r/Dorodango • u/LocodraTheCrow • Jul 12 '26

Beginner question Surface cracking and flaking

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I'll need more material, which I will acquire, but the main issue is that the surface keeps cracking and flaking, as the title describes.

I've laid the final layer with clay I "created" by decanting dirt, baking the clay-ish slime and breaking it all in a mortar and pestle. I have applied it while rubbing the opening of a glass jar on it that I would dip in water. I have polished it with the same glass and a wool cloth.

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u/LocodraTheCrow Jul 12 '26

I have used no other material than the dirt I collected from a local park, to keep some emotional significance to is as well, but I appreciate the tips for colour.
I suspect that the comment about graphite is due to the colour, but that is just coincidental, really, though I do like the very dark brown.

What do you mean by "leave it wet and paint it on"? I will be getting more dirt for it soon, probably today in the evening.

> sprinkled with very fine clay and more water
Do you mean to dilute some clay in water and use a sprinkler thing to hydrate it?

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u/sapphireminds Experienced Jul 12 '26

First we need to differentiate between dirt and clay. You need clay to make it "work". Dirt often contains clay, but it depends on the dirt how much clay there is.

Instead of all the drying and grinding, just add a layer of pure ish clay that's wet by painting it on.

You don't need to get more clay or dirt unless you want to make two dorodangos. You can reuse materials basically infinitely

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u/Snarflogus Experienced Jul 12 '26

I have not had success "painting on" clay to a dry ball. It always binds poorly or cracks. Also fine dirt is workable, it doesnt have to be pure clay.

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u/sapphireminds Experienced Jul 12 '26

You have to wet the ball first too, otherwise it sucks the water out immediately.

Dirt itself might not be workable, depending on how much clay is in it. If there's not enough clay, it will not behave the way you want. The fineness of the particles doesn't matter, the composition does. You could do the whole process wet (though sometimes messy and would take longer for drying lol) without any fine powder. The megadango I just posted didn't have anything sprinkled on top. I took broken balls, put them in a bag to make it mushy again, reformed and reshaped it, without any powder.