HOLLYWOOD, MD — A summer goal that every beach-goer should have is to create the perfect sandcastle.
The ingredients for this sand dwelling, whether you decide to create a small hut or something that rivals the Red Keep from Game of Thrones, is ‘misleadingly simple,’ according to this article.
Basics needed for the structure include sand, water, digging and carving tools such as shovels.
Sand
The most important thing about creating a sand castle is that nothing can be created without wet sand. When adding water to the grains of sand, the liquid forms ‘bridges’ connecting the granules to one another. This is why damp sand sticks together, so you can shape and carve it.
Packing down or “tamping” wet sand drains more water more quickly, creating even shorter bridges and an even more solid clump. If you can compact sand like this, it has a better chance of holding more extreme carving.
Water
Quite a bit of water is necessary to create your masterpiece. Dry sand in its natural state wants to spread out. Use the water to create those bridges mentioned in the last section to fight gravity for those towers and walls.
Make sure to let the water drain away from your art. If you’ve ever tried to make the base of a sandcastle by filling a plastic bucket with wet sand and then trying to pull the bucket off the sand, the wet material creates a suction and will not let loose of the container.
Instead of relying on containers, get your hands dirty and mound the wet sand in piles and then form it.
Try to dig a water hole for easy access. Dig deep, as though you’re creating a well instead of a moat. When the water starts puddling at the bottom of your hole, you can stop digging.
Try to create a castle concrete mixture of one part sand to one part water. Pour the water in the big bucket first, then shovel in the dry sand for easier blending. Mix thoroughly and you’re ready to scoop.
Pile the sand you excavate for your water hole into a mound about one foot from the edge of the hole. Pack your mound of sand into a round, level base that is two to three feet in diameter. This will serve as the foundation for your castle, giving you some added height and providing drainage for all the water you’re going to use in construction.
Digging and shaping tools
You can, of course, dig, shape, smooth and even carry water with nothing but your own two hands. But having the right equipment will make your sand-castling experience more enjoyable.
You should have on hand a long-handled shovel with a small scoop, two buckets, and carving tools such as a plastic knife, a soft-bristled paint brush, and a drinking straw.
Use your imagination when it comes to the details of your castle. If you make it to the beach without these tools, plastic eating utensils will work in a pinch.
How to plan your castle
While attempting to build, you can use the soft-packing and hand-stacking methods to create the ideal towers, walls and arches.
The soft-packing method involves piling sand on top of itself until you reach the proper altitude with your creation, then shaping it. This method requires a strong base of compacted moist sand.
The Hand-stacking technique requires the following steps: mix, scoop, plop, flatten, and jiggle. This method is easier on your body than the soft-packing method, but requires more attention to the sand as it is not compacted and will require more water to keep the sand from falling apart on itself.
For more information, check out this website.
Contact Jacqui Atkielski at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.
