Shiny!

[torquill]

I made a dorodango.

It's not mirror-smooth, which may be due to my inexpert technique, the soil (Concord heavy clay makes it tricky to handle and causes things to go rather differently than either set of instructions), or both. It's getting pretty darn shiny despite the little pits and bumps, though, and as it gets more dry it may surprise me.

I plan to make two more, so far: one from Davis near the Student Farm, where they have limestone just under the soil which should make it quite pale, and one from the sandstone hills of Pleasant Hill. I expect that sandier soil will be easier to work with, as it sets harder and the fine particles make a better polish. Clay tends to stay wet longer, deform or scratch easily, and slough off under indelicate treatment.

Greg thinks I'm crazy. That's fine. I like my dorodango. :)

Comments

[doktor-weasel.livejournal.com]

That actually sounds pretty cool. You should post pictures after it's done, some of the ones on the pages you linked to look pretty cool. Its kind of surprising that "standard" dirt can get so shiny and cool looking.

Maybe I'll have to make one of these to add to the "Trophies" (aka random crap I have around) I keep on top of my desk. At the very least it could be a nice companion to the foil ball I've been making since Valentines Day (much cooler than your standard foil ball, it's hard, smooth and dense, plus I found out how to "seal" it once it started getting too big to wrap the foil around it).

[luna-torquill.livejournal.com]

It takes a few attempts to get a really nice one... though I'm curious about how well I'm going to fare with better soil, since I picked up a decent feel for things with this one. I suspect the learning curve is shallower if you're accustomed to paying close attention to details.

If you do start one, try using something that isn't clay. I've had my eye on the dirt up at Lime Ridge, for example... or, as I said, the stuff on the Pleasant Hill ridges. Lightweight and dusty.

I'll post about the next one, comparing methods with what I developed with the clay ball.

[doktor-weasel.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit too lazy to hunt for the best dirt, I figured I'd just go into my back yard.

Although after reading about how it's best to have an even mix of different soil particle sizes, I was very strongly tempted to use the DVC material science lab's test sieves and shaker to make my own soil. Usually they're used to test the distribution of different size particles in a soil, but if I just kept adding soil until I collected enough of each general particle size, I could basically make my own soil mix. It wouldn't have the properties of different minerals, but an ideal particle size mix could be obtained. But still, laziness tends to trump geeky inspiration.

[sojournscoffe.livejournal.com]

you are not crazy I am going to make one too it it pretty what I saw of it

[luna-torquill.livejournal.com]

I ended up re-making it after I showed it to you. It looks even better now.

[firestrike.livejournal.com]

Greg thinks I'm crazy.

You are. Which should come as no surprise to any of us. It doesn't detract from the niftiness of you or your shiny ball of dirt.

[drangnon.livejournal.com]

that is supercool! please post a picture!

[amanda-nye.livejournal.com]

that looks very cool. I've never sen such a thing