Residue - Sandustry Wiki
Learn how Residue is produced in Sandustry, why it builds up above Shakers, how Fire processes it, and how it can obstruct production flow.
Overview
Residue is a slushy material and the guaranteed byproduct of processing Wet Sand in a Shaker. It matters because it remains above the machine and moves away slowly, so unmanaged buildup can cover the processing surface and interrupt production flow.
This page reflects the official Wiki and current Early Access gameplay evidence checked on August 17, 2026. It uses the current name Residue, not the Demo-era name Slag.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Material / Byproduct |
| Matter Type | Slushy |
| Official Category | Materials |
| Related Systems | Shaker processing, byproduct routing, Fire processing |
How to Obtain
Place Wet Sand on top of a Shaker. Every processed Wet Sand pixel becomes one Residue pixel, while Gold is an additional output with a 25% chance per processed pixel.
Residue remains above the Shaker rather than passing through it. The machine pushes it slowly toward the side, so the output needs space to leave the processing surface.
How It Works
| Stage | Verified Behavior |
|---|---|
| Input | Wet Sand is placed on top of a Shaker. |
| Production | Every processed Wet Sand pixel becomes one Residue pixel. |
| Separation | Residue stays above the Shaker while Gold passes through and exits below. |
| Processing | When Residue combines with Fire, each pixel has a 25% chance to become Burnt Residue; otherwise it is consumed with no output. |
Fire spreads to other touching Residue during this interaction. The checked sources identify Lava or a Flamethrower as typical ways to apply Fire, but this page does not prescribe one factory design.
Used For
- Burnt Residue production: Fire can convert a Residue pixel into Burnt Residue with a 25% chance.
- Production-chain continuation: Burnt Residue belongs to a later processing stage, but its downstream recipes are outside this page’s verified scope.
- Flow management: Moving Residue away keeps the Shaker’s top surface available for incoming Wet Sand.
No additional Residue use is included without a current source review.
Related Buildings
- Shaker — produces Residue from Wet Sand and leaves it above the machine.
Conveyor Belts, Launchers, and Filters can appear in player routing solutions, but no one component is required by the verified Residue mechanism.
Related Resources
- Wet Sand — the Shaker input that always becomes Residue.
- Gold — the probabilistic output that separates below the same Shaker process.
- Burnt Residue — the possible result when Residue combines with Fire.
Tips and Notes
- Watch the top and side of the Shaker. Current Early Access gameplay repeatedly shows Residue buildup covering the processing area.
- If the surface is covered, reduce or pause Wet Sand input, clear space for Residue to leave, and then observe the line before increasing feed again.
- Conveyor Belts, Launchers, or Filters may help route material, but the checked sources do not define one mandatory clearing arrangement.
- Fire processing is probabilistic. Do not treat one batch result as a fixed Burnt Residue yield.
- Residue handling affects production flow, but the verified facts do not establish a universal machine ratio or disposal method.
FAQ
Where does Residue come from in Sandustry?
Residue is produced when a Shaker processes Wet Sand. Every processed Wet Sand pixel becomes Residue, while Gold is a separate probabilistic output.
Why is Residue blocking my Shaker?
Residue remains above the Shaker and is pushed outward slowly. If it has no open route away, it can cover the same surface incoming Wet Sand needs for processing.
How do you process Residue?
Combine it with Fire, typically from Lava or a Flamethrower. Each Residue pixel has a 25% chance to become Burnt Residue; otherwise it is consumed without output.
Does every Residue pixel become Burnt Residue?
No. The conversion is probabilistic, so a batch does not have a guaranteed Burnt Residue output.
Is there one required way to clear Residue?
No universal method is established by the checked sources. Keep an open route away from the Shaker and choose logistics based on the blockage you can observe.
Related Guides
Update History
Updated: 2026-08-19, Asia/Shanghai — Shaker output, blockage relevance, and Fire-conversion boundary rechecked for release review; visibility remains review-only.