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Sandustry Kinetic Slag Press — Why It Jams and How to Fix
The Kinetic Slag Press converts burnt slag into Burnt Residue. It is the most common frustration new players hit — the press looks like it should work and then a single particle lands on it and jams the whole line. Three verified requirements are usually enough to fix it.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Density — burnt slag is not the only thing in the chamber
The press needs Burnt Slag as its primary input, but the chamber below it is full of small particles from the surrounding factory. If a single gold or spore pixel sits under the press at the wrong moment, the press refuses the next slag drop. The fix is the input filter, not the press.
The three verified requirements
- Burnt Slag only. Burnt Slag as the only input. Route burnt slag through an advanced filter that blocks everything else, especially gold and spore.
- Clear surface. A clear surface under the press. Sandustry's pixel physics means even a single gold or spore pixel under the press will stall conversion.
- Drop height. Vertical drop height of about 25 blocks. Drop slag from above the suggested height — twice the recommended drop is the most-cited working configuration.
Layout that stops the jam
Players who have shipped a stable Burnt Slag → Kinetic Slag Press line describe the same pattern:
- Vertical pushers on a diagonal path off to either side of the press. Slag that the press misses gets pushed off to the side and is conveyed/lifted back to the top.
- Lifters directly over the press. Lifters directly above a press do not stop it from working — counter-intuitive but confirmed by multiple players.
- A small chamber above the press that holds Burnt Slag only. The chamber should accept Lifters, not the press itself.
- An advanced filter upstream that blocks gold, spore, and sand from ever reaching the chamber.
Common mistakes
- Dropping slag from conveyor belts or launchers without filtering — gold and spore sneak in.
- Dropping from off-axis positions. The press expects a centred drop; off-axis drops skew the conversion window.
- Sharing a single belt between slag and other materials upstream of the press. The filter upstream is the lever.
- Trying to fix jams by hand. The fix is upstream — filter, drop height, clear surface — not manual cleanup.
FAQ
Why does my Kinetic Slag Press jam with a single particle?
The chamber below the press reads gold and spore as obstructions; if a single gold or spore pixel sits under the press at the wrong moment, it stalls the conversion. Add an advanced filter upstream.
Can I drop slag directly from a conveyor belt onto the press?
You can, but the press expects Burnt Slag only. Route slag through an advanced filter that blocks gold and spore before it reaches the chamber.
Do lifters directly above the press stop it from working?
No. Multiple players report that lifters directly over the press do not stop it from working — and a small chamber that holds Burnt Slag above the press works well.
How high should I drop slag from?
Around 25 blocks is the most-cited working drop. Twice the recommended height is the most-cited stable configuration.