[Cob] Rototiller

[Damon Howell]

Hi Mitch,
	I tried the rototiller once for about a minute then quickly decided  
it took just as much energy as mixing it with a tarp. But I was only  
mixing a a small batch of, say, 10 gallons, and the tiller would just  
throw the cob everywhere (Very discouraging!) I imagine if you do  
more like 100 gallons (so you could really dig the machine in) it may  
work better. I also tried driving over it with a four wheeler, but  
all my clay just stuck to the tires. So far, the best way I've found  
is the tarp method, unless you want to mix it really wet and let it  
sit for awhile to stiffen up.

Damon in GA




Message: 5
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:04:52 -0500 (CDT)
From: Mitch Ventura <h_anpyp at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Cob] Rototiller
To: coblist at deatech.com
Message-ID: <269377.82351.qm at web36804.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Am still gathering as much info as I can on cob building prior to my  
cob project sometime in late 2010 (when I should be finished here in  
Iraq... still a perfect region for cob but may not ever see that  
technology, ironic as that may seem); this Forum has been a great  
source for data and links to other sites (my thanks to almost everyone).

   Anyway, came across the following website that had a few twists on  
views that I have previously seen written and argued on in this Forum:

   www.islandnet.com/~anngord/builders.html

   Never thought of using a rototiller (and would have relegated it  
to the same negative views that I read on cement mixers).

   The use of added straw may not be good for me as I maintain a  
residence in a subtropical climate (great for bacteria, mold,  
termites, and other organic consumers).

   Wonder if the more technically inclined members of this Forum  
could voice their opinion on the rototiller and added straw...

   Ma'a salama.

   Mitch
   (somewhere near Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq)

   P.D. Fellow firefighters laugh at me all the time as I am a bit of  
a tree hugger, but a realistic one at that... sure the rototiller  
uses some gas, but how many of us have guzzled gallons of fuel in  
order to attend an eco-seminar far from home? (LOIL... Lots Of Ironic  
Laughter)