DO YOU NEED TO ADD WATER?

Pick up a handful of OLSA and squeeze it firmly into a ball. What you’re checking:

• Too dry: breaks into many small pieces with a light prod
• Ideal: just barely holds shape, then breaks into 2–3 main pieces with a light prod
• Too wet: holds together too easily and becomes spongy during compaction (Avoid This!)

NEEDS WATER

ALREADY IDEAL WATER
(NO WATER NEEDED)

NEEDS WATER

YES - WATER IS NEEDED

If the snowball breaks into many small pieces, add water in small, controlled steps.

• 1. Add 1% water by weight (use the cheat chart)
• 2. Mechanically mix thoroughly until moisture is uniform
• 3. Re-test with a new snowball

Repeat in 1% water increments until you hit the “just right” result.

NEEDS WATER
(ADD 1% BY WEIGHT)

STILL NEEDS WATER
(ADD 1% BY WEIGHT)

JUST RIGHT!
NO MORE WATER

Stop as soon as the snowball just barely holds its form and, with a gentle prod, breaks into 2–3 main pieces (not many small pieces). The goal is to creep up to ideal moisture—not to make a rock-solid ball that holds together easily.

Once you find the right moisture level, apply it in repeatable batch sizes (e.g., 5- or 10-ton batches) so every load matches.