Black quartz sand: the material, how it feels, how to care for it

Black quartz sand is the one material behind every Blacksand piece. Fine grains of quartz sand are 3D printed by binder jetting into the shape of the piece, then resin soaks in and hardens it. The surface is left natural: no paint, no lacquer, no coating. What you see and touch is the material itself.

What it looks like

• Matt and light-absorbing. The black reads deep and soft rather than shiny. Light falls into the surface instead of bouncing off it.
• Grain you can see. Up close there is a fine grain, small pores and slight shifts in tone and sheen. No two pieces are identical, and that is the character of the material.
• Smooth curves. The sand is fine enough that curved surfaces read smooth rather than stepped.
• Good company. It sits well next to glass, metal, wood, stone and light, which is why several pieces pair it with a glass top, a brass detail or a lighting kit.

How it feels

Pick up a piece and the first thing you notice is the weight. The material is dense and mineral, so even a small candle holder feels solid in the hand. Pieces range from about half a kilogram for a candle holder to more than 50 kg for a coffee table. The weight of every piece is on its product page.

Density changes more than the weight. The material is slow to warm and slow to cool, and a panel shaped into wells breaks up echo, so it changes how a room sounds.

Raw or sealed

Raw, the sand takes water in. Sealed, water beads on the surface and wipes off. Pieces that will meet water are sealed. Even so, pieces are not watertight unless the product page says so.

What it is for, and what it is not for

Made for: furniture, lighting, vases for dried flowers, candle holders with a metal or glass cup, trays, clocks, sculpture and wall pieces, indoors.

Not made for:

• Food or drink. Bowls, trays and vessels are decorative. Don't use them to serve, store or prepare food.
• Water in vases. Vessels are for dried flowers only, unless the product page says otherwise.
• Outdoors or wet rooms. Keep pieces indoors and dry.
• Heat and strong sun. Heat sources and long exposure to strong direct sun can soften, mark or discolour the resin. Keep pieces away from radiators, fireplaces and stoves.
• Open flame on the sand. Candles always go in a metal or glass cup or insert, never directly on the surface.

How to care for it

• Dust with a soft, dry brush or a soft, dry cloth.
• For marks, use a cloth slightly dampened with water only, then dry the surface straight away.
• No solvents, abrasives, bleach, polishes or sprays, and never soak a piece.
• Keep felt pads under pieces to protect your surfaces. The mineral surface and edges can be abrasive.
• Lift heavy pieces with enough people. Never lift a piece by a top, a glass part, a cable or a part that sticks out.
• Don't cut, drill or sand a piece. It weakens it and creates dust.

The full guidance for every type of piece, including lighting and candle holders, is on the Product safety and care page.

Is it safe?

Yes, in normal use. The material contains quartz, which is crystalline silica. Its dust is harmful to breathe, which only matters if a piece is cut, drilled or sanded. If a professional ever needs to work on a piece, they should contact us first, work wet, and use dust extraction and an FFP3 or P3 mask.

Feel it before you buy

A photo can't show how the sand feels in the hand. A sample pack holds small printed specimens in black quartz sand, a finish card and a spec sheet, so you can check the grain, the weight and the tone before you commit to a piece. Sample packs are shipped from Valencia.

Questions

What is black quartz sand?

A fine, dark quartz sand. At Blacksand it is 3D printed by binder jetting and hardened with resin, so the finished piece is solid sand with a natural, matt surface.

Is black quartz sand the same as concrete or stone?

No. There is no cement, and it is not carved from a block. It is sand, printed into shape and bound with resin.

Can I put water or flowers in a sand vase?

Use dried flowers only. Pieces are not watertight unless the product page says so, and water can seep through.

Is it food safe?

No. Pieces are decorative and not for food or drink.

Can pieces go outdoors?

No. Keep them indoors and dry, away from heat and strong direct sun, unless the product page says a piece is suitable.

How do I clean it?

Dust with a soft, dry brush or cloth. For marks, use a cloth slightly dampened with water only, then dry it straight away.