[Cob] Re:Design Concept (washed dung)

[Raduazo at aol.com]

The trouble with most brown coats is that they are  brown. The reason for 
this is the use of dung as the main ingredient. I have  been working with a new 
material*,  washed horse dung.  I just  got through experimenting with panels 
made of washed dung. The panels feel like  wood, and they take on the color of 
the clay that I mix with the dung.
    Washed dung is made by putting horse dung in a  bucket and adding about 1 
1/4 parts water to one part clean fresh dung  (by volume) and stirring it 
vigorously. I use a paint mixing paddle in an  electric drill.  I then poured the 
dung out into a pair of old panty hose,  which I can tie to the top of the 
bucket with a bungee cord, I step on the panty  hose to wring out the water and 
then repeat this two or three times. The  resulting fiber is mixed at about 
one part clay to three parts washed dung. Then  add sufficient water to make a 
thick plaster. I am using a beautiful  red clay and the dung takes on the color 
of the clay with no noticeable  darkening effect. The strength of the 
resulting panels will surprise you.
    They can be sanded or you can let it dry then  re-moisten it and refinish 
it to get a flat surface because it tends to get  lumpy as it dries. I am 
thinking about trying the wet/dry sanding sponges. Once  it is smoothed to your 
liking it can be painted with linseed oil, urethane  finished and waxed.
     I am looking for a supply of green, yellow or  blue clay next to see how 
they work. If anyone has a good supply in the  Washington, DC area let me 
know.
    This summer I am going to try setting up a  hydroponic system to see if 
the manure tea washed from the dung will work as an  Allen Cooper** style 
nutrient film. This of course will be done with a  conductivity tester since many 
horse owners feed their animals salt.
Ed
 
*Well it is new to me anyway
**The ABC of NFT by Dr. Allen Cooper
(Pictures of a finished panel are available upon  request)