[Cob] cob re wall building problems

[GlobalCirclenet]

>I wonder if the more experienced people on the list think that your 
>clay/sand mixture is OK.

A clay/sand mixture is called adobe. 

paul at largocreekfarms.com
http://medicinehill.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 7/30/2004 at 9:09 AM Amanda Peck wrote:

>Three things come to mind--one, you've already tried--plastic over the
>wall, 
>although you might try fastening it pretty closely.
>
>two--I would expect pure clay that's been compacted to be almost 
>waterproof--hold water long enough between rains to grow a nice crop of 
>tadpoles to maturity.  We might have 40-some inches of rain in a year.  My

>"floor test" of sand/clay/woodchips once it dried sat outside in a paint 
>roller tray for a year with no visible deterioration.  We did the floor
>with 
>more sand, because it had shrunk quite a bit.  Question--is your mix 
>CRACKING--or trying to--given that the straw is holding it together?  It 
>doesn't surprise me that it doesn't wet back up to cob stage nicely.
>
>I wonder if the more experienced people on the list think that your 
>clay/sand mixture is OK.  Also wonder if some wet sawdust in there might 
>slow your drying time down.  DON'T take my word for this, you need the
>voice 
>of experience here!  I'd feel confident in adding sawdust to a floor, but 
>would need another opinion on a wall.
>
>Slip--creamy water/clay mix--would probably work better than water for a 
>base with which to put the next layer on.  Once again, expert opinion 
>welcome.
>
>three:  an acquaintance back in the seventies was a "farmer"--I can't 
>remember whether his crop was sprouts or mushrooms, but something that he 
>could grow under a roof, not much light.  The problem, he said, was that 
>there seemed to be about a three-hour window where the stuff was ready for

>harvest.  Might be time for cobbing parties so that you can take advantage

>of that short window when it's just right to put the next layer on. 
>Either 
>that or do what he did and work more-or-less around the clock, napping in 
>the slack times.  He changed professions quite rapidly.
>
>
>
>In my part of the country "crusher fines" are called "crusher run."  Other

>areas seem to go with "roadbase."
>
>
>.............
>Mark Thomas writes:
>
>Attempting to build a small cob building on my property south of Deming.
>The 
>cob dries fast in the dry, hot and often windy weather. I have not been
>able 
>to work the next layer into the previous while it is still plastic yet
>firm 
>enough for support. Tried covering with tarps and placing wet hay on the 
>wall.
>
>
>Re-wetting the wall is difficult.  The semi-dried cob does not seem to 
>accept water and soften up.   Have tried leaving holes in the top of the 
>wall to be filled with water.  Maybe it is the expansive, montmorillinite 
>clay?
>
>Any cobbers out here?
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>One good discovery. Crusher fines from the local gravel pit (about 3/8 
>minus). Cheap and a good additive to high clay soil that contains lots of 
>fine dune sand.
>
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