We are using the manual CEB press we have. It is a third world missionary device that creates a block that has all the advantages of adobe but the block can be used imediately in the wall. I designed the press based on the standard 3rd world ceb press. We have made a dozen or so for missionaries ($550) who want to experiment with CEB but not invest in the powered press ($15k minimum). We are now learning about pressing PAPERCRETE!
The press is lever action pushing a piston into a block chamber and also ejecting the block from the chamber. I have already adapted the press design to make 4 blocks. The preasure for CEB is 1000 plus pounds per square inch. A civil engineer told me 100 is sufficient for concrete. So the new press will be made from 13 gauge steel not 3/8 steel. Bolted not welded. Pressing concrete makes it stronger - I have been told. All I want is a uniform block that will not compress fracture when stacked under the weight of a wall. The civil engineer who advises me is in Pakistan - US and French educated. He is not interested in Papercrete - period! He has all the dirt at his feet and $250K invested in a CEB block machine that is revolutionizing his area - back to the time Moses!
CEB uses a slurry solution clay as the adhesive - 1/8 to 1/4 inch. The blocks are in essence welded to gather as in pottery making. Is this possible for Pappercrete? That is my hope. The uniform blocks can then be stacked easily because the masonry mix is not a filler. I will consider adding LEGO block like alignment knuckles if the press works as expected.
I am at the learning stage. CEB has been stopped in Houston costal area by the label "mud hut". Once it is built no one complains. But you need to be on 5 acres. Two real estate developers approached me to assist with a 150 home green community concept after they saw a tradeshow and video I designed for a San Antonio CEB machine maker. It was an interesting 3 months - the area was cleaned and organized to my specs. Then while I was off with a trade show - trailers were installed! They went broke and the area is now a slum! Will always be!
__._,_.___----- Original Message -----From: JUDITH WILLIAMSSent: Friday, September 07, 2007 10:38 AMSubject: RE: [papercreters] Re: Papercrete vs CEB vs rammed earth vs adobe vs strawbale vs cordwood vs today'This is all very interesing and I look forward to your progress. I know there is a great advantage to using papercrete blocks in the green state.
You are making them singly. Could this be done to make several at a time? Is this sort of like a tortilla press? Could I use my existing form which is about
3' x 12 ' and somehow press the mix? Or does it require a lot of pressure, more than just putting something heavy on it? How about if I drove my
truck over it? To me, one of the big advantages of papercrete is its nontechnical nature. But if the blocks were far superior I would try the compressed ones. I haven't really been following this thread so don't know if it's been mentioned where you are. I'd love to see what you're doing. Do you
have pictures posted?
Sorry to be so clueless. I've been out of the loop for a bit.
To: papercreters@yahoogroups. com
From: slurryguy@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 11:53:58 +0000
Subject: [papercreters] Re: Papercrete vs CEB vs rammed earth vs adobe vs strawbale vs cordwood vs today's cul de sac common sense!
I'm confident that you'll be well pleased with the performance of
papercrete that is formed in compression. I look forward to learning
more as your efforts progress.
--- In papercreters@yahoogroups. , "pepperh" <pepperh@...com > wrote:
>
>
> Pepper and I have a house design originally planned with 4X10X14"
CEB (compressed earth block) blocks for the exterior walls. CEB
blocks are made from a modified adobe clay mixture that is dry
compressed in a 2 to 1 ratio. The CEB blocks have a natural
insulating quality - R factor is enormous but the real interest is
the 12 hour heat transfer. If the roof can also reflect or absorb
the heat you will need little or no AC. I have seen walls for a CEB
house built in 4 days by 5 unskilled workers. But walls comprise
only 17% of the original cost of a contemporary home. The foundation
is more expensive for CEB full load masonry walls. A oof that meets
the wall R factor it is more expensive. The savings are over the
long haul in utilities cost. CEB is a 3rd world DIY process
supported by companies that sell CEB machines and designs, and the
stand-alone "live in the woods" greenies. The cost factor was
predicted to be $30/square foot. I am stuck at $50.
>
> The CEB design construction problems are obvious.
> 1) You need 5000 blocks for our design (made by an onsite machine
with a cost of $1/block or you by hand press 0-25 cents/block) one
week to machine build and place blocks in wall. By hand - one month
part time. 250 tons of dirt!
> 2) The blocks are susceptible to water damage and must be protected
from direct rain during construction and stuccoed for weather
resistant exterior finish. 2' to 4' roof over hang.
> 3) Each block weighs 50#, causing workforce and material handling
problems.
> 4) Foundation weight load is excessive.
> 5) It is a labor oflove, not today's common sense.
> 6) While hands-on is possible, the house needs to be built quickly
because of the CEB block dissolve factor. (Although a palletful of
unused blocks had survived for several years under a tarp....except
one uncovered corner had dissolved.)
> 7) Subcontractors will do the work only if there is nothing else to
do.
> 8) CEB contractor specialists charge ridiculous rates based not on
skill and knowledge, but possession of a CEB machine.
>
> The financial issues are being sorted out. Building codes now
accept the process but local county engineers reject because "what
the hell is CEB". Insurance inspectors recognize the fire safety in
such walls. Utility companies recognize the power savings and offer
financial incentives. Financing is available - both construction and
long term. But where to build? Real estate industry does not want
CEB. Subdivisions boards refuse to accept the stucco surface as
masnry. Two Houston individuals did sneak CEB into subdivisions as
full load masonry construction but the battle to occupy was intense -
"IT'S A MUD HUT" was the neighborhood cry.
>
> In her hunt for materials for art, Pepper found papercrete. I took
an architecture construction class in 1966 that studied adobe, rammed
earth, straw bale, sod, log cabins, cord wood, sprayed concrete,
stone - available materials resources. The course closed with a
concrete and foam pebble interior - papercrete was never mentioned.
This course was part of a series on community and how we are
structured to live in them. All of this was very exciting but died
when white flight made subdivisions the standard. Are we back?
>
> Papercrete has caught my interest. I have used my small CEB hand
press to build some papercrete blocks: 7X10X4. Instead of
compressing for strength as in CEB I am pressing for uniformity. The
chamber is designed to compress dry loose adobeclay/dirt 2 to 1 -
8X7X10 chamber is filled and a lever piston compresses (20 foot
lever). 1 minute to fill, form and stack a block in the wall. I was
able to build a very solid papercrete block 7X10X4 in less than a
minute. Pressing the mixture forces the water out and the block
holds it shape.
>
> An engineer in Pakistan recommended that we use pine resin in the
process. This he claims will make the blocks more water proof.
Resin is very successful in CEB blocks but retards the block to block
adhesion.
>
> I am now building a press out of 13 gauge steel for paving stones
24X24X4. Because we are artists we can add a design plate for the
surface.
>
> Our first goal is to perfect the block construction. Then check
building codes. Then check financing. I have seen too many people
build CEB or adobe houses that could not be financed - thus sold -
and could not be insured. One could not be occupied until the
building nspector sorted through the CEB factors. The nightmare of
coordinating alternative construction methods with the subdivision
world is always amusing.
>
> I will post the designs in CEB and after I learn about papercrete,
post the modifications. My only real concern is the
compression/shear strength of the blocks. But I have a 30 ton
press! We will see. This is all very interesting!
>
> Anthony Hume
>
Make your little one a shining star! Shine on!
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