Cob Clay, Fibers, & FC

[Chuck Learned]

Bob,

I have been building cold frames in the backyard with different techniques
to be able to evaluate
performance and to push the envelope where possible. 

One mixture I used to try to lighten up Cob was cellulose insulation. The
mixture was something like 2pt sand, 1 pt clay, 1/2 pt slaked lime, 1 pt
cellulose(dry) and straw. This held together well.
I am mostly interested in cob in non load bearing applications. 

Chuck Learned

----------
> From: Bob Bolles <bbolles at cts.com>
> To: coblist at deatech.com
> Subject: Re: Cob Clay, Fibers, & FC
> Date: Wednesday, October 21, 1998 6:44 AM
> 
> Shannon
> 
> Your description of lietchlem is as I also understand it, and have used
it.
> 
> However, at a workshop co-hosted by the Steens and Frank Anderson, they
> used the term "light clay" to include any and all applications where some
> other (fibered) material was added to the clay mix.  
> 
> And yes, cob with straw being the fiber would be considered "light clay".
> 
> More correctly, my question should have been:
> who is using (and with what success) materials other than straw as the
> fiber, and
> how much fiber can we use to increase the insulation value without
> decreasing the strength of the cob mix.?
> 
> Regards
> Bob
> 
> > [snip]
> > > It would be interesting to know if anyone is using, or has used 
light
> clay
> > > mixes for their cob-style construction.  
> > [snip]
> > 
> > Under this definition cob would be considered "light-clay" (straw being
> > the fiber).  I could be mistaken, but in my experience "light-clay"
> refers
> > to a specific technique also known as lietchlem (spelling?) in which
> straw
> > is given a very thin coating of clay slip, allowed to dry until tacky,
> and
> > then rammed into a form.
>