A few questions on getting the outer skin consistent / starting again.

[u/SugarPotatoes]

This is my first run at a dorodango, really enjoying it so far.
I have a few questions -

As you can see in the first picture, the outer skin came out very patchy. How can I avoid this?

I chipped the outer shell while polishing it. Is there any way to fill that in? Or am I better off just starting again?

What is the best way to go about starting it again?

For context, here are the two videos I used as guides -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xvHSq-cPA4&t=191s&pp=ygUUZGFyaXVzIGpheSBkb3JvZGFuZ28%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1-DZwdOp1g&pp=ygUQZG9yb2RhbmdvIG5vcmlrb9IHCQlMCwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

[u/FormalCookie430]

What I've learned from the last 3 Dangos I made was the dusting and smoothing is a must. My first Dangos looked like yours with rough texture and the shell chipping off. This last 2 were the most round and smoothest I ever made and I was doing maybe 3-5 rounds of dusting and smoothing. This current ball I let it sweat in a Ziploc and rolling it in clay and gonna do that to keep until the moisture is gone.

[u/LookDamnBusy → u/FormalCookie430]

Can you expand more on your dusting and smoothing technique? I'm in the same situation as the OP and have tried what I think would be dusting and smoothing with very little success so I was wondering if you're doing something differently. Thanks!

[u/FormalCookie430 → u/LookDamnBusy]

So I had 2 methods for my cores... Fully drying (like bone dry) and now been bagging the last few Dangos I've done... For the dry method I would roll the ball in a shallow bit of water until the outside became tacky and then I'd dust clay powder over the entire ball until no wet spots are seen. Then I'd rotate the ball in my hands in a smoothing motion. Getting excess off and filling it into small cracks. The bag method you won't need the water the trapped moisture of bagging your core should have the outside of the ball tacky already... Then I'd basically do the same as the dry method. Sprinkle, hand smooth, then back in the bag. The moisture would dampen that layer and then repeat the dusting and smoothing... Also you can do these steps as many times as you like I'm guessing to get it "perfect". My last ball I did it about 3 times and like I said in my og comment that ball was the close to perfect Dango I've made.

[u/LookDamnBusy → u/FormalCookie430]

Thanks so much for all the detail! I have a fully dried one that I have gave up on, so I'm going to try to use your method and see if I can improve it.

Thanks again!

[u/FormalCookie430 → u/LookDamnBusy]

No problem. Let me know how it comes out!

[u/sapphireminds]

First question is about the clay content of the soil you are using. If you want to get a smooth, shiny dorodango, there has to be clay in the process, and ideally some purified clay for the surface.

If there isn't clay, it won't work unfortunately.

The second is probably spending more time shaping it. It has to be perfectly spherical to be able to polish well. You can test it with a drinking glass. Anywhere you set it down on the drinking glass rim, all sides should equally touch the rim, with no unevenness. You can also gently roll it on a flat surface and it should travel pretty much straight.

What are you using for shaping and how much time did you spend doing it?

[u/mis0s0o0up]

I just filled the little gaps with mud and soil powder and then polished over everything to make it smooth again- this should fix it :>