FW: Cob: cellulose and plaster

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Brad:

I am real new to the cob- lime plaster thing. However let me share with you
some of my experience working with paper in puppetmaking. I have tried to
use newspaper for paper mache but it doesn't work very well. Part of the
problem is that newspaper is formed and treated to not absorb water. This
formulation allows the ink to dry in the same spot that it was put down.
Otherwise it would bleed into the paper and then be unreadable. If you are
looking for a paper that will absorb a great deal of water and has very long
fibers you might try red rosin paper. It is available at Home Depot in big
rolls 2ft wide for about $8.00. It is used under hardwood flooring. Red
rosin paper is now the only paper I use for paper mache and yeilds a
superior product. I have tried cellulose insulation when I constructed a
life size dinosaur and was looking for some ready made fiber. It did not mix
well and was a very poor filler because it would not absorb the glue or
react with the whiting like other papers do. It's composition was mostly
newspaper but there was a fair amount of plastic shopping bag material as
well as some bits of BurgerKing french fry wrappers. There was also an
abrasive grit that I only assumed was sand. (best not to look too close) I
don't know if anybody has tried red rosin paper for papercrete or paper
plaster but it sure works for puppets.

On the subject of fibers. The Native Americans in Michigan used to weave
with fiber from the cattail plant. Our museum here in Detroit has bags that
are 150 years old where the fabric was spun from the long fibers of Cattail.
Has anybody tried to use Cattail to increase the tensile strength of earth
mixtures?

Brad, I don't know if this helps, but I hope it does.

Michael Fitzgerald
Anthropologist/Woodcarver/Puppetmaker