Cob Workshop June 2008

[ABJR23]

What is the name of this song? Thank you for sharing this video

[MerryChicky]

@ABJR23 I don't know. It's one that I got from the music exchange option from youtube. It is lovely, though, isn't it?

[MerryChicky]

@ABJR23 @ABJR23 I don't know. It's one that I got from the music exchange option from youtube. It is lovely, though, isn't it?

[laaaysuh]

I love this video! It's my dream to build a cob home! Thank you!

[MerryChicky]

@laaaysuh Thanks, glad you like the vid. I totally support that dream! There are some great courses and books on cob out there. So, have fun learning about it, then go for it!

[gotmaria]

oh I wanna do this!! Everyone should do this. I want to start out w/an oven outside!

[MerryChicky]

Great! Go for it! :)

[Achbar]

I would love to learn the art of Cob house building

[MerryChicky]

It's a great skill to have - not only can you build a house with it, but it's fun! (Really labor intensive if done by hand, but fun all the same.)

[Mikdeelo]

Beautiful!

One potential problem. How does one stop termites?

They certainly can dig into the cob and I would not trust a stone foundation not to crack, which would provide channels of entry.

I realize (yes I am in the US) that there are hundreds, of these buildings in the UK, some centuries old. So how did they stop the little bugs?

[MerryChicky]

I don't think I've ever heard of termites being much interested in cob. There's not much wood to speak of, and that's what they eat. If you are concerned about bugs or other pests, perhaps the addition of lime or borax? I've never worked with borax, and with lime only in morter or plaster. It does make in unappealing to pests, but is caustic to the skin. No foot mixing if there is lime.

[Mikdeelo]

Thank you for your answer.

No they could not hurt the cob, just the wood supporting the roof.

I'm no expert on termites, but I have heard they have quite a 'nose' for wood.

A pest exterminator told me of seeing a wooden ball on top of a 50 foot tall steel flag pole hollowed out by them.

They had formed their little mud tunnel inside the steel pipe all the way up to the top.

I'll find an(other) experienced cobber to ask.

Thanks agaain

[iseecheese]

would i be able to make a dome

[MerryChicky]

hmmm, I don't know about that. I"ve never seen a cob dome (other than as an oven.) Even then, you would need to give it some kind of shelter, because a cob house without a roof would eventually become a mound of mud.

[leahanna412003]

Wow! How cool!! I'm lovin' what I see. Thanks!!

[clauagui1]

heeeeeeeeeeee.....que bueno:)

me encanto!!

felicitaciones!!

[Damis101]

There is a cob bus-stop bench that was recently built in Oregon City very close to Willamette Falls Hospital. It was my first chance to experience what it feels like to sit on the warm and cozy, sun-soaked surface of the bench. It was amazing and wonderful!

[MerryChicky]

Sounds lovely. One of these days I'm going to make it out to Oregon and see all the nifty cob happening out there. :)

[NancyToday]

Were those straw bales? Interesting process!

[MerryChicky]

Straw was used, but only as an ingredient in the cob. We did use them to climb on when the walls got tall, though!

[Damis101]

Nice job on the video MerryChicky! I liked how you can see the actual techniques used in mixing the cob and the later clay plasters are done--Thanks!

[MerryChicky]

Thanks, glad you liked it. :)