Building a Home Mud Pit - what to use

[Fred588]

So to do a 6 foot deep clay pit, if the sides have to be sloped at 45 degrees to make a self sealing surface, that means I'd need a 13 foot diameter pit, which would give me a funnel shape with 1 foot wide flat spot in the middle (the deep spot).
Doing math on that volume I'd only need about 265 cubic feet of hydrated clay, at Freds prices that's about $900. Equipment rental to dig the hole and a liner (optional) would put the cost at around $1200 for a pit I could sink all the way under in. Expensive but not out of the question.......

I would suggest adding a cover that is impermeable to water, such as a vinyl/nylon tarp. Even if there are no trees overhead or nearby to add twigs to your mix, putting a cover on when not in use, especially at night, will prevent a good deal of evaporation and thereby keep the mud warmer near the surface.

If you want to extend the season in the fall and start early in the spring, bring a GFI, 20 Amp , 110 circuit out to the pit and set up a small water heater, recirculating pump, and enough hose to go two or three times around at varying depths. I use high quality, rubber, garden hose for this. Way back when my Studio was getting started a member here constructed and donated several heating coils made. This should have worked much more efficiently than the rubber hose but unfortunately proved too delicate and rapidly sprang leaks.

[Mynock]

Dumb question, you've never had issues with animals falling in have you? There's a lot of deer around here.

[Fred588]

Dumb question, you've never had issues with animals falling in have you? There's a lot of deer around here.

The deer DO come to drink when there is water on the surface. I have found footprints. But deer are four-fotted animals and easily back out. At the main peat pit I was rather prplexed for a while to find usually quite straight "roads" about five to six inches from side to side and plowed from one side of the pit to the other. Eventually we discovered that was caused by turtles. I have also seen an occasional small frog in each of the pits. Sometimes model will ask about snakes. Snakes might be seen on the Studio property, including copperheads and rattlers but there are no water-type snakes anywhere near here and none of the snakes we do have here would ever intentionally approach a human.

[qsemergency]

Any suggestions on best bang for your buck with the liner?
What size should I get and where to buy?
Anticipate a 4ft deep X 4ft wide X 4ft long. Figure the long length will not be perfect and the machine will leave a slope so maybe 6 or 8 ft long total (but gradual drop).

THanks

[Fred588]

Don't try to save money on the liner. Get something heavy that will last. A few extra dollars for a better liner is a lot better than digging everything out to replace one that leaks.

Any suggestions on best bang for your buck with the liner?
What size should I get and where to buy?
Anticipate a 4ft deep X 4ft wide X 4ft long. Figure the long length will not be perfect and the machine will leave a slope so maybe 6 or 8 ft long total (but gradual drop).

THanks

[qsemergency]

Well, what do you know. I might be in luck:
https://www.wyoben.com/find-a-dealer/

Thought this would be a home run for me being that one of the locations is only an hour away and I pass by there 2 times a month.
But just FYI - all the dealers listed do not sell the pond type bentonite.
Trying to find it on the internet to be delivered - but no luck so far.

There is supposedly a bentonite based product call "Oil-Dri" which they will deliver 50lb bags for less than $9 a bag.
Has anyone used this?
Trying not to break the bank.
Also if someone wants to verify my math: a 4ft X 4ft X 4ft hole - I estimate 20 bags (50lb size) would be enough?

Thanks for any assistance you can give.

[Fred588]

The hole size describe computes to 64 cubic feet of mud. While it depeds on how thick or thin you want it I expect 20 bags is a significant underestimate.

The dealers think they do not offer "pond type" because they are assuming the intent to line a pond. Ponds are usually of a size where one will need a truck load. However, the bentonite used as drilling mud for oil wells is pretty much the same thing EXCEPT it might contain some additives. Look for 50 pound bags of bentonite offered to ranchers for use as a binder for cattle feed. Its pretty much the same thing. Nine dollars for a 50 pound bag is about 10 percent cheaper than what I pay. It also comes in 100 pound bags.

Well, what do you know. I might be in luck:
https://www.wyoben.com/find-a-dealer/

Thought this would be a home run for me being that one of the locations is only an hour away and I pass by there 2 times a month.
But just FYI - all the dealers listed do not sell the pond type bentonite.
Trying to find it on the internet to be delivered - but no luck so far.

There is supposedly a bentonite based product call "Oil-Dri" which they will deliver 50lb bags for less than $9 a bag.
Has anyone used this?
Trying not to break the bank.
Also if someone wants to verify my math: a 4ft X 4ft X 4ft hole - I estimate 20 bags (50lb size) would be enough?

Thanks for any assistance you can give.

[qsemergency]

The hole size describe computes to 64 cubic feet of mud. While it depeds on how thick or thin you want it I expect 20 bags is a significant underestimate.

How many 50lb bags would you recommend (thicker is better )

[Fred588]

The hole size describe computes to 64 cubic feet of mud. While it depeds on how thick or thin you want it I expect 20 bags is a significant underestimate.

How many 50lb bags would you recommend (thicker is better )

Thick, or thicker, is also a relative term so a recommendation is not really meaningful. As an expectation I would think that you probably want more like 40 to 50 bags. Rather than making an immediate investment in some specific number of bags, however, I would suggest some experimentation. Get a containerr than can handle the weight and that will hold several cubic feet. Something like a 32 gallon plastic trash container. Make sure it does not have holes. There are roughly 8 gallons in a cubic foot so a 32 gallon container is 4 cubic feet. Now buy one or two bags of clay. Mix it a little at a time - maybe a half bag at a time. Add water or clay repeatedly to make a reasonable quantity, say three quarters full, and adjusting the mix until the thickness is the way you want it. Make sure to give it several days each time you add clay for the clay to become fully wet. It will take some stirring, which could be a good excuse to cimb into the barrel. Once you have the thickness you want you should have a pretty good idea of how much clay you need for the larger pit.

[Fred588]

Let me add one more suggestion. Do NOT try to get it thick by skimping on the water. Instead, mix it a little thinner than you want it and then let is thicken by drying some. You can always add more clay.