[Cob] All this rain and humidity a concern for drying?

[Peter Kaulback]

Ron ,we have soil with high clay content (75-80%) so I just added some 
straw for the insulating layer and it worked out well, you can see it 
here http://thesilverwheel.blogspot.com/.

Pulling out the sand was easier than I thought but next time I'll either 
make the oven smaller or have a wider door. This void is 40 inches in 
diameter, and my shoulders got hung up on the doorway, but it worked out 
fine.

Peter Kaulback

Ron Becker wrote:
> What did you use in your insulating layer? I was thinking of just 
> vermiculite with enough clay to bind it. But now I'm having second 
> thoughts and thinking of adding straw to keep down the cracking. I will 
> be using the burlap/slip layer under a lime based plaster.
> 
> Good luck with your oven
> 
> Ron
> On Jul 23, 2006, at 8:40 PM, Peter Kaulback wrote:
> 
>> I have a cob oven with only the insulating layer added, haven't 
>> decided on what kind of plaster yet. Now with all the continual daily 
>> rain plus high humidity I'm concerned that the oven may not dry out 
>> any time soon. I was kind of hoping to have it dry out on it's own, 
>> but it's spent almost all of it's time under a tarpaulin, and now I'm 
>> thinking I might fire it early. Last summer it would have dried out in 
>> no time at all :)
>>
>> And on the subject of plasters, is there any health concerns with 
>> using a manure based plaster? Or rather possible concerns if the oven 
>> is used commercially?
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Peter Kaulback
>>