Today, we're diving into a detailed guide on how to efficiently mine sandstone and convert it into buckets of sand on your Ironman account in Old School RS (OSRS). This method is particularly useful for Ironman players as it helps them gather a crucial resource for crafting without needing to rely on other players or the Grand Exchange. By the end of this guide, you'll know how to maximize your output and streamline the process, making it easier to progress through your crafting grind.

Overview of the Sandstone Method

In this method, you'll be mining sandstone in the desert, specifically at the quarry south of the Bandit Camp. You'll then convert this sandstone into buckets of sand using Drew, who can store and convert your sandstone into buckets for a fee. The process involves bringing the right supplies, managing your water skins or using the Humidify spell to stay hydrated, and making efficient trips between the quarry and Drew.

Requirements and Recommendations

Before you begin, there are a few skill requirements and recommendations to make this method more efficient:

• Mining Level: You need a minimum of 35 Mining to mine sandstone. However, I recommend having at least level 55-60 Mining to see a noticeable increase in your sandstone output and mining experience per hour. This will help you gather a decent number of buckets of sand each hour.

• Magic Level: If you have level 68 Magic, you can cast the Humidify spell from the Lunar spellbook. This spell makes the process much smoother, as it allows you to refill your water skins without needing to leave the quarry. Humidify requires one Astral rune, three Water runes, and one Fire rune per cast.

• Pickaxe: Use the best pickaxe available to you. For example, with 70 Mining, I use a Rune pickaxe because I haven't yet unlocked the Dragon pickaxe on my Ironman. A higher-tier pickaxe will improve the speed at which you mine sandstone, increasing your output.

Gear and Inventory Setup

Here’s what you’ll want to bring with you:

• Water Skins: If you don’t have 68 Magic or haven’t unlocked the Lunar spellbook, you’ll need to bring water skins to stay hydrated in the desert. Five water skins should be enough per trip.

• Runes for Humidify: If using the Humidify spell, bring a Water staff (or Steam staff if you have it) to save on Water runes, along with Astral and Fire runes.

• Coins: You’ll need coins to pay for withdrawing buckets of sand from Drew at the quarry and for refilling your water skins if you don’t use Humidify.

• Empty Buckets: While not required for mining, you’ll need buckets to store your sand. You can purchase bucket packs from shops like Alice's Farming Shop or the Draynor Village Market.

Getting Started: Location and Setup

1. Travel to the Desert: Head to Al Kharid and buy a Shantay Pass from Shantay. Use the pass to travel through the gate and head to the Bedabin Camp. From there, travel south to reach the desert quarry.

2. Refilling Water Skins: If you’re using water skins and not the Humidify spell, you can refill them at the Bandit Camp’s general store for 5 coins per water skin. This allows you to stay hydrated without having to bank or bring a large number of water skins.

3. Mine Sandstone: Once you reach the quarry, find an unoccupied sandstone rock. Sandstone comes in different sizes: 1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg, and 10 kg. Each size corresponds to a specific number of buckets of sand:

    o 1 kg = 1 bucket of sand

    o 2 kg = 2 buckets of sand

    o 5 kg = 4 buckets of sand

    o 10 kg = 8 buckets of sand

Using Drew to Convert Sandstone to Sand

At the quarry, you’ll find Drew, who will store your sandstone and convert it into buckets of sand for a fee. Here’s how to make the most of his services:

1. Deposit Sandstone: You can store up to 25,000 empty buckets with Drew. Simply talk to him and select the option to deposit your sandstone.

2. Withdraw Sand: To retrieve your sand, you'll need to pay 50 coins per bucket. While this may seem expensive, it’s worth it given how much time it saves compared to gathering sand manually.

3. Checking Inventory: You can ask Drew how many buckets of sand and sandstone he’s holding for you at any time. This helps you keep track of your progress and plan when to withdraw sand for crafting.

Efficiency Tips and Tricks

• Use Humidify if Possible: Having access to the Humidify spell significantly speeds up the process, as you won’t need to leave the quarry to refill your water skins. It’s especially useful if you plan on doing long mining sessions.

• Bring Extra Water Skins: If you’re not using Humidify, bring five or more water skins and refill them at the Bandit Camp’s general store when needed. This minimizes downtime and ensures you can focus on mining.

• Focus on Larger Sandstone: When mining, try to focus on mining 10 kg and 5 kg sandstone rocks whenever possible. These provide more sand per piece, making your time spent at the quarry more efficient.

• World Hop if Necessary: The quarry can be a busy place, especially with other Ironman players mining sandstone. Don’t hesitate to hop worlds if you find the rocks too crowded.

Expected Gains

With 65-70 Mining, you can expect around 30,000 Mining experiences per hour while using this method. In terms of buckets of sand, you’ll average around 3,000 buckets per hour, which is a great way to build up your crafting supplies. This makes it an excellent method for passive Mining experience while also preparing for your glassblowing and crafting grinds.

Costs of the Method

While the method is effective, it does come with OSRS gold cost. Each bucket of sand will cost about 50 coins when withdrawn from Drew, plus the cost of any water skin refills (5 coins per refill). This adds up to roughly 55 coins per bucket of sand. For Ironman players, the cost is often justified by the time saved, allowing you to progress in other areas of the game while building up your crafting resources.

Alternative Methods for Gathering Sand

If you’re looking for alternatives to mining sandstone, you might consider the following options:

• Collecting Sand from Charter Ships: Purchase buckets of sand from charter ships around RuneScape. This method can be costly and time-consuming but doesn’t require any Mining.

• Using the Sandpit in Yanille or Entrana: If you have access to the sandpit, you can manually fill buckets of sand. However, it’s much slower compared to the quarry method.

Conclusion

Mining sandstone for buckets of sand is a highly efficient method for Ironman accounts, providing both valuable crafting resources and passive Mining experience. With the right setup, you can make the most of this method, minimizing downtime and maximizing your output. Whether you’re a seasoned Ironman or just starting, this guide should help streamline your efforts to obtain buckets of sand.

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with fellow Ironmen or leave a comment with any questions you have. And best of luck on your crafting and mining grind in OSRS!

RSorder Team