CEB Day 9
Progress is good. We finally worked out the hydraulics. The problem was a bad valve, so we got a new one. Now the cylinder can move up and down. I also mounted feet to the CEB frame, so it can stand upright. I just talked to David Pears again. He pointed...
Only a drop to drink
When it rains I dance. I laugh and even clap my hands. I hug whoever or whatever is at hand. My joy springs not from the new layer of silt that has eroded from our hill nor from the layers of mud that coat the bottom of my shoes, which leave heavy prints...
CEB Day 7
Today I spoke with David Pears, the designer of the AECT CEB machine. We talked briefly on the subject of the open source CEB design. One suggestion that becomes clear is to weld on reinforcing stops to hold the 20 ton pressure of the hydraulic cylinder....
Small Farms Conference
Today was another tree cutting day for me. I cut about twenty trees, and adding yesterday’s work, it may be enough. Hopefully, tomorrow we will drag the the trees into the field and then I’ll split them into logs. I think an optimistic goal...
Death Trap
Despite the nightly freezing temperatures, the bees are still collecting pollen. From where? All the flowers outside are brown and shriveled, marking the end of summer. Yet, the warm days compell the bees out of their hive to find the last remains of...
CEB Day 4
It’s Monday, and back to work on CEB. First, I must say that the entire device follows Design for Disassembly (DfD), as well as lifetime design. This is beneficial for prototyping, as changes may be made readily without having to start over. This...
CEB Day 2
Yesterday I was able to start the cylinder rod mounting scheme. Some acetylene torch cutting of the holes, trimming 1†plate to size, grinding, and welding were the tasks required: The compression plate is still not complete as a whole, but it’s...
Heat Exchanger
Yesterday we tested the heat exchanger for the greenhouse stove. In winter, the greenhouse stove heats both the greenhouse and the rest of our facility. We have PEX tubing running from the greenhouse to our house, with in-floor heating for the homes....
Back to CEB
November 1 is when I have finally returned to complete the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) press. By November 30, we will have a working CEB press, spitting out between 3-5 bricks per minute. This is the holy grail of building, as the most advanced natural...
