and transported using standard conveyor systems, making it ideal for automated slag disposal lines.
| Tool | Cost | Function | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryo Blaster | Money (Research) | Freezes Lava → Scoria | Research Tab |
| Flamethrower | Money | Burns Slag | Manual Use |
| Rockets | Money | Clears Cracked Stone | Combat/Excavation |
| Vacuum | Money | Moves Items | Utility |
Automating Slag Disposal
The most efficient use of lava is creating an infinite loop for slag burning. This setup uses Cinder to create a permanent "fire strip" that incinerates any slag fed into it.
The Fire Strip Method
- Place a line of Cinder blocks.
- Ignite them with a Flamethrower.
- The Cinder burns indefinitely, creating a lethal zone for Slag.
- Slag turns into Burnt Slag (Gold) upon contact.
Collection & Recycling
- Use Grabbers or Conveyors to feed Slag onto the fire.
- Place collection bins at the end of the fire strip.
- Unburnt items can be recycled back into the input hopper.
Ensure your fire strip is at least 3-4 blocks long to guarantee complete combustion, especially if items are moving quickly on conveyors.
When setting up this system, be mindful of Water. If water touches your burning Cinder or the fire strip, it can extinguish the flames or create unwanted steam. Use Filters and Elevated Conveyors to keep water away from the burning zone.
| Component | Placement | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cinder Line | Main Factory Floor | Burns Slag |
| Tossers | Input Side | Feeds Slag onto Fire |
| Grabbers | Output Side | Collects Burnt Slag |
| Filter Belt | Pre-Fire | Removes Water/Debris |
Factory Layout & Safety
Integrating lava systems into your main factory requires careful planning to prevent chaos. Lava automation often generates significant Steam, which can push items around or cause overflow if not managed.
Steam generated by lava interactions rises rapidly. Build "steam catchers" or open vents in your ceiling to prevent pressure buildup in enclosed rooms.
A common issue is overflow. If your automated system produces items faster than they can be processed, they will spill onto the floor. Use Diagonal Belts and Tossers to direct overflow into a "recycling pit" where items can be re-grabbed and fed back into the system.
Recommended Layout Pattern:
- Input Zone: Slag storage and manual input hoppers.
- Processing Zone: The Cinder fire strip.
- Collection Zone: Burnt slag storage (Gold).
- Recycling Loop: A pit or conveyor loop for missed items.
Lava Factory Checklist:
- Unlock Cryo Blaster from research tab
- Locate and secure a Lava cave source
- Produce at least 50 stacks of Cinder
- Build a dedicated burning room (away from water)
- Install overflow recycling for unburnt slag
- Test system with small batches first
Advanced Optimization
Once your basic lava system is running, you can optimize for speed and resource yield. Advanced players use Filter Belts to separate Cinder from other resources and create specialized processing loops.
Set your Filter Belts to "Allow Only Cinder" when transporting lava products to your burning room. This prevents water or garbage from clogging your fire strip.
For maximum efficiency, consider centralizing your lava processing. Instead of burning slag at the source, transport all Slag to a single massive "Lava Furnace" room. This reduces the need for multiple fire strips and simplifies collection.
| Strategy | Complexity | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Burning | Low | Easy setup | Clutters factory floor |
| Central Furnace | High | Clean, organized | Requires long transport belts |
| Cinder Loop | Medium | Automated | Requires constant Cinder refill |
Q: Does lava hurt the player in Sandustry?
No, lava blocks are completely safe to walk on. You can stand in lava caves without taking damage, which makes mining and setting up lava infrastructure very safe.
Q: How do I get more lava if my cave runs out?
Lava caves are finite in the current version. You must explore new cave systems or restart the world to find fresh lava sources. Conserving Cinder is important.
Q: What is the difference between Scoria and Cinder?
Scoria is the frozen solid block obtained by shooting lava with the Cryo Blaster. Cinder is the item dropped when you mine Scoria. Cinder is used for factory automation.
Q: Can I automate the Cryo Blaster?
Currently, the Cryo Blaster must be used manually. You cannot automate the freezing of lava. You must mine the Cinder yourself and then transport it to your factory.