Cob fiber

Ah, cob. Love it. It has such a cozy feel to it.

So. This fall, I may have the opportunity to get some cob going.

I'll dig out the clay from where I live, as well as sand as I'm lucky enough to live in a place that has both. Just gotta dig deep enough.

Though for the fiber, I'm wondering. Is there a substantial difference between different type of fibers? Locally, I've got straw pretty much for free. Could get my hands on soy. And there are hemp bales at 50$ a piece. That sounds pretty marketable.

I'm been looking at hempcrete too... so I guess all those "*cough*crete" and a mix of either lime or cement with a fiber, such as hemp shiv, saw dust or even paper? Where as cob is only sand/clay/fiber --- so it doesn't have that strong caustic reaction that cement/lime has?

So. Who's gonna light my candle tonight?

Thanks!
Pre-cobbing Charles

Charles Laferriere : Hold out for Oat and Barley and Wheat straw even if it has been part of the 'Bedding' For Horses or Cows !

If so it will be cheaper !

Whth a deep and sturdy Rubble Trench you should be able to totally avoid the major downfalls of[b] '' Portland ''[/b] Cement !

It is also possible to build semi-conventionally without using any Portland Cement

Specifically, there is a case to be made for inclusion of Sodium Silicate and Potassium Silicate within cob construction, this

seems to provide you an Earthquake structure with thinner walls !

This IS a good answer for the questions asked ! for the crafts Big AL

Once again, thanks a ton Big Al!

Love those magic key words opening up my understanding on natural building