Cob: Other Ideas on Jelly Roll Logs

[RobertCCardwell at aol.com]

The diameter of the logs could be 1" to 6".   Length could be 1 foot to four 
feet.  Best rolling material would probably "breathe".  I don't think adding 
straw or other organic material would be necessary.   To make the process 
more easily to work with the earth would have to be "plastic" and pounded or 
flattened to a thickness of no more than 1/2".   The woven hemp, or burlap 
sheet would be on a level part of ground stretched out with tension before 
the application of the mud. After the mud is applied and worked, start 
rolling the rod, which is  a little longer than the width of the sheet. Make 
sure no mud is near the end of the sheet on either end.   Roll up and tie off 
with straps.  The finished product would look like a roll of carpet.  Apply 
to the wall course seam down to seal the log.  Use earth crete morter  [clay 
and sand in ratio of 10 to 1 cement].  Lay the logs in a fashion similar to 
bricks and logs.

Another variation of this could be to take the process one step further and 
compress the logs into planks.   Make a form of the appropriate size with  
two 12 foot 2" x 12" and 2" x 4" studs.   The studs would be used on the 
sides and ends of the jelly roll log and then nailed or bolted to the bottom 
12 x 2.   The form made would be smaller than the jelly roll log.  The log 
would then be placed into the form, with the log being a little larger than 
the form.   The other 12 x 2 would then be placed on the top of the form, 
tamped down and fastened to the other 12 x 2.  Then drive your vehicle over 
the 12 x 2 and compress to form with the weight of the wheels.  Like driving 
on a ramp.  Take the plank out and apply to the structure.

A variation of this would be to use a little more physics and find a liquid 
when compressed gives off a lot of heat.   The heat generated would kind of 
be like firing an earth brick from the inside out.

Just some more ramblings......

bc