Cob: plasters/chopping straw

Thu Sep 6 11:36:25 CDT 2001

I am doing several adobe (call it cob for this crew!) plasters this fall ( on two adobe houses and a straw-bale)  On one (or both) adobe houses we need some chopped straw.   Does anyone have a good technique for chopping?  A chain saw on the edge of a bale, did not, surprisingly, yield much fine straw.

I know a mulcher will work, but no, we are not buying one!

Also, any special comments you might want to throw in on earth plasters (especially for exterior) are welcome.  Two of the jobs are exterior.

I think we will try linseed stabilizing on the exterior for one of the adobes.  The other is a budget job and may just see a lime stabilized (10%?) fine finish coat..... 

steve
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<DIV>I am doing several adobe (call it cob for this crew!) plasters this 
fall ( on two adobe houses and a straw-bale)  On one (or both) adobe 
houses we need some chopped straw.   Does anyone have a good technique 
for chopping?  A chain saw on the edge of a bale, did not, surprisingly, 
yield much fine straw.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I know a mulcher will work, but no, we are not buying one!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also, any special comments you might want to throw in on earth plasters 
(especially for exterior) are welcome.  Two of the jobs are exterior.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think we will try linseed stabilizing on the exterior for 
one of the adobes.  The other is a budget job and may just see a 
lime stabilized (10%?) fine finish coat..... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>steve</DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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