[Cob] CEB update, thanks Michael!

[Amanda Peck]

Thanks for the report.

I can say pebble mosaic!  In the CNMI and probably Guam, they embed them in 
tilt-up concrete walls, don't know if I still have a picture.
................
Michael wrote (snipped if still long)
Somebody here says that making cebs save time over cob. I don't think that
this is true. Using my one brick at a time ram, I am able to make about
80-100 brick in a day. ..... What I did discover only after the fact was 
that
all of the dirt used for cebs should be screened. When I was in Africa and
used a Cinva type ram we didn't screen the dirt at all.... Pebbles are 
brushed into a pile that is getting pretty sizeable. Can you say pebble 
mosaic? ......

One of the good things about cebs and time is that you can work at them a
little bit every day and you don't have to wait for cobbing weather.

"http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/coyotemike3769/lst?.dir=/CEBs&.src=ph&.orde
r=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/"

If you are truly considering the Cinva ram you should read thoroughly the
two BASIN publications on CEB manufacture and it structural usage.
http://www.gtz.de/basin/publications/books/CEBVol1.pdf and
http://www.gtz.de/basin/publications/books/CEBVol2.pdf.

A little update for Darrel. You were asking me what kind of mortar I was
going to use. Well I bought three bags of store-bought pre-mix mortar. This
material was expensive and did not go very far at all. So to save money and
move the project forward I did use your suggested mud mixture. I mixed a 10%
cement and mud mortar, and it worked just fine. Striking the joint was
actually easier than the store-bought mix.

I now have a lot of CEB out in the rain and I am waiting to see how they
will weather through the winter. I have a few 20% blocks buried and will be
interested to see how they fare next spring. I have been hesitant to commit
to a large project with CEB until I test this material through the winter.

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