[Cob] tiller cob and other machines

[i love cob!]

I've been mixing with an electric mixer for about a year now.  Man - is 
it helpful.  Usually I am working as a 'one-man-band'.  It's great to be 
able to mix the sand, clay  and add water with the machine.  Meanwhile I 
can gather more materials and pulverize clay chunks, fetch water and the 
like.  Working with large amounts of material; this phase allows the 
measurement, mixing and soaking of the raw ingredients.
I spend an afternoon mixing and produce gigantic dinosaur turds of cob.  
I mix it wet, as that's how the concrete mixer likes it, and then I let 
it sit.  The mix gels as it sits and dries over the course of a few days. 

I shovel 300 pounds worth into a wheel barrel, then bring the mix to the 
location  I'm applying it.  It needs a little attention before getting 
to the wall.  I add water and mix it with a hoe.  Then add straw as 
needed.  It goes straight to the wall from there.  I agree about the 
quality control - you need it!  The applier knows what they need in the 
mix.  They can add or subtract material and enhance the cob as they go.

m i c h a e l