Cob: web info on Cob Mixer or press? Aka: Cinva Ram

[Charmaine R Taylor]

Hi Kenn you are describing a CInva Ram compressed brick maker, made
popular in the 1950s, invented in Bogota Columbia.

There are manual machines for sale into he US on a limited basis, most
cost $650 to $2500+-

However German Builder Frank Andresen created a "squeeze" box of wood,
with flip  up handles that has a clay-straw-or sawdust/chhips loaf
pressed, then released one brick at a time- very cool and very low
tech.  I made a similar brick maker myself, and tested several recipes
of cob like mixes some with lime-clay- all with fiber of some sort.

Basically if you can weld together any metal with holes ( for a wetter
mix to drain through as you suggest) and then place and press- you still
have the problem of REMOVAL of the press- the papercrete folks
originally shoveled papercrete ( a cement- sand-dirt-paper mix ) into
old cloth sacks, laid between boards on the ground to square shape
them,  tamped lightly, and left to dry by themselves for a few days,
then peeled OFF the sack, and continued to dry--this is less labor of
course

No compression is needed for cob, so you could save work by not using
(essentially) an adobe brick maker.
For cold climates the advantage is making bricks all winter to dry  them
in the basement, garage, etc...

My block maker was 2pieces 14" long, 2 8" wide of 2x6" redwood boards
nailed together,  with a heavy wood block  8"X14",  8" tall that fit the
inner dimension of the form. Two more wood bits supported the  blocke
frame edge while I tamped in the brick, removed the  wood supports and
pushed DOWN the form thus exposing the brick on top the big block.
Carefully remove the fresh brick, and set to dry somewhere.

in the end this is too much labor- slip form pouring a wetter mix into
cardboard boxes sitting on a drain screen is much faster, and they can
dry on their own, and the cardboard  box is recycleable.

Charmaine  Taylor/ Taylor Publishing
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
http://www.papercrete.com
PO Box 375, Cutten CA 95534
707-441-1632

here are some web links that show CInva Block presses

Cinva Ram:  A CEB press made from these plans is
now offered by Warren Fernsler  at 505-354-7102 (toll
free 877-369-1699) at Fernco Metal, price is $650. plus S&H,
makes a 4"x6"x8" block, online information at the website:
http://ferncometal.stormloader.com/

Mike Gross of Terra Block in Orlando, FL offers an automated
brick-a-minute machine, and larger production brick makers.
407-325-2738, www.terra-block.com

The Mississippi State School of Architecture bought my CInva Ram planset
in Feb 2000, and conducted a class to build one. See lots of photos and
excellent test brick performance data online at:
http://www.sarc.msstate.edu/gore/cinvablocks/cinva.html

Cinva Ram type machine:
http://www.geocities.com/abonaccorsom/Vene-Ram.html

 BASIN site with good Cinva Ram information:
http://www.gtz.de/basin/gate/interlocking.htm

Earth as a Building Material-13 pages, good info
http://www.fao.org/inpho/vlibrary/s1250e/S1250E06.htm

Compressed Earth Block Article-well done
http://www.carpetarea.com/designscapes/apr1_2001/spotlight3.asp

Packer Presser in Belen, NM also produces a block press for $1500.