Papercreters: [papercreters] low tech wringer washer as mixer [2 Attachments]

Thursday, October 18, 2012

[papercreters] low tech wringer washer as mixer [2 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Charmaine Taylor included below]

While a cement mixer will flop the shredded paper and cement around the drum and mix it ok, I've heard it really isn't that great, but better than by hand. tipping a cement mixer up so the mouth is facing up might make the mix better, but you can't use the same amount of water as in a tow mixer as the blades are not there to do the mixing. you can drain thru a screen I suppose and reuse the water, but I have not heard of much success with a cement mixer.

I use no cement in my mixes, calling it paper cob, or sawdustcrete when I use different dry materials. We have small ground redwood sawdust, it is already rot and insect resistant, and perfect cause it is free. other sawdust is good too since it is being coated all over with a clay and lime it will be fine as a filler material. the clay I use is harvested from the ground so it has all the sand I need i it, or you can add aggregate or fine sand, etc.

an old fashion wringer washer from the 50's is perfect mixer for all ingredients except the cement, here's how.

I take either CROSS shredded paper, clay, water and let the washer chug away...it has a propeller in the center that twists quickly 180 degrees then whips back, as water is added first, then paper dumped in all the bits get wet, then clay-- wet or dry is added, and the mixing continues.
spaghetti shredded paper can work, but only as a material that is packed into forms, not as a plaster.

it is safe enough to use your arm to drag along the outside of the drum to push clumps of paper or clay inward.

I knew of a woman who used a regular top load washer, and only created mess, so go old school. you can take off the wringer head, not needed, but it is cute.

letting the washer run for hours is great and ensures full contact with all paper...and it makes a soothing chugging sound. (taking me back to childhood days of mom using one)

at the very end you COULD add cement, let it mix several minutes then you have the task of lifting out the mix by bucket/, it can't drain out the water hose cause it's too thick.

with just clay and no cement you still have to hand remove, with the propeller center being in the way. distance from center blade to wall of drum is 16" or more, enough to easily access the mass.

OR mix all but the cement, remove to another drum or tub, add the cement and mix with a large paint stem blade on a drill, takes a short time, and isn't a lot of work. you could do it assembly line with 5 gal buckets...just measure in the cement to a 5 gal bucket, add the wet paper mix and then you have portable bucket of ready to use papercrete to mold, dump or pour.

if no cement is used the mix can sit for months as long as it is kept moist or covered, adding water works. I add lime too to the original mix and the material resulting is wonderful.. it can be dumped on a window screen and left to drain back into the washer, and as it gets drier it becomes more sculptable, you can make /shape garden ornaments, creatures, pottery shapes, pack it into forms, use as a plaster, etc.

if you use cement you'd have to make sure you cleared the full drum, and hosed it clean or get a crust build up in the drum, and the drain hose.

even if you want to use the washer to break down dry clay/sand into a soft useble mass this is a perfect mixer, NZ natural builders and artists use them all the time to make wall plasters, ready clay for projects, etc. the clay can sit in the drum breakig down in water for weeks, then the unit is turned on, mixing blends the clay well, and it it's ready to use
--
Charmaine

Charmaine Taylor/Publishing & Elk River Press
PO Box 375 Cutten CA 95534
www.papercrete.com

Robert Heinlein (1907-1988) "There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him."