I am fascinated by alternative building methods. Cob building looks like the most fun. Stomping around in mud and straw sounds so primal. It does depend on the right proportion of clay. I don’t have any clay here. My attempts at cob house models crumble when dry. So it goes, my soil is great for growing vegetables but I have to eliminate it as a resource for cob.
Fortunately, I have another resource available. Every week I receive a newsprint advertiser. I rarely read it but this week I put it to use.
One half pound newspaper, three quarters pound ReadyMix cement, and water.
It took two blender loads to process the entire paper.
Much thicker than for paper making.
The second round of paper grinding.
I sprinkled the 3/4 pound cement over the top, stirred it in, then added another 1/4 pound cement.
I built a form to make two 12 x 7 bricks. I have the test brick squared up in one corner.
New form with test brick.
Almost ready for production. That would take about ten blender loads or 2 1/2 pounds paper and 5-7 pounds concrete to fill. I will go on from the blender method to a five gallon bucket and a drill operated blender.
1/2 lb. newspaper + 2 cups cement = One 8" x 5" x 4" papercrete block. Newspaper recycled and carbon locked.
Easily supporting 150 pounds
Gracefully balanced on a block of papercrete.
The finished product.
This is interesting. What’s the weight of such a brick?
The dried brick weighs 1 and 3/4 pounds but it may still be drying. The dried dimensions are 7 3/4 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2.
Hi!
Saltwatermatt here, from Stumbleupon.
I’ve been really enjoying your blogging, as usual.
Also, know anybody else who has been making newsprint/concrete bricks? Weblinks?
Down in Geelong it is alledged we now add the aluminium smelter pot casings from the Point Henry Smelter to the Waurn Ponds Blue Circle Cement Works. And old tyres.
Not sure about the particulate and gaseous pollution impact, but it’s seems to be considered a handy way of hiding those heavy metal leftovers.
Warm regards,
M