Dewey the Wringer Washer Mixer

You can use a 1950s Wringer Washer to Mix Paper/Fibercrete

I can tell you that building a MIXER to chop and grind paper is the biggest deterrence to papercrete production for most DIY'ers.

But you can avoid the whole mixer probem by using SHREDDED paper, or sawdust.

If you can acquire shredded (cross-shredded is best) paper from copy stores or legal offices, or use sawdust, chopped fibers from weeds/shrubs then you CAN use a washer as the mixer.

With finely shredded paper, or sawdust you can also use a regular cement mixer or paddle type mixer, and replace Portland cement with clay and lime instead, for a more organic, natural material. This organic mix can be used as insulative ceiling/ wall infill, and as cast blocks or bricks. However this formulation is not a "true" papercrete, and will perform differently from standard papercrete blocks.

Sawdust and altered paper mixes are known as Fibercrete, Cobwood, Paper Adobe, Hybrid Adobe, Slurry paper, Padobe, P.E.M. (paper enhanced mortar) and a variety of other creative names. Since this is such an experimental material, with no one standard formulation, there is much leeway to use mixes for a wide range of applications.

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About Dewey
Dewey, found in an old dairy barn in Humboldt county, CA, cost $40.and with a quick home paint job, is an excellent low tech tool.

Here's why. Dewey is on wheels, good for moving the mixer around on the patio. The tub is high off the ground, which is easy on your back for adding and removing mix materials. And the steady agitation is really all that is needed to mix this material well.

Learn more about making and mixing papercrete from the DVD- Building with Papercrete and Paper Adobe. And several other building DVDs on the VIDEO & DVD page

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How a mix is made:
A basic mix is 12-3-1- 12 fiber, 3 clay, 1 lime, plus water. Water is added, about 3-5 gallons.

Lime water can be used.

Soft clay is added (this is clay harvested from a roadcut or hillside, streambed, or otherwise free clay with any organic debris removed.)

About 2-3 gallons of clay, depending on the stickiness of the clay-sand ratio.

Turn on the mixer and let agitate for 30 minutes. Then begin adding soft lime putty, which is dry hydrate of lime that soaked in clean water for 48-72 hours, or more. Use approx. 1-6 ratio by VOLUME of lime putty to clay. Up to 30% lime to clay can be used. (too much is a waste of lime)

Let mixer run another 20 minutes to mix the lime and clay.

The add 9-12 parts (gallons) by VOLUME sawdust or shredded paper (cross shredded is best), shake into the tub, and assist the mixer by pushing the dry material into the clay.

Wear gloves at all times, lime is very drying and can burn sensitive skin, but it is not toxic or caustic.

Add more fiber/dry material as needed to get a soft dough-like mix. Let the mixer run another 30 minutes. The wet mix can be used right away, or can sit for up to a week; water will evaporate, and leave a more doughy, pliant mix better for sculpting as it dries.

I use wet mix to pour into brick forms, and dryer mix to plaster over bowl forms to make pottery. A really dry clay-like mix can be used to shape sculptures.

Papercrete pottery and stepping stones are virtually free, and a second layer of Tufa Stone mix can coat them to make very durable stone-like basins, outdoor containers and much more.

For great recipes and information order Making Concrete Garden Ornaments..$19.00-Item-#1078 or get the Papercrete & Paper Adobe book mentioned at top, which has extensive information.

Happy experimenting...for free! Charmaine Taylor, owner, www.dirtcheapbuilder.com