Forum:

Will my clay soil shrink

Posts: 2

posted 2 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I have studied building cobb ovens for years. Our neighbor just dug a pool. I got several loads of the soil. We are in SE Texas with montmorilinite soil, the heavy, black gumbo, sticky clay. My question:
Will this clay work for cobb if I add sand and straw or does it shrink too much?

Toni

Angela Wilcox

pollinator

Posts: 396

163

I like...

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

H Toni, Welcome to Permies!! Congratulations on your first post.

Joy to You

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4225

Location: Tennessee 7b

348

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Try it. Buy a bag of sand and make a few loaves at different percentages. Set them in a windowsill to speed drying.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

Glenn Herbert

Rocket Scientist

Posts: 4738

Location: Upstate NY, zone 5

680

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

And with these test loaves, make marks 10" apart while wet, and measure the distance after they dry. This is an easy way to get an accurate percent shrinkage measurement.

John C Daley

pollinator

Posts: 5891

Location: Bendigo , Australia

533

I like...

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Testing clay for its suitability has been well covered here and elsewhere.
Have you done any research for more information?

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
Benefits of rainfall collection https://permies.com/t/88043/benefits-rainfall-collection
GOOD DEBT/ BAD DEBT https://permies.com/t/179218/mortgages-good-debt-bad-debt

I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com