By Wanda Vivequin on May 9, 2014; illustrations by Katy Dockrill
Phil Haug, '81 BSc(CivEng), knows a thing or two about sand. He is business manager at Edmonton-based Sand Recycling, so we asked him for advice on how to build the best sandcastle on the beach. Like the recipe for a mud pie, the ingredients for an amazing sandcastle are short and sweet, says Haug: sand, water, a few tools for digging and carving, and a bucket, preferably with the bottom cut out.
The most important thing to remember is that sand needs to be wet to be worked, says Haug. Use lots of water and let it drain through the sand before beginning your masterpiece. In fact, the rule of thumb for the best sandcastle mixture is one part sand to one part water. Pound on the sand to pack it down and create the "bridges" that hold the particles together.
A great trick used by sand artists is to take the bottom out of buckets. This prevents suction, making the bucket easier to remove from the moulded sand.
If you're really serious about creating a high-end sandcastle, don't forget three other important tools: a big spade, your creativity and a healthy measure of the Buddhist principle of impermanence.
