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I was just going through GW's website and I came across this.

Now a few things struck me. One is of course what's in my subject line, that's $37.42 per pound for sand.

I then went looking and found this.

That's $0.11 per pound for sand. That means GW sand is 340 times more expensive.

I certainly doubt that's a tracked record anywhere, but I'd have to think it would be if it was.

Now aside from the sheer impact of the facts above, my question is this; in what way are GW particles of silica distinct from any other particles of silica?

Discuss, and feel free to add whatever other comments you might have as well. To get you all started a quote from a friend: "$8.25 + shipping for >=100g of sand. SAND! SAND! It's fething sand!"

GW's markup gets even more ridiculous if you source your sand from a beach. A small tupperware container would last you for ages.

Although, I have to admit, I use sandblasting grit. It was free, the rgains are uniform, and my 3 pound bag has been in use for years.

Well GW doesn't have the best history bargain wise, but why even bother with Ron's playsand, I just dig all my basing needs out of the garden

GW sand is expensive because its sterilized and filtered from all impurities offering the best quality of the finest sand.

Due to the meticulous process , GW sand offers nothing but the best results for hobbiest that is impossible to be reproduced via other type of sand.

I dont always flock , but when i do , i prefer GW's highest quality sand .
Stay baka my friends.

As with most GW "secondary" products, you are simply paying for convienience. There is nothing stoping you going to the beach and helping yourself for free, although you may have to put up with it smelling of wee and containing a few mystery items which have washed up.

Even at Crat stores you can buy half a pound of the same sterile sand, coloured even, for $1.99 if there is absolutely no other source for it.

I'm waiting for GW Paint thinner: $5 for 20ml of Nottingham tap water.

My pot of GW sand has lasted for over 500 models.
I like the uniform (slightly coarse) grain size and the ease of use due to it being pre dried.
I use building sand for terrain/larger projects. Drying/sieving it is a pain but worth the monetary saving.

LunaHound wrote:
GW sand is expensive because its sterilized and filtered from all impurities offering the best quality of the finest sand.

Due to the meticulous process , GW sand offers nothing but the best results for hobbiest that is impossible to be reproduced via other type of sand.

Ok, nevermind. There's no WAY you're not kidding.

I buy railroad hobby/model ballast. I get 3 different coarseness levels and mix them so that my bases don't look too flat/uniform.
E: typo

She's not kidding.

I'm not bothered by uneven sand. We're basing models here, folks. The sand is not supposed to represent sand. Dirt is good. Splinters, bark and bits of grit look good. I do a bit of flat sifting sometimes, but I'm not crazy for it.



Sometimes those random headers are profound...

Why so much? Funnily enough I don't think that Luna was that far from the truth. When you are comparing a small tub against a bulk bag I would suggest the following should also be considered - Buying in an out sourced product, cleaning, grading and sorting, re-packaging, store overheads, head office overhead and profit and reduced economies of scale on smaller end product.

I would imagine that GW included some additional mark-up due to the whole "one-stop-shop" approach, but I wouldn't imagine GW make any great additional profit from lines like this. It is more about offering the most complete range they can.

I will admit to buying one of their grittier bags some years ago (its still going strong!), I mean who wants to grub around in the garden for basing sand/grit (also I only have clay in my garden - not great!).

No, no. I see it's a joke. There's no way in 9 hells she could buy in that much. Really, I get it.

I never paid for sand 'cause I'm a master sand thief. I've swiped sand from beaches and places all over world. I've even taken a handful sand behind the backs of armed guards from the Pyramid of Khafre in Giza. I never put it on any models for fear of mummy/dice curses though

Look at it this way, if people are willing to pay $8 for basically a pint of sand, why is it GW's fault for charging $8? That comes down to the consumer, not the supplier.

Basing materials are one thing that are readily available. Common craft stores sell the same stuff, if you want to buy GW basing materials, go for it. Me, i think there are railroad craft lines that offer a better product, that is more in a price range and size I prefer. GW stuff is priced for logo and convience. They are kind of like the Nike's of the gaming world.

As a store owner, I sometimes get sidetracked listening to you guys. I make up my mind that no one will want something like 'sand' for 8 bucks. I don't re-order, let it run out. Then I get complaints from people who a) Want the product b) don't mind paying 8.00 c) prefer GW sand to another mix, or just don't need a 50lb bag d) drove to my store expecting to get it.

The consensus on Dakka is obviously that it's overpriced. But I sell a dozen a month to customers, who would be upset if I didn't have it. Obviously, some combination of product, conveniece, size, or price is appealing to those dozen customers a month.

Under one of my gaming tables is a bin with 50lbs of sand in it that we use for shop projects. Even though its free, and we also supply glue and a spot to base your figures, some people still like the GW sand.

I have a tub at home that I use, because I like the mix they make.

I use CLEAN kitty litter. Straight from the package. NOT FROM THE LITTER BOX!

To each their own.

I like GW's basing products and the convenience and the lil tub it comes in is handy, and I still have the same tub of static grass I bought years ago it's not even half gone. That said, I'm going to be flocking a realm of battle board so I don't expect the grass to last much longer so I'll have to go with Woodland Scenics.

For sand I went with woodland scenics years and years ago so I stick with that for consistency. I get their black model railroad ballast and mix together the fine and coarse kind. I don't even need to prime it since it's black, I glue it down and when it dries I give it another coat of watered down white glue to seal it in, then just paint over that when it's dry.

I could drive to the beach and get some sand for free, but it's dirty and little pee in it. yuck. Well, maybe that would be good for a nurgle army...

its so expensive because of all the grimdark they sprinkle in with it.
that stuff isnt cheap you know.

Or, you could just not buy GW sand...

Water and earth, water and earth...


Seriously though, I get two grades of sand locally: one from the beach and one from my front yard. They both get baked to remove moisture then run through a seive and packaged separately in empty spice bottles. I can mix for varying texture and best of all, it's free.

LunaHound wrote:
GW sand is expensive because its sterilized and filtered from all impurities offering the best quality of the finest sand.

Due to the meticulous process , GW sand offers nothing but the best results for hobbiest that is impossible to be reproduced via other type of sand.

Good one!!!

Gavin Thorne wrote:Water and earth, water and earth...


Seriously though, I get two grades of sand locally: one from the beach and one from my front yard. They both get baked to remove moisture then run through a seive and packaged separately in empty spice bottles. I can mix for varying texture and best of all, it's free.

it's not free if you factor in the cost of your time and the cost of the electricity or gas used to bake it. sure, it's negligible, but some people just don't want to put forth the extra effort to do all that.

for me, i bought a 50 lbs bag of play sand and a 50 lbs bag of building sand from Home Depot for under $8 to get sand in different textures.

There's an old adage I'd like to paraphrase:

Convenience, Quality, Affordability. Pick two.

I don't really think that adage applies to sand, do you?

Yea, in another news plastic is cheaper than pewter yet soon enough metal and plastic models will be the same price since according to Gee-Dubya, plastic has more value

LunaHound wrote:GW sand is expensive because its sterilized and filtered from all impurities offering the best quality of the finest sand.

Due to the meticulous process , GW sand offers nothing but the best results for hobbiest that is impossible to be reproduced via other type of sand.

I dont always flock , but when i do , i prefer GW's highest quality sand .
Stay baka my friends.

asmith wrote:I don't really think that adage applies to sand, do you?

It does if you're talking about buying it. It always makes me chuckle when I see signs labels "Cheap Dirt". Maybe it's because there's no lack of earth where I live, but it does seem ironic.

The wise man knows that cost is not measured in money alone.

Gavin Thorne wrote:There's an old adage I'd like to paraphrase:

Convenience, Quality, Affordability. Pick two.

I can only pick one , because GW surely isnt known for the later

mikhaila wrote:As a store owner, I sometimes get sidetracked listening to you guys. I make up my mind that no one will want something like 'sand' for 8 bucks. I don't re-order, let it run out. Then I get complaints from people who a) Want the product b) don't mind paying 8.00 c) prefer GW sand to another mix, or just don't need a 50lb bag d) drove to my store expecting to get it.

The consensus on Dakka is obviously that it's overpriced. But I sell a dozen a month to customers, who would be upset if I didn't have it. Obviously, some combination of product, conveniece, size, or price is appealing to those dozen customers a month.

There are some things I will never understand in this world. This just became one of those things. Please note, directed at the CUSTOMER who is buying $8 sand, not the RETAILER selling the $8 sand.

They must have gold flakes in the sand that has to be it. I mean cmon does it really have to be uniform and sterile? If you want sterile sand throw some in a pan and put it in the oven for 30 mins. and VOILA so sterile you could eat it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
They must have gold flakes in the sand that has to be it. I mean cmon does it really have to be uniform and sterile? If you want sterile sand throw some in a pan and put it in the oven for 30 mins. and VOILA so sterile you could eat it.