--- In papercreters@ yahoogroups. com, "Dave" <aquaponicdave@ ...> wrote:
>
> That is very cool. Looks like you used power steering pumps for the
> hydraulics? Mashing the PC blocks should make them dry out a lot
> faster, I wonder how much (if any) the insulation value will be
> diminished though. Oh well, as long as it dries out faster I'd say
> you're way ahead, just make the walls thicker! Definitely put a
> gauge on that thing so we can see how much pressure its putting on
> the blocks.
Dave, I know it seems counter intuitive but testing thus far as well
as anecdotal evidence suggests that some compression actually
increases the R value slightly. Obviously if you get to the point
where you have no air left or begin to break the portland-PC bond that
would not hold true, but otherwise compress away.
> Seems like maybe another way to build a press would be to use a log
> splitter; add a piston onto the ram and some kind of sturdy box onto
> the rails butted up against the back end. If it just bolted on it
> could do double duty as a log splitter and a PC press.
Yup. Just be sure to clean well afterwords and build yourself a water
trap system of some sort. It will extend the life of your log splitter
(rust is hellish) and save you money on the water since you can reuse
it and get a small amount of portland recovery that way.
- Ernie
