Cob Clay, Fibers, & FC

[crtaylor]

>Greetings All,
>
>First off, I'd like to say how great it is to find you guys online.  I've been
>interested in cob for some time and finding a discussion group of fellow mud
>puppies was a thrill!
>
>So, for my first question/contribution to the list, I have a concern about
>clay.  In this area, we have two types of clay:  an orangey-reddish clay that
>is most often found in the upper levels of soil, and a sticky grey clay (it's
>called gumbo around here) that is often found a bit deeper.  While I suspect
>clay is clay, instinct tells me that the gumbo would be a better choice to use
>for cob.  From the broad range of experience out there, I'm wondering if you
>all feel there is any benefit to using one or the other?
>
>Second, I'm curious about what plant fibers work well in cob.  I've read the
>archives (yes, ALL of them!) and while I've read of folks using plant material
>other than straw, I'm curious if anyone has tried pine straw?  With all the
>pines in South Carolina, we have an abundance of the stuff.
>
>Finally, regarding fibrous cement: if I understand correctly, one of the main
>drawbacks to the material is water absorbency, making it unsuitable for
>exterior walls and such in wetter climates.  However, what about using it for
>lightweight, non-structural interior walls?
>
>Metta to all,
>
>Ron Cameron

************

Ron, I have the orangey stuff and the gumbo here on the north coast. I like
mixing both. the orange has more sand in it, the grey has none here.

I actually usied an old kitchen beater blade placed in my handy dandy 1/4
hp  drill to mix the clay and water to a nice youyrt like slurry for the
woodchips  Cob-wood I make.

AS for pine..well I used dry lawn grass, and it was like straw to make a
cob mix,  People in canada use hemp hurds and plant parts too.

Ancient methodsused brachen, any swamp grasses and pliant weeds, reeds,
bushes, even seaweed was noted, and used as a thatch.  Try all of it..and
let us know.


FC or Cob-wood if protected may do OK..and people are making flat
sandwhiches of chip board, or cardboard (or? )and putting the FC in the
middle and making layers for a composite inner wall... I think this stuff
would be great for interiors alone if moisture/rain is any problem, as it
is in N CA.


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/