Cob Re: Earthen floors & PH meters

[crtaylor]

>Hi Andy,
>
>all it takes is lime, as described in a former post. The lime reacts with
>the aluminates and silicates of the earth (provided you add enough lime to
>raise the pH to 12.45 or more) and produces some kind of cement. This
>process is much cheaper than using cement, and produces the same results.
>
>Uwe
*********

The Problem I had had, even after calling our esteemed Humboldt State
University  . and getting no  answer to my calls..is finding a PH meter
that will read over 10...these puppies cost $400-500+ and will go to
16...but aren't available to most of us.

I called the local testing lab, and for $10. per test they will check the
sample you give them...so that may be one solution.


Harry confirmed to me that the ph must be over 13 to ensure the lime will
become linestone again..so if you use lime in the floor or (whatever
projects) and don't check it...will you get the chemical result you want?

Harry?  I presume if the floor gets really hard..then maybe the ph was high
enough??

Charmaine R. Taylor
Taylor Publishing & Elk River Press
PO Box 6985 Eureka CA 95502  1-888-307-7650
'Books for people who want to build'

http://www.northcoast.com/~tms/