Hi Everyone,
This discussion regarding compressed blocks is very interesting. From what I have done so far with the blocks I would make a couple of comments. Light weight is synonymous with high insulation qualities in papercrete blocks. When you chew up a bunch of paper, water, cement, sand, and some lime, pour it into a box of some shape you are making something as easily as possible. When you add the complexity of an additional process and the necessity of delivering a slurry to the press you are adding handling time.
The other aspect of the DIY making of papercrete is that it solves the need for insulation as well as the need for compressive strength in a wall. Compressing the block does two thing that negates one of these wonderful attributes. As you compress the block, sure the uniformity of the finished product increases, but the trapped air is what is leaving the block to get it smaller and more uniform. There are two other things that are happening at the same time you compress the block. One is that you are making it heavier, the other is that you are using more paper to get the same wall out of uncompressed blocks. Maybe you don't like the light weight, and ease of making the blocks then go ahead and compress them. I need blocks that are highly insulated because of the northern climes I frequent. I don't particularly like the idea of having to find MORE paper to do the job with less. In order to have the same insulation of a 10" uncompressed block wall I would need a compressed block of at least 15" thickness (which means even more paer).
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This discussion regarding compressed blocks is very interesting. From what I have done so far with the blocks I would make a couple of comments. Light weight is synonymous with high insulation qualities in papercrete blocks. When you chew up a bunch of paper, water, cement, sand, and some lime, pour it into a box of some shape you are making something as easily as possible. When you add the complexity of an additional process and the necessity of delivering a slurry to the press you are adding handling time.
The other aspect of the DIY making of papercrete is that it solves the need for insulation as well as the need for compressive strength in a wall. Compressing the block does two thing that negates one of these wonderful attributes. As you compress the block, sure the uniformity of the finished product increases, but the trapped air is what is leaving the block to get it smaller and more uniform. There are two other things that are happening at the same time you compress the block. One is that you are making it heavier, the other is that you are using more paper to get the same wall out of uncompressed blocks. Maybe you don't like the light weight, and ease of making the blocks then go ahead and compress them. I need blocks that are highly insulated because of the northern climes I frequent. I don't particularly like the idea of having to find MORE paper to do the job with less. In order to have the same insulation of a 10" uncompressed block wall I would need a compressed block of at least 15" thickness (which means even more paer).
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