I'm wondering how I can spread lava over the entire surface, specifically with the ability to turn the lava on and off with pistons. I've already tried as you can see, and now I have the additional problem of having to clean up the damn lava. Might need help with that too.
Woah, your screenshot is making me dizzy. As to the problem, you gotta get the pistons positioned to release lava sideways down the pyramid. And is your pyramid built with flat sides or diagonally? I think it would work better if you built diagonally.
I was doing some testing of this myself. Unfortunately, it looks like lava/water will go over a nearby cliff in preference to spreading sideways. So while hypothetically a pyramid should only take one source at the top to cover entirely, in practice it takes many more. If anyone's found a solution to this, I'd be glad to hear it.
Pure diagonal sides would solve the problem, as there would be no "cliffs" (edges 3 blocks long) for the water to aim toward. However, it's less compatible with building things into it, such as doors.
Woah, your screenshot is making me dizzy. As to the problem, you gotta get the pistons positioned to release lava sideways down the pyramid. And is your pyramid built with flat sides or diagonally? I think it would work better if you built diagonally.
My pyramid has 4 sides, and the sides are flat. I hadn't thought of building diagonally. That would probably work. Well, there goes my day. 4 hours building a pyramid that doesn't work.
unfortunately there is no quick and easy way for you to make an on/off system. since after removing any lava source it has the annoying tendency to leave small flowing-lava blocks (not source blocks either so they can't be picked up by a bucket). The only way I could see to make a 100% fool proof system is somehow using pistons to make every single block in the pyramid move outward by one and back in thus "absorbing" any rogue lava...
unfortunately there is no quick and easy way for you to make an on/off system. since after removing any lava source it has the annoying tendency to leave small flowing-lava blocks (not source blocks either so they can't be picked up by a bucket). The only way I could see to make a 100% fool proof system is somehow using pistons to make every single block in the pyramid move outward by one and back in thus "absorbing" any rogue lava...
Lava pyramids used to be easy. Just build a pyramid and put lava on the top piece. But it looks like lava behavior changed recently.
I just built a couple lava pyramids last week. After a bit of experimentation, this is what I came up with:
That is a flat level in the pyramid (5th level from the top). The sponges are actually one level higher than the glass (I guess they are technically on level 4). They can be dirt, or whatever you want to use to obstruct the lava flow.
Each level should have 8 obstruction blocks to obstruct lava flow. After you place the lava at the end, then just go and remove all the obstructions, and you'll have a nice lava pyramid. The top level (a single block) does not need any obstructions, and the second level (3x3) only will require 4 obstructions. The rest require 8.
I didn't even think of rotating the whole pyramid by 45 degrees. I don't think it will work, though. Lava is not as likely to spread as it used to, and without obstructions, it generally just spreads in straight lines.
By the way, you should try this experiment, it's pretty cool, and very easy to do. Make some flat land. Dig a 1x1x1 hole. Walk 3 blocks away and drop a lava block. The lava will seek out the hole!
I'm wondering how I can spread lava over the entire surface, specifically with the ability to turn the lava on and off with pistons. I've already tried as you can see, and now I have the additional problem of having to clean up the damn lava. Might need help with that too.
Pure diagonal sides would solve the problem, as there would be no "cliffs" (edges 3 blocks long) for the water to aim toward. However, it's less compatible with building things into it, such as doors.
My pyramid has 4 sides, and the sides are flat. I hadn't thought of building diagonally. That would probably work. Well, there goes my day. 4 hours building a pyramid that doesn't work.
That would be so awesome.
the lava on the outside...
Lava pyramids used to be easy. Just build a pyramid and put lava on the top piece. But it looks like lava behavior changed recently.
I just built a couple lava pyramids last week. After a bit of experimentation, this is what I came up with:
That is a flat level in the pyramid (5th level from the top). The sponges are actually one level higher than the glass (I guess they are technically on level 4). They can be dirt, or whatever you want to use to obstruct the lava flow.
Each level should have 8 obstruction blocks to obstruct lava flow. After you place the lava at the end, then just go and remove all the obstructions, and you'll have a nice lava pyramid. The top level (a single block) does not need any obstructions, and the second level (3x3) only will require 4 obstructions. The rest require 8.
I didn't even think of rotating the whole pyramid by 45 degrees. I don't think it will work, though. Lava is not as likely to spread as it used to, and without obstructions, it generally just spreads in straight lines.
By the way, you should try this experiment, it's pretty cool, and very easy to do. Make some flat land. Dig a 1x1x1 hole. Walk 3 blocks away and drop a lava block. The lava will seek out the hole!
Hope that helps!