Cinder turns an awkward liquid into a routeable solid. It is the documented bridge between a deep Lava source and a factory that needs heat somewhere else.
State
Solid
Density
50
Made from
Scoria
Returns to
Lava
Last Checked: 23 September 2026
Official Update #3 (v0.5.6) + official catalogue specifications
Quick answer
How to Make and Transport Cinder in Sandustry
Cinder is the solid transport form of Lava. You can make it by freezing Lava with Snow or a Cryoblaster into Scoria and excavating it, or by running Lava over a cold Thermal Buffer with negative temperature (Update #3). Cinder moves safely on Conveyor Belts, Grabbers, or Launchers without losing heat. Apply direct Flamethrower fire inside a Basalt basin to melt it back into Lava at the worksite.
Molten Lava cannot be transported through pipes—the official Pipe specification explicitly excludes it. Cinder solves this constraint by converting volatile liquid into an inert solid with density 50.
Once converted, Cinder can be moved safely by Conveyor Belts Mk 1 or Mk 2, Grabbers, or Launchers across any distance without dissipating heat or damaging surroundings.
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Cinder Handling & Transport
Solid Cinder travelling safely along an industrial conveyor belt.Community video demonstrationSolid state logistics bridge between deep lava source and factory floor.Community video · legacy terminology
02
Two Documented Methods to Produce Cinder
Method 1 (Cryogenic Freezing): Spray Snow or Cryoblaster frost onto liquid Lava to freeze it into Scoria blocks, then excavate the Scoria to yield Cinder.
Method 2 (Update #3 Cold Thermal Buffer): As introduced in Update #3 (v0.5.6), when a Thermal Buffer has negative temperature (cold), Lava contacting it adds less heat and converts directly back into Cinder rather than being consumed. This enables automated closed-loop Cinder harvesting.
Cinder Material Specifications & Handling Rules
Property
Official Parameter
Engineering Application
Physical State
Solid (Density 50)
Moves on belts, grabbers, and launchers without leaking.
Flammability
Flammable (Direct Fire)
Relights into Lava only with active Flamethrower fire; passive heat does not ignite.
Wettability
Not Wettable
Does not dissolve or alter state when passing through Water.
Cold Buffer Harvest
Negative Temp Buffer (Update #3)
Cold Thermal Buffer solidifies Lava directly into Cinder.
Basin Containment
Basalt / Foundation Liners
Prevents restored Lava (density 200) from eroding surrounding rock.
03
Worksite Relighting & Containment Protocol
At the target smelter or power station, direct Flamethrower fire instantly converts Cinder back into molten Lava.
Crucial Safety Rule: Because Update #3 increased Lava density to 200 and causes it to actively melt Fluxite, Redsoil, and Strataform terrain, always surround your relighting basin with inert Basalt or Foundations before applying flame.
Questions answered
Solve the next blockage.
How do I make Cinder in Sandustry?+
There are two documented ways to produce Cinder: 1. Cool molten Lava with Snow or a Cryoblaster to form solid Scoria, then dig/mine it into Cinder; 2. Route hot Lava across a cold Thermal Buffer (negative temperature), which directly converts the Lava back into solid Cinder without fully consuming it (Update #3 -- v0.5.6).
Can Cinder be moved with Launchers or Conveyor Belts?+
Yes. Cinder has density 50 and is fully solid, meaning it can be launched across chasms with Launchers or carried across long distances on Conveyor Belts without dissipating heat.
How do I turn Cinder back into Lava?+
Direct flame from a Flamethrower melts solid Cinder back into liquid Lava at the worksite. Ambient heat or passive placement does not relight Cinder—it strictly requires active flame. Always enclose the relighting basin in Basalt or Foundations, as Update #3 Lava destroys Fluxite and Redsoil terrain.
Can I build a renewable Sand Farm without Gold Elevators?+
Yes. A pure Conveyor Belt layout around Stratacore works reliably before Tier 5 tech. Just run an enclosed Basalt trough beneath belts to catch occasional Cinder melting back into Lava.
How do I move Cinder safely?+
Keep Cinder moving on Conveyor Belts Mk 1 or Mk 2 away from external fire sources until it reaches the designated smelting or combustion zone.
Evidence notes
Confirmed first. Tested second.
Source Wiki
Cinder is a solid with density 50; the official page marks it as flammable, not wettable, and Launcher-compatible.
The official Lava route is Lava + Snow to Scoria, then excavation to Cinder.
The official Cinder page specifies direct Flamethrower fire for turning Cinder back into Lava; passive heat is not presented as an equivalent route.
When a Thermal Buffer is cold (negative temperature), Lava adds less heat and converts back to Cinder instead of being fully consumed (Update #3 -- v0.5.6).
Community-tested
Reddit r/SandustryGame: Builders proved that an effective Stratacore Sand Farm can be built without Tier 5 Gold Elevators using pure Conveyor Belts, provided occasional Cinder-to-Lava relapse is captured with Basalt containment gutters.
These are useful player examples, not official specifications.
