Cob: Wood instead of Straw?

[Charmaine R Taylor]

Brian it would not be a purist's "cob" but yes clay-sawdust-woodchip
mixes are in use all over.  Some have fine sawdust, some 2"chunks of
chips, some add lime, chopped weeds, etc. these are called by many
names. I began using sawdust 3 years ago and calling it "cobwood", so
have others, a man in CA uses chopped dry weeds/hemp withlime and sand
to make "agstone" ( go to www.tree.org) , his own invention,

Just make sure teh sawdust is not fresh, has"aged" 6-8 weeks ( sitting
around drying out)  to cure out the sugars in thecellulose, and do try
it.

A clay slip of just clay and water like cream, or with lime water like
cream can be mixed in to dry shavings, left to sit overnight then used
as plaster or into forms, made thicker (denser) or left wetter.

Charmaine  Taylor/ Taylor Publishing
PO Box 6985, Eureka CA 95502
707-441-1632
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
http://www.northcoast.com/~tms