STEP 1: Acquire IBC Tote - SUCCESS!

STEP 2: Remove top and turn into lid.

STEP 3: Fill with clay!! I already have 200lbs of bentonite to get me started. Another 5-7 bags should get me there.

I'm turning a 275-gallon IBC Tote into my own little backyard claypit! The sturdy metal cage will help it withstand the pressures of being filled with dense mud. Figuring out heating will be a challenge, but fortunately this is FL. A cool mudpit will be a refreshing reprieve from the sweltering Florida summer

That's a new and interesting approach.

Indeed, watching to see what happens.....

STEP 2: Remove top and turn into lid - SUCCESS!

STEP 3: Fill with clay!! Now, before I get carried away and start dumping in buckets of clay, I've got to give the interior a quick wash. Next I'm going to insert some pond liner for extra security (in case the plastic has worn any weak spots in its previous use). I've decided not to bother with a heating element. In 90-100+ degree weather I wouldn't want my clay pit heated anyway; and if it's 60s or below I have plenty else to keep me entertained indoors. As a backup, I might mix up a big pool of slime in the garage!

If you ever do decide you want heat being in Florida I would think a pool solar cover might help.

When it's done being put together I'd love to come take a dip! In Tampa/St Pete here.

700lbs of bentonite clay: CHECK! (4 more bags not shown)

This extra high yield stuff is much finer than what I've seen before. It's a very fine powder - meaning mask & eye protection while mixing is a must! I have a feeling a little is gonna go a long way. I scooped out just 3 cups of dry powder and that soaked up nearly 2 gallons of water super fast. We'll see how much more it settles overnight.

Just another thought... my one complaint with bentonite is that it's not as tactile as some other clays. Bentonite swells up to be wonderfully smooth and gel-like, but it doesn't have elasticity or stickiness - it doesn't grab on to you. For some, that would be a positive, but I like thick, sticky, stretchy stuff! I've ordered a sample of sodium polyacrylamide (PAM in the industry), which is commonly used in agriculture. It can also be found as Slime Baff. Now here's some seriously sticky and stretchy slime!

I plan to experiment with combining PAM and bentonite. They may end up being immiscible, but wouldn't that be stellar if they mixed together to create something with the consistency like heavy, sticky, stretchy dough?!? Just imagine sinking into a soft, smooth, squishy ball of thick sticky dough that completely engulfs you and never lets you go!

With weather so warm you'll relish the coolness of the mud.... can't wait to see this pit in action!!

Combining materials will be a bit of an experiment and fun at the same time!!... the clay I've used in my pit sticks like shit to blanket

It works!!! ...well, sorta

Here's a nice long test of combining extra high yield bentonite clay with sodium polyacrylamide (PAM). This is the "EXXXTREME!!!" 50/50 mix. Just imagining sinking into over 250 gallons of this stuff gives me shivers of anticipation - and thoughts of the cleanup give me shivers of another sort

The PAM comes in 55lb bags, but it's expensive! So when I scale things up, it'll probably be more like a 7:1 ratio of bentonite to PAM. More tests to come!

https://youtu.be/DaF5bwwpqR8

Where did you get the clay from?

Well, it has been a few days since my first test combining equal parts dry powdered bentonite clay with PAM (sodium polyacrylamide). In this PAM Test 2 revisiting that 50/50 mix, the bentonite has hydrated into a fantastic consistency! I know this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me, it's heavenly! What a dream it would be to settle into 250+ gallons of this thick gooey clay slime!

https://youtu.be/rmnMEReeDPs

In my next PAM Test 3, I scale back a 9:1 ratio of bentonite to PAM. In this video, I try two approaches. In the first segment, I combine dry ingredients: 9 tablespoons of bentonite and 1 tablespoon of PAM. While not as viscous as the 50/50 mix, the PAM is still very prominent. The clay may continue to hydrate and even out into a smoother consistency over the next few days.

In the second segment, I combine one cup of fully hydrated bentonite clay with one tablespoon of dry PAM powder. You can see how aggressively the PAM envelops the clay. This will also be revisited in a few days to see if the mixture evens out like the 50/50 mix.

https://youtu.be/jisR9jL538w

While I find the 50/50 EXXXTREME!!! mix to be the most... stimulating, it will be impractical to scale up to the full 275 gallon tote. It's promising that the PAM is still having such an effect in a 9:1 ratio with the clay. A single 55lb bag of PAM should be all I need to mix with my bentonite.

More to come!

Interesting. What are you going to do when family/friends come over and ask why you have a tote on your patio? Haha

Interresting experiment

Wonder what the effect would be on Kaolin Clay instead of Bentonite.

Also wonder how cleanup is going to work? On large scale are you sure it can dilute enough to go in the drain and not clog the city pipes? That would be an expensive and interresting discussion..

I guess I'll just have to throw a tarp over it and say, "Shh, that's an awkward conversation, but don't worry... it's sleeping."


Indeed, cleanup is the rub; the feather in my craw; the fly in my soup; the chive in my cheddar! In order to achieve the thick consistency I want, the clay/slime is highly concentrated. Since both bentonite and PAM are very hydrophilic, it takes a lot more water to dilute in order to be safe for drains. In its thick concentrated form, it is super thick, sticky, stretchy, and slimy (fun!), but once more water is introduced, it becomes like the slippiest lube there is!

For safety, I've been brainstorming about maybe attaching an exit slide leading to a small pool full of salt water (like those plastic circular pools). Salt helps break down the PAM, and it would be a good place for initial washing off. To help that, I'm gonna rig up some sort of PVC frame to hold a standard water hose at shower level... or MacGyver some silicone pan scrapers and hose jet nozzle into a water-pressurized body squeegee. Inside the garage, I may set up a second inflatable pool for an extra soak before a final shower. In the shower, of course, I'll have a shower stool to help position to get to all those hard to reach spots. And a detachable shower attachment with strong spray is a must! I'm also thinking about putting together some sort of filter above the shower drain for extra protection from potential drain-clogging stuff. Maybe just a 2x4 frame containing a couple shower mats (the kinds designed more to prevent slipping... like a rubber mat with lots of holes) - and sandwiched between would be some sort of fine fabric or filter material. The frame would be smaller than the whole shower area, so any overflow water would just flow harmlessly down the drain.

A 3-stage cleanup process may be overkill, but I've had enough experience with clay and slime that I'm not gonna take any chances!

OK, 55lbs of sodium polyacrylamide (PAM), 700lbs of bentonite clay... LETS DO THIS!!!

Your in for a goooooooood time my friend. I had a mud pool a few summers back... It's hard to resist not jumping in all the time when you know its on standby... I have a wife who I need to maintain at least the slightest amount of dignity around... But other wise if i woke up in the middle of the night slightly in the mood I would of jumped in. I only got to use it like maybe 15 times through out 2 or so months it was setup. If it were up to me I'd be wanking in there daily IT FELT SOOOOO GOOD TO PLAY IN!

That looks awesome, I might have to build one of these someday, just have to wait for a better place.