Cob: RE: earth bags/cob domes

Tue Oct 8 13:23:00 CDT 2002

O.K. >sigh< I'm going to attempt to clear up my position on this whole mess
that I 
seemed to have created. My apologies to all you cobbers who've had to endure
this
deviation into Super Adobe earthbag talk. I was simply wanting feedback on
my
wigwam frame/wattle and COB dome idea. With only one exeption, I got all
these
replies pointing me to the Calearth site. As if to say - If you want to
build an earthen
dome your only option is to use Nader Khalili's earthbag idea. So I replied
saying that
I was already VERY aware of Mr. Khalili's work and gave him credit for
coming up with
a brilliant idea. But...I don't want to discuss HIS idea. It's been done.
You know?
Been there. Done that. Enough with the earthbag talk. I'm talking about
trying something
different. That was the whole point. And yes I'm very aware that they
weren't building with
nylon bags and barbed wire in the stone age...geez. To the person who said
she get's her ass kicked
everytime she brings up earth building techniques other than cob....this IS
a cob site after
all. I know Calearth has a discussion forum for example. If you want to talk
about earthbags,
rammed earth, strawbale etc., I'm sure there are forums dealing with those
specifically. I
know my idea wasn't traditional as far as cob goes but at least it involved
using cob. So... again...
if anyone would like to discuss how one might build an earthen dome using
only stone age materials:
mud,straw,saplings,natural cordage, etc. then please join in. Also, before
someone suggests that I
simply build a Native American earthmound structure or hogan or some other
already proven technique,
I'm trying to explore a hybrid of some of these things. That's the whole
point. Was I clear enough
this time?
- Ben      

> Ben Harrison wrote:
> What is intrigueing to me personally is the idea of using only materials
> and techniques that would have been familiar to our ancestors
> thousands of years ago to build......

Just what are the bags made out of?  Not likely a material available
thousands of years ago.

Thousands of years ago they didn't have barbed-wire either, which he
uses.

But, I agree with you.  It is an interesting technique to use.  For
myself though, I tend to like the more monolithic type cob technique.  I
think that with cob you have more freedom of forms.   

Darel

> It sounds like an exciting challenge to me.
> -Ben

Your very right here Ben.  It is exciting and I personally wish I could
experiemnt a lot.

Darel
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O.K. >sigh< I'm going to attempt to clear up my position on this whole mess that I 
 seemed to have created. My apologies to all you cobbers who've had to endure this
 deviation into Super Adobe earthbag talk. I was simply wanting feedback on my
 wigwam frame/wattle and COB dome idea. With only one exeption, I got all these
 replies pointing me to the Calearth site. As if to say - If you want to build an earthen
 dome your only option is to use Nader Khalili's earthbag idea. So I replied saying that
 I was already VERY aware of Mr. Khalili's work and gave him credit for coming up with
 a brilliant idea. But...I don't want to discuss HIS idea. It's been done. You know?
 Been there. Done that. Enough with the earthbag talk. I'm talking about trying something
 different. That was the whole point. And yes I'm very aware that they weren't building with
 nylon bags and barbed wire in the stone age...geez. To the person who said she get's her ass kicked
 everytime she brings up earth building techniques other than cob....this IS a cob site after
 all. I know Calearth has a discussion forum for example. If you want to talk about earthbags,
 rammed earth, strawbale etc., I'm sure there are forums dealing with those specifically. I
 know my idea wasn't traditional as far as cob goes but at least it involved using cob. So... again...
 if anyone would like to discuss how one might build an earthen dome using only stone age materials:
 mud,straw,saplings,natural cordage, etc. then please join in. Also, before someone suggests that I
 simply build a Native American earthmound structure or hogan or some other already proven technique,
 I'm trying to explore a hybrid of some of these things. That's the whole point. Was I clear enough
 this time?
 - Ben

<P><FONT SIZE=2>> Ben Harrison wrote:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> What is intrigueing to me personally is the idea of using only materials</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> and techniques that would have been familiar to our ancestors</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> thousands of years ago to build......</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Just what are the bags made out of?  Not likely a material available</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>thousands of years ago.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Thousands of years ago they didn't have barbed-wire either, which he</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>uses.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>But, I agree with you.  It is an interesting technique to use.  For</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>myself though, I tend to like the more monolithic type cob technique.  I</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>think that with cob you have more freedom of forms.   </FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Darel</FONT>
</P>
<BR>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>> It sounds like an exciting challenge to me.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> -Ben</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Your very right here Ben.  It is exciting and I personally wish I could</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>experiemnt a lot.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Darel</FONT>
</P>

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