[Cob] Why soak lime?

[Amanda Peck]

You MAY have already gotten the worst of the problems.  Powdered lime is 
right horrible to your nose and eyes.  Mixing it with water a bag at a time, 
preferably with a mask and maybe a face shield helps prevent the constant 
exposure.  Lime putty eats up your skin, but it's nice to work with.  I'm 
beginning to think that Charmaine's idea of rubbermaid tubs is a good one, 
the garbage can and olive barrel I've got are awfully hard to lift stuff out 
of.

The longer the putty is aged, though, the nicer it is to work with.  The 
Romans thought that a couple of generations was good, although that may have 
had something to do with the guilds not wanting anyone new to go into the 
building trades.

The summer I spent in Mexico, one of the staples that was carried in by 
horseback to the village was 50 lb bags of hydrated lime (from the U.S., 
prominently labled NOT FOR FOOD USE) to be used in turning dried corn into 
masa for making tortillas.  It ate the skin off the corn, transformed the 
taste--and needed lots and lots and lots of rinsing.  They did use it right 
out of the bag for that, though--mixed it with water, brought it to a boil, 
then added the corn.
..................
Lance asked (snipped a lot)

So what problems can I expect from not using lime putty and sand?

Lance

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