How to Move Lava in Sandustry
Move Lava safely by converting it into Scoria and Cinder, transporting the solid, then recreating Lava with a Flamethrower.
You cannot move raw Lava through a Pump, Pipe, Liquid Vent, Conveyor Belt, or Launcher. The reliable method is to solidify it, mine the solid, transport the resulting Cinder, and ignite the Cinder at the destination.
Why Pumps and Pipes Do Not Work
The normal fluid network excludes Lava. A Conveyor Belt moves solids, while raw Lava is not a solid. A Launcher cannot fire raw Lava either. If a layout starts with “pump the Lava,” it is using an unsupported assumption.
The Complete Lava Transport Chain
Use this order without skipping the middle step:
Lava + Snow/Cryoblaster → Scoria → break Scoria → Cinder → transport → Flamethrower → Lava
Snow is consumed when it touches Lava and converts that Lava into Scoria. A Cryoblaster can also solidify Lava directly. Current sources do not confirm Ice as an interchangeable replacement for Snow in this reaction.
Scoria itself cannot be fired by a Launcher. Break or mine it first to produce Cinder.
Transporting Cinder
Once you have Cinder, move it with a Grabber, Conveyor Belt, or Launcher. This is the stage where conventional logistics work.
At the destination, contain the Cinder before restoring it. Leave no unwanted opening below the conversion chamber.
Recreating Lava
Ignite Cinder with direct Flamethrower fire to turn it back into Lava. Do not assume that any passive heat source will work; current evidence specifically supports the Flamethrower’s direct flame.
Trapping Lava in a Filter
The official Lava page describes a compact holding method:
- Configure a basic Filter to allow Cinder.
- Seal the space below with a Solid Block.
- Fill the Filter with Cinder.
- Ignite it with a Flamethrower.
The Cinder changes into trapped Lava inside the Filter. Material such as Residue passing above can then contact the heat and burn. This layout uses the basic Filter; an Advanced Filter is not required by the documented method.
Water, Snow, and Steam Are Different Reactions
Water touching Lava becomes Steam, and current information says the Lava amount does not decrease. Snow touching Lava instead creates Scoria. Do not describe these as the same cooling reaction.
Use the current names Residue and Burnt Residue. Slag and Burnt Slag are Demo-era terms.
Sources: Lava, Scoria, and Cinder on the Sandustry Official Wiki.