Sandustry Lava Transport Guide: Move Lava with Cinder
Move lava in Sandustry by freezing it into Scoria, breaking it into Cinder, transporting the solid, and reigniting it safely at your factory.
Sandustry lava cannot be carried on a belt or pumped through a pipe in its liquid state. Freeze it into Scoria, break the Scoria into Cinder, transport that solid Cinder, then ignite it with the Flamethrower where you need lava. This state-change chain is the practical answer to moving lava from a deep cave into your factory.
Where to Find Lava
Lava occurs naturally in the Lava Cave deep underground. It can sit behind cave walls or below ice, so prepare a contained route before opening a glowing chamber. Keep Snow or a Cryoblaster ready because exposed lava begins flowing as soon as its barrier is removed.
| Property | Confirmed behavior |
|---|---|
| Matter type | Liquid |
| Density | 75 |
| Obtained from | Cinder and Fire |
| Cold-processing result | Scoria |
| Direct interactions | Snow and Water |
What You Need Before Moving Lava
Prepare the complete state-change route before opening a lava pocket. The first trip is much easier when the destination chamber already exists.
| Tool or component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Snow or Cryoblaster | Freezes liquid Lava into solid Scoria |
| Weapon or digging tool | Breaks Scoria and releases Cinder |
| Grabber, Conveyor, or Launcher | Moves the solid Cinder |
| Enclosed destination chamber | Prevents restored Lava from escaping |
| Flamethrower | Ignites Cinder and restores Lava reliably |
| Filter and solid support block | Creates a controlled Lava holder or burner surface |
How to Move Lava
- Contain the exposed pool. Close unwanted exits and keep Water away before breaking the final wall into a Lava Cave.
- Freeze the Lava. Apply Snow, including Snow made by the Cryoblaster, until the moving liquid becomes solid Scoria.
- Break the Scoria. Destroy it with a weapon or digging tool to release Cinder.
- Transport the Cinder. Use the Grabber for a first batch, or Conveyors and Launchers for a repeatable solid-material route.
- Fill the destination holder. Drop Cinder into a completed Filter or enclosed chamber before introducing fire.
- Restore the Lava. Hit the Cinder with the Flamethrower’s direct flame and confirm that the new pool remains contained.
This completes the transport loop without ever trying to move raw Lava through ordinary logistics. Test it with a small Cinder batch before connecting a large stockpile.
How to Contain and Store It
A Filter can trap lava while still allowing selected material to pass over it. Set the Filter for Cinder, place a solid block below it, fill it with Cinder, and ignite the contents only after the enclosure is complete. Check corners and leave enough free volume before conversion, because a single opening can let liquid escape into the factory.
Storing most of the supply as Cinder makes it easier to move and replenish than keeping every unit as exposed lava. A dedicated Cinder buffer also prevents heat-dependent lines from stopping when the active pool runs low. For larger factories, separating the transport stockpile from the live lava chamber keeps the conversion step controlled.
Simple Lava Transport Setup
For the first working line, use the Grabber to move one small Cinder batch into a Filter set to allow Cinder, with a solid block directly below it. Ignite the filled Filter only after checking every edge. Once that manual test works, feed the same holder from a Conveyor or Launcher and keep additional Cinder in a separate buffer for refills.
Do not connect Water Pipes to this route. Pumps and Pipes are useful for Water and other supported liquids, but they do not replace the Scoria-and-Cinder process for Lava.
Lava Uses in Production
Lava ignites burnable pixels that pass across a filled Filter, which supports automated Residue and Flower burners. Rising flames can also heat nearby Thermal Buffers and other processing areas. Because heat systems can consume lava, keep Cinder available for regular top-ups.
When Water touches lava, the Water becomes Steam while the amount of lava remains unchanged. This makes a contained lava surface useful in a steam setup, provided the rising gas has a guided route. Lava can also supply heat for melting Copper, either directly nearby or through a charged Thermal Buffer.
Common Setup Failures
Most lava problems come from using the wrong transport state or opening the system before its outputs are contained.
- The lava will not move: Raw lava cannot use Pumps, Pipes, or normal belts. Freeze it, break the Scoria, and move the resulting Cinder.
- The active pool turns solid: Snow reached the chamber and converted the lava to Scoria. Filter Snow away unless that conversion is intentional.
- Steam escapes into the factory: Give Steam a contained upward route before Water touches lava.
- The burner has poor coverage: Use a wider working surface rather than a narrow, deep pool so more material passes over rising flames.
- The line goes cold: Store enough Cinder nearby to replace lava consumed by heat-dependent systems.
Lava Transport FAQ
Can you pump Lava through Pipes in Sandustry?
No. Raw Lava is not transported with the normal Pump and Pipe system. Freeze it into Scoria, break the Scoria into Cinder, and move the Cinder as a solid.
How do you turn Cinder back into Lava?
Place Cinder inside a completed, enclosed holder and hit it with the Flamethrower’s direct flame. Confirm the enclosure before ignition because the result becomes a flowing liquid.
Why did my Lava turn into Scoria?
Snow reached the Lava. Remove or redirect the Snow unless you are intentionally creating Cinder for transport.
What is the safest way to store Lava?
Keep most of the reserve as transportable Cinder and convert only the amount needed in a contained active chamber. This reduces leaks and makes refilling easier.