Cob: Re: sawdust/clay/lime (was: Clay & Bool walls)

[Charmaine R Taylor]

Hi, well I have not had them compression tested, but I do not think they are as strong as pressed adobes.  I can stand on one with my
(not unconsiderable) weight and they hold up fine. But a constant jumping or pressure will break them. the ones that cure longer are
stonger, due to the lime setting stronger I believe.

I like the material as a formworks POUR...not intending to make puny 3x8" bricks...the forms allow for a coblike monolithic strength, of
course it must be plastered to protect from driving rains.

Charmaine

Great Spirit Software wrote:

> > Also papercrete can be plastered over with cob and rocks, thus making a fast
> > built wall which can be poured ( the papercrete part), once fairly dry, plaster
> > that puppy with clay/cob.   I like the IDEA of papercrete.. but you are not
> > limited to just paper..I use sawdust, clay and lime to make "cobwood" a pourable,
> > sculptable mix. more earth friendly, ssaawdust is plentiful here locally, and
> > lime stabilizes the clay, makes a natural cement
> >
> > Goes up fast, can be shaped, dries faster, and uses no cement. tada!  Almost free
> > and easy to do.
>
> Hey Charmaine,
>
> Just out of curiosity, how strong is that sawdust/clay/lime mixture? Any suggestions as to ratios? (I know, like all earth mixtures,
> experiment!) I generate BAGS of sawdust every week -- it's amazing how much a sawdust a planer and jointer will generate! -- and
> aside from using it in the outhouse (mixed with lime, it does a great job of absorbing moisture and odors), I'm always interested in
> finding new building materials.
>
> Chris