Cob mini bale alternative

[bufflocp at telusplanet.net]

Hello!
           Your honeycomb idea is intriguing. You might also consider
sawdust or shavings as an insulator if either is readily available to you.
In any case, as insurance against the possibility of insect infestation,
give some serious thought to including lime as one of the constituents of
any dry-mixed insulation (stack-wallers do this). Not the hot variety,
though. It would heat up inside the wall and could cause problems. Ron Hanson


At 10:16 PM 3/9/98 +1030, you wrote:
>
>Hello everyone,
>I am building a wall and am developing method that ends up being similar to
>the mini bale idea.
>
>I build a honey comb system along the length of the wall and infill the
>cavities with straw / clay / slurry mix. Ever looked into a bee hive, well
>it looks like one row of honey comb along the length of the wall. For the
>straw infil I have tried three different techniques, 1 - packing dry straw
>in the cavity, 2 - sticky  straw / clay mix and tamping down, next I'm
>trying a runny  chopped straw / clay mix that will be poured into cavity.
>Shredded paper is also a useful addition to the mixture. First layer of
>honey comb 12 - 15 inches high and 18 - 20 inches long, walls are about 4 "
>thick they are filled and then a layer of cob is placed over the top, with
>the next layer of honey comb the cavity is offset. 
>
>Can anyone suggest which infill may give better insulative results?
>I initially developed this technique to quicken the building process and for
>use on the southern wall of my next house.
>
>>I am writing this message for a friend who last summer participated in a
>>Cob Cottage workshop here in British Columbia. She is going to be in
>>Australia next summer and would like to visit some cob buildings (or
>>anything related) along with permaculture sites.
>Ian I'd be happy to show her cob and permaculture stuff but i am a long way
>from where she plans to be.
>
>Regards
>Anne McMahon
>Sun Dried Earth
>--
>Calling from the Lower Murray Network, service of Noel & Friends.
>Email info at lm.net.au or visit http://www.lm.net.au/ for more information!
>
>