[Cob] tiller cob and other machines

[joe]

		***oops... did a reply not reply all. Repost to the list*******

For me at least it isn't expectation as
much as expearience. The volumes of cob we made with tractors in the UK
in 30 minutes mixing was more than a couple foot mixers could make in a
day. (using a larger rig than a bobcat) Application was aided as well
by the front end loader on the tractor. As for quality, there was no
effective difference in the quality for the cob for structural use. (a
quality argument could be made perhaps if you were using it for plaster
mixes).

I can't touch the quite work environment comment. The point is that if
you don't have tools you can mix cob and do a good job of it manually.
My comment was on the false economy/ecology of foot mixing that is
often trotted out. More fuel would be used up in the traveling back and
forth that would be used up by the tractor, and you'd be in a more
effecient home sooner as well, bringing about greater savings. The
quite environment i'd rather spend on the finish details and the living
in my new home then trudging cob. For some it's the journey, others
it's the destination.  
		To each his own. 

J 

----------------------------------------

				From: "Shannon C. Dealy" <dealy at deatech.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:39 PM
To: joe <joe at skeesick.com>
Subject: RE: [Cob] tiller cob and other machines 

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006, joe wrote:

[snip]
> Mixing with your feet sounds like a very environmental way to go about
> things, but if it takes you 10x as long (and 10xs the number of
> commutes to and from the building site in order to get the same work
> done you can do in a week with a tractor you're not going to be saving
> anything.
[snip]

While it will save you a fair amount of time, it may not be as much as you 
expect.  It takes me less than five times as long to mix by foot as it 
does to mix by bobcat/skid loader, and it doesn't save any time in 
application, so my actual total time savings is less than 40% (this is of 
course still quite a significant amount).  Add to this the inferior 
(but still quite usable) quality of the mechanical mix and the $300 rental 
and fuel for one day (assuming you don't own one), and the value of 
mechanical mixing is not nearly as great as it might seem at first.

I also place some value on the quiet working environment and getting 
additional exercise, though of course your goals, fitness level and 
requirements may vary.

FWIW.

Shannon C. Dealy      |               DeaTech Research Inc.
dealy at deatech.com     |          - Custom Software Development -
                       |    Embedded Systems, Real-time, Device Drivers
Phone: (800) 467-5820 | Networking, Scientific & Engineering Applications
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