[Cob] RE: cob stonefoundation Ash & stone walls

[dirtcheapbuilder-Charmaine Taylor]

On Apr 26, 2005, at 12:41 PM, Mary Lou McFarland wrote:

> Because I have no personal life,   <<<  nah! you are just a woman with 
> a  curious mind!  I met the love of my life over an email argument 
> about  Portland Cement--many years ago..haha

  "Under the Tuscan Sun".  It's a chick flick but natural builders 
should watch it.  she removes a section of wall to create a larger 
doorway.  Some of the stones are round some seem to be dressed and I 
wondered how they had managed to put that wall together.   Though there 
was no wire...but would simple forms have done the trick in the past?

> >>>>>Yes, I remember that scene. there used to be a book on Slipform 
> Stone wall building by Schwenke, now out of print but replaced with a 
> bigger color book by an  Aussie based guy***   .which shows how to 
> slipform stones.  and yes it was done with form boards.


> I'm also fascinated by portland cement options.  according to National 
> Geographic the Romans didn't have much luck with there concrete/mortar 
> mixes until their empire expanded to places where there was a specific 
> kind of volcanic sand.  >>> (ash)

 >>>>>>THE Romans also took clay from fields and just burned it to make 
a pozzolan for their lime based cements

   Their concrete made of this stuff is STILL holding up better than 
modern portland.

 >>> true,   many UK sites there are underground  baths, pools and 
waterways that are very functional and move water.


   Maybe if you're in the pacific NW you could run up to Mt. St. Helens 
with a pick up and try a few mortar recipes.

 >> illegal to get it now. Many years ago my secretary went up there to 
visit a relative and brought me a jarful.. now I am an outlaw I guess.

 >>>>>Over on the www.ferrocement.net    email group they discuss many 
other ash additives like Metokaolins   which are used to reduce cement 
use. there is a WORLD of  ash products used in commercail apps so 
reduction can be made of OPC use  both weight and cost.

***Stone House: A Guide to Self-Building with Slipforms BY Tomm Stanley 
- $33.
Publisher's Book overview: “Like the marriage of stone and masonry, 
this book mixes lively narrative with practical how-to information to 
create something strong and beautiful. Slipform construction combines 
natural on-site materials with adaptable, innovative methods, and Tomm 
Stanley takes the state of the art one step further, offering some new 
techniques based on his own experience in building his home. Stone 
House will inspire and encourage prospective stone builders all over 
the world!” --Ben Watson, Senior Editor,    author Tomm Stanley was 
born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He now resides near Christchurch on the 
South Island of New Zealand with his partner, Sabrina. They live in 
their self-built, solar- and wind-powered, off-the-grid stone home. 
PHOTO: building on the slipform home

Charmaine Taylor Publishing    books at dirtcheapbuilder.com
PO Box 375 Cutten CA  95534 USA  -- 707-441-1632
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