I dont realt know any thing about these two things .I started looking around and found this stuff/info what do you guys think.
I don't actually use either product. I use OilDri which I buy at Sam's Club in the automotive section for $4.88. It is roughly 2-3 mm in size and also very dusty when you first open the bag. I don't have to screen it persay. The particle size doesn't get smaller than 2 mm that I've seen. I put it in a mesh strainer and run it under water for about 10 minutes. I came across it two or three years ago when learning about Al's mix but wanting to use something other than perlite (I hate those floating white beads!)
At any rate, I ran several test on this product to make sure it wouldn't break down and turn into kitty litter mush. Several people on the C & S and Bonsai forums warned that it would just break down and that it couldn't possibly be high-fired clay. I don't know about high-fired, medium-fired or any of that. I do know that I put it in a glass full of water and sat it in my window sill. I aggitated it four times a day with a fork for about a minute each time. After a week of no change, I put it in a pot full of water and boiled it for about 20 minutes - no change. I ended up using it, but kept the stuff in the cup of water. There was about 3/4 cup in a 32 oz glass. I would occasionaly add water to it and it ended up sitting there for almost 3 months and there was absolutely no change. I tried to break it with many different things and this stuff just wouldn't break.
I have plants that have been in soil made with the OilDri (some with only OilDri) that have been there for almost three years and there is no change in the OilDri. It is heavy, but I don't care. Water runs through it freely, but each little piece holds moisture and lets it go as my plant needs it. The bag that I get for $4.88 is a 40 lb. bag. I don't think you can beat that. It seems smaller than the axis, but I love the stuff.I've heard good things about OilDri. Seems to be almost exactly like Turface. From the results of your "break down test", it seems to be high fired. If it can take all that soaking, agitating, and resist breakage than it is probably high fired which is exactly what you want (though I'm sure you could get away with something that was fired at a lower temperature).
I mentioned a cheaper but effective alternative to Axis. If you're interested here's the details (I can't take credit for this as I was tipped off from a bonsai site which I'll link to below if you're interested).
It is NAPA Super Absorbent. Not exactly a flashy name, but a good product nonetheless.
100% pure calcined diatomaceous earth. This is mined and manufactured by the same company that makes Axis for Envirotech. The company is EP minerals in NV. Mined from the same exact deposits.
NAPA carries a few different kinds of oil clean-up products. Some of the others are calcined clay like OilDri/Turface. But this one is pure calcined DE. Pay attention to the part number 8822 as that's the one you want.
Good thing about this is that there is a NAPA store in nearly every city in the country. I live in a very small town down here in the south, but lucky enough there's a NAPA store! It's very dusty and has a lot of fines. Definitely needs screening and a good wash. But it's identical in shape, color, and texture to Axis. I've been using it side-by-side with Axis for a comparison and thus far I've seen no difference at all. $5 for a 25# bag. But remember that just like Turface, Axis, Perlite, and nearly every other mineral product you really shouldn't breath the dust.
Here is a link that might be useful: Where I first learned about it (note the change in labeling)
I don't actually use either product. I use OilDri which I buy at Sam's Club in the automotive section for $4.88. It is roughly 2-3 mm in size and also very dusty when you first open the bag. I don't have to screen it persay. The particle size doesn't get smaller than 2 mm that I've seen. I put it in a mesh strainer and run it under water for about 10 minutes. I came across it two or three years ago when learning about Al's mix but wanting to use something other than perlite (I hate those floating white beads!)
At any rate, I ran several test on this product to make sure it wouldn't break down and turn into kitty litter mush. Several people on the C & S and Bonsai forums warned that it would just break down and that it couldn't possibly be high-fired clay. I don't know about high-fired, medium-fired or any of that. I do know that I put it in a glass full of water and sat it in my window sill. I aggitated it four times a day with a fork for about a minute each time. After a week of no change, I put it in a pot full of water and boiled it for about 20 minutes - no change. I ended up using it, but kept the stuff in the cup of water. There was about 3/4 cup in a 32 oz glass. I would occasionaly add water to it and it ended up sitting there for almost 3 months and there was absolutely no change. I tried to break it with many different things and this stuff just wouldn't break.
I have plants that have been in soil made with the OilDri (some with only OilDri) that have been there for almost three years and there is no change in the OilDri. It is heavy, but I don't care. Water runs through it freely, but each little piece holds moisture and lets it go as my plant needs it. The bag that I get for $4.88 is a 40 lb. bag. I don't think you can beat that. It seems smaller than the axis, but I love the stuff.I've heard good things about OilDri. Seems to be almost exactly like Turface. From the results of your "break down test", it seems to be high fired. If it can take all that soaking, agitating, and resist breakage than it is probably high fired which is exactly what you want (though I'm sure you could get away with something that was fired at a lower temperature).
I mentioned a cheaper but effective alternative to Axis. If you're interested here's the details (I can't take credit for this as I was tipped off from a bonsai site which I'll link to below if you're interested).
It is NAPA Super Absorbent. Not exactly a flashy name, but a good product nonetheless.
100% pure calcined diatomaceous earth. This is mined and manufactured by the same company that makes Axis for Envirotech. The company is EP minerals in NV. Mined from the same exact deposits.
NAPA carries a few different kinds of oil clean-up products. Some of the others are calcined clay like OilDri/Turface. But this one is pure calcined DE. Pay attention to the part number 8822 as that's the one you want.
Good thing about this is that there is a NAPA store in nearly every city in the country. I live in a very small town down here in the south, but lucky enough there's a NAPA store! It's very dusty and has a lot of fines. Definitely needs screening and a good wash. But it's identical in shape, color, and texture to Axis. I've been using it side-by-side with Axis for a comparison and thus far I've seen no difference at all. $5 for a 25# bag. But remember that just like Turface, Axis, Perlite, and nearly every other mineral product you really shouldn't breath the dust.
Here is a link that might be useful: Where I first learned about it (note the change in labeling)
