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natural building

Rammed earth jack rammer

Charles Laferriere

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Location: Quebec, Canada - 4b/5a

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posted 2 years ago

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Hiya,

My home/farm burnt down so I'm looking to rebuild. I've been looking into rammed earth buildings.

All the builders I've seen use those stick pneumatic tampers, which require around 38 cfm at 90psi, which requires a good compressor... which requires a generator in the 35kw-45kw range. I was wondering how feasible it could be to use one of those jack rammers that sits on the light side.

Thoughts are welcome.

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John C Daley

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Location: Bendigo , Australia

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posted 2 years ago

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If you put a thinner layer of soil in the walls at each rise, use an earth tamper.
Also, a smaller pneumatic unit would work, with the thinner layer.
Sorry to hear of your loss, can I ask what the cause was?

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
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R Scott

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posted 2 years ago

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You can tamp it with a stick, it just takes forever. Pros use the air tampers because they are the fastest.

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Charles Laferriere

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Location: Quebec, Canada - 4b/5a

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posted 2 years ago

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Hiya folks,

Thanks for chiming in and sorry for the delay... my home burnt down so I don't have a steady internet access nor basic necessities of life.

So.

Would this type of compressor work?
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/15KW-Portable-5-Bar-Diesel-Engine_1600735394124.html

I was quoted 830USD shipping included for a 64CFM diesel. That would be ideal... Now... are they overvaluing the specs on their machine?

I'd go with that and a Ingersoll rand tamper.

For the home... It's my fault. More details coming on. I'm kinda tired of repeating the story of my charred life...

Current thread: http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/list/54153#445492

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John C Daley

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posted 2 years ago

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Can we help in any other ways?

Ted Abbey

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posted 2 years ago

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Sorry for your loss, and best wishes on rebuilding..

David C White

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Is there a hydraulic tamper that would run off a tractor? That is what I was counting on.

David White

R Scott

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Location: Kansas Zone 6a

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There are hydraulic Jack hammers, but I have never seen a tamper.

Tampers have a much longer stroke than other tools, it is hard to adapt other tools without spending more than just buying good used equipment.

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