[Cob] Mortar Mixers

[Patrick Newberry]

I mean the it does not require much strength of the person working. 

I simply take the wheel barrel to my pile of earth. Fill it up only as much as I can handle,
push it up to the mixer. I take turns putting the water and earth in the mixer so it is just a bit on the wet side. 
I let it mix for a while (5 or 10 minutes). Then I pour it back in the wheel barrel. 

I push the wheel barrel over to where I'm working (remember I don't worry about having to fill it to the brim!, only as much as you can handle).

Then I sprinkle my straw on top and mix really just using my fingers. The mix is a wetter than the cob mix will end up since the straw soaks up some water. The resulting cob mix in my case is bit wetter than a lot of folks use so I can't quite go as high in one day, maybe about 8 inches a day. But since I generally work alone, it took all day to get around the house, and that was a pretty good day's work if you ask me so I never felted limited by the mix in terms of saying "Gosh sure wish I had more wall I could cob today..."

Really most methods can be adapted for strength requirements. The feet method works great, but I just felt this method was better suited for a group, where as my method seem, at least to me, to be better for working alone or in smaller groups.

Pat Newberry
www.gypsyfarm.com





-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Shultz [mailto:lee.shultz at westrimcrafts.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:56 PM
To: coblist at deatech.com
Subject: RE: [Cob] Mortar Mixers


Hi, Pat. 

Thanks for the info. In your last paragraph you write:

"The method does require much strenght...."

Is this what you mean or do you mean it does NOT require much strength? (I'm a rather patite woman.)

Does this cut down a lot on the time it takes to mix cob with one's feet?

Thanks,

Beverly

-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Newberry [mailto:PNewberry at HFHI.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 12:37 PM
To: Cob
Subject: RE: [Cob] Mortar Mixers


I've used an electric cement mixer extensively for making cob. On my second motor now. How ever the technique I use is to mix the sand, clay and water in the mixer, place that mix in my wheel barrel and then lay a layer of straw over the mud, make a cob loaf, put it to the side, make another etc. As the straw gets used, I add another layer. Eventually the mud is gone and I make another batch. 

The method does require much strenght since I really am only mixing single batches at a time. Plus I'm sort of short and the wheel barrel is not at a bad hieght for me to work :-)

Pat Newberry
www.gypsyfarm.com


Pat  



-----Original Message-----
From: Dulane [mailto:silkworm at spiderhollow.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 3:07 PM
To: Cob
Subject: [Cob] Mortar Mixers


Has anyone tried using an Imer Mini-Mix 60 electric mortar mixer? They are around $540 and they come with free shipping at
http://www.toolfetch.com/tools/minimix60.html
I didn't mean this as an advertisement, I just want to know if anyone has tried to use one for cob.
TIA, Dulane

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote." 
-George Jean Nathan
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