You typically don't need a release agent with papercrete, since it shrinks as it dries out.
Greg
From: MotherReiver <motherreiver@yahoo.com>
To: "papercreters@yahoogroups.com" <papercreters@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: [papercreters] Simplicity
Will do! Today I hope to get some forms made and if I'm lucky, will start my first batch :)Oh, I think either here (or elsewhere) I was trying to figure out release agents - someone suggested flour, I have lots of old flour (not suitable for baking) I will have throw out because it was forgotten in a pod for 4 years - might be a good release agent I hope :)From: spaceman <Spaceman@starship-enterprises.net>
To: papercreters@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: [papercreters] Simplicity
That sounds like a great starting place. For pc in/on the ground I normally increase the portland to paper ratio like that. For a retaining wall you might want even more sand since insulation isn't a factor.
Once you have a bucket of pulp you can divide it up before adding anything else and make a variety of test blocks to see what you like best. It may be days or even weeks before you can see what develops as it cures and dries but you will see right away what is workable.
Be sure and post your results, and we love photos here :) You can even insert them into your post, though putting them in the photos area is more permanent. Yahoo doesn't save attachments and digest readers don't see them.
On 5/28/2013 1:30 PM, MotherReiver wrote:
Thank you spaceman and all - this truly helps. So, I believe I will (division of your measurements and packymcks's method for portable mixers) use a combination of 1) shredded paper (60%?); 2) Portland cement (20%?), sand (20%?) and throw in some borax and water it up until I like the consistency, since my dirt has little clay properties being that I am high on a mountaintop surrounded by granite :)I probably should use maybe a little more Portland cement in the stepping stones for strength??Mother
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