... About Snake Sandbags®
Are Snake Sandbags® available in various lengths? Yes. Snake Sandbags® are available in 3, 4, 5, and 6 foot lengths for Standard sizing, also known as Standard Snake Sandbags®. Large Snake Sandbags® are available from 2 feet up to 10 feet in 1 foot increments.
What colors do Snake Sandbags® come in? Snake Sandbags® are available in Black for both Standard and Large Snake Sandbags®. We also do custom colors including Fluorescent Orange. Contact us for more info!
Are Snake Sandbags® mildew resistant? Yes. CORDURA® nylon (the outer bag) is inherently mildew and rot resistant. If your Snake Sandbags® are wet, let them air dry. Rotate them at regular intervals to ensure the whole sandbag dries.
Are Snake Sandbags® tear-resistant? Yes. Snake Sandbags® are tear-resistant, so you can drag them on concrete. Not bad, huh?
Why do Snake Sandbags® have an Inner Liner? For three reasons: 1) To minimize the sand getting wet; 2) To be more effective at blocking water; and 3) To minimize dust from sand (If you ever dropped a bag of sand and you experienced a cloud of dust, you'll really appreciate never having to deal with that again).
Will the sand in Snake Sandbags® ever get wet? Though we cannot guarantee it, we have a pretty darn good process to seal the inner liner. We have performed numerous "100 hour submersion tests" with much success of keeping sand dry. Of course, performance will vary based on usage. We also have replacement inner liners available.
How do you store Snake Sandbags®? Snake Sandbags® should be laid flat in cool dry area when storing and can be stacked on top of each other. We do not recommend storing Snake Sandbags® vertically. 4-foot and longer Snake Sandbags® can be folded in half to save space (see next question).
How do I fold Snake Sandbags® in half? This applies to all 4-foot and longer Snake Sandbags® filled with the recommended level of sand. Grab the middle (center) of bag, lift and shake so the sand starts to fall to either side. Using both hands, continue by pinching opposite sides of the Snake Sandbag® at the original location you grabbed. Shake as necessary to move the sand away from the location you are pinching. In no time, you will have created a fold. Voila! Your Snake Sandbag® is now folded in half. You can also use Snake Sandbags® in this configuration and even fold Snake Sandbags® at different spots.
The sand inside is not evenly distributed or there are spots where there is little or no sand at all. Why? This is normal. This often happens to Snake Sandbags® that have been folded or held upright. To evenly distribute the sand, grab one end of the Snake Sandbag® and hold it vertically. If the sand does not start to fall due to gravity, with the heel of your other hand, strike the Snake Sandbag® multiple times (not too hard) starting from middle and heading towards the top. Turn the Snake Sandbag® upside down and repeat process as necessary. Stop when you feel the sand is distributed to your liking for your particular use.
... About Filling Snake Sandbags®
Are Snake Sandbags® shipped with sand? No. Snake Sandbags® are shipped as a self-fill kit. You will need to provide the sand.
What type of sand should I use? We recommend mason or playground sand that is dry. Stay away from sand that has been stored outside and/or in wet conditions. We also DO NOT recommend using gravel.
Where can I purchase sand? Sand is available at your local hardware store or nursery/garden center.
How much sand do I need to fill Snake Sandbags®? All Snake Sandbags® Self-Fill Kits include an inner liner that have a recommended fill line. The approximate weight of sand needed for each length is: 3 foot - 16 pounds 4 foot - 22 pounds 5 foot - 27 pounds 6 foot - 33 pounds
Are those weight specifications set in stone ? Nope.Everyone uses Snake Sandbags® differently. The exact amount of sand you will need will be determined mainly through trial-and-error. There is a recommended fill line on the Inner Liner, but that's only a starting point. One way to test how much sand is right for you is to fill the Inner Liner with sand, temporarily seal the inner liner with masking or painter's tape ( and not with the enclosed bonding adhesives), and use the sandbag. We think this is the best way to figure out if you need to add or remove sand for your specific application. Just don't forget to use the bonding adhesives to seal the Inner Liner permanently after you have the ideal amount of sand for your Snake Sandbags®.
What else do I need other than sand? A funnel that is big enough to fill the sand in the Inner Liner. We also recommend using a Dust Mask/Respirator to protect you from breathing in dust from the sand. We care about our health and yours too! [Note: Do NOT fill sandbags indoors!]
How big of a funnel do I need? Funnels that are used for changing oil for cars usually works well. If you use one of those, make sure there isn't any oil residue on the funnel before filling Snake Sandbags®. Any funnel with a narrow stem no larger than 2.5" in diameter will do. If you don't have a funnel or know it's not worth the trouble to get one, you can make something equivalent.
... About traditional sandbags
What are traditional sandbags made of? Traditional sandbags are made of burlap, cotton, nylon, or the most known common material today, woven polypropylene.
Do woven polypropylene sandbags really deteriorate in sunlight? Yes. Many manufacturers may UV coat the sandbags so they last longer, but eventually they will lose their strength and need to be replaced.
How are traditional sandbags closed? Most sandbags are closed with either string, twine, cable ties, or steel loops. There are times when the tops are just folded over when the sandbags are stacked on top of each other.