I will share something I learned from an adobe artist. If you mix oil (she used boiled linseed, but I used used motor oil--seriously its free and amazing) directly into the cob or adobe plaster, it transforms the stuff...gets sticky, plastic-like qualities and adheres like a dream, smooths like butter, and dries with zero cracking AND best of all is WATERPROOF. Rain beads right off. Works better than commercial wrstern one-coat or any other mud mix I have ever tried. Then you dont need a finish coat of oil. Her testing showed that topcoats of oil were not durable, flaked off over time. Test bricks infused with oil all through the mix survived years of exposure to elements beautifully. Save yourself some trouble, it works very well.
@@cobalot9 have fun with it! I dont recall the exact amount I used, just that it wasn't very much. A few test batches and you will figure it out easily, I am sure, because you already know what a good mix feels like.
if you have lots of bottles to fill in the pallets and they are empty, would it be better to fill them with dirt of to leave them empty? i am thinking of structural integrity, putting more weight inside the walls would it help or make it weaker? been following you for some time dude, lots of teachings to get from your videos, thanks.
Dear Miguel, my homestead is in Northern Nevada, we get intense triple digits in summer and up to six feet of snow in winter. Was contemplating using your economical and eco-friendly building technique to build an elevated igloo with root cellar. Just curious if the cob will endure frigid temperatures? I have plenty of sand, clay, and straw, cactus, and even limestone on the property. Thanks for any feedback.
Yes a pallet structure would be fine in those conditions however yes a straw bale structure would be better insulation however you would still need a heat source on the inside for the winter to stay warm
@@cobalot9 Yes, am thinking of incorporating a rocket stove heater on the ground floor. Will also use reflectix attached to the bottom floor beams. Am afraid of strawbale because some folks claim the straw will shrink and make the walls shift. I did watch the videos you made at Standing Rock. Thanks very much!
Miguel, the foundation with the stones, how are they sealed to stay stacked? With a cement slip? And if so...will any of the cob walls BEHIND that area get damaged? Or would it be better to do a drainage system around 1st before building? Thanks.
Can’t seem to find your video on your pallet fence. Is it insulated with trash and cob on the outside. I want to build a fence to block the traffic noise.
Yeah that's the great thing about this building is that most materials are free even the Earthen plaster... it's best to get help with the electrical from somebody with experience
@Miguel Cobalot I have property in Missouri, but I'd be getting most of my resources off my aunt's property. She owns over 100 arces of land. She won't mind if I gather dirt and trees :).
If its a small structure, diy electric is easy if you use a solar panel and a solar generator...no wiring, the "generator" has the inverter and charge controller and batteries internally, making it plug and play simple.
in south texas, putting those reed mats for the ceiling would give a great home to roaches... eventually the ceiling would be raining roaches and their poop on people.. you either go minimalist, and kill on sight, or spray chemicals to keep your home from crawling. roaches around here live wildly in the grass so they just re-infest houses super fast...
@@necrokittie2291 he also builds with strawbale and higher R value for places like Standing Rock. Actually the last standing building at Standing rock.
Miguel, thanks for sharing these videos. I’m preparing my property to build like this. You are my inspiration ❤
Wow Gabriel! That's so awesome! Hope my vids are helpful in your cob pursuits...
Do you have books on this process? If so, where can I get them?
I will share something I learned from an adobe artist. If you mix oil (she used boiled linseed, but I used used motor oil--seriously its free and amazing) directly into the cob or adobe plaster, it transforms the stuff...gets sticky, plastic-like qualities and adheres like a dream, smooths like butter, and dries with zero cracking AND best of all is WATERPROOF. Rain beads right off. Works better than commercial wrstern one-coat or any other mud mix I have ever tried. Then you dont need a finish coat of oil.
Her testing showed that topcoats of oil were not durable, flaked off over time. Test bricks infused with oil all through the mix survived years of exposure to elements beautifully. Save yourself some trouble, it works very well.
Interesting! I may try using that technique , thanks for the tip!
@@cobalot9 have fun with it! I dont recall the exact amount I used, just that it wasn't very much. A few test batches and you will figure it out easily, I am sure, because you already know what a good mix feels like.
if you have lots of bottles to fill in the pallets and they are empty, would it be better to fill them with dirt of to leave them empty? i am thinking of structural integrity, putting more weight inside the walls would it help or make it weaker? been following you for some time dude, lots of teachings to get from your videos, thanks.
Dear Miguel, my homestead is in Northern Nevada, we get intense triple digits in summer and up to six feet of snow in winter. Was contemplating using your economical and eco-friendly building technique to build an elevated igloo with root cellar. Just curious if the cob will endure frigid temperatures? I have plenty of sand, clay, and straw, cactus, and even limestone on the property. Thanks for any feedback.
I would say strawbale is better for what your looking for. Better Rvalue. Check out his school at standing rock. Cob finished of course.
Yes a pallet structure would be fine in those conditions however yes a straw bale structure would be better insulation however you would still need a heat source on the inside for the winter to stay warm
@@cobalot9 Yes, am thinking of incorporating a rocket stove heater on the ground floor. Will also use reflectix attached to the bottom floor beams. Am afraid of strawbale because some folks claim the straw will shrink and make the walls shift. I did watch the videos you made at Standing Rock. Thanks very much!
Miguel, the foundation with the stones, how are they sealed to stay stacked? With a cement slip? And if so...will any of the cob walls BEHIND that area get damaged? Or would it be better to do a drainage system around 1st before building? Thanks.
Can’t seem to find your video on your pallet fence. Is it insulated with trash and cob on the outside. I want to build a fence to block the traffic noise.
ruclips.net/video/lQtz8CpVhVI/видео.html
What do you use if you don't have fermented cactus juice??
How does cob work in S. NV/Amargosa Valley sand? It's very hot there too.
Hello Miguel how can I order one of your books?
Hi at this point the book is and they are pretty expensive I need to get a publisher to make copies for much less.
Can you cob over existing stucco?
Yes you can just do a thick clay slip over the stucco then Cob over it and make sure it doesn't get wet from above
What type of cactus 🌵 do you use?
Nopal
I could get all the materials I need for free, except the plaster. I'd be stumped on how to do electric though.
Yeah that's the great thing about this building is that most materials are free even the Earthen plaster... it's best to get help with the electrical from somebody with experience
@Miguel Cobalot yep! You've inspired me to at least build a small structure!!! I'm going to start working on gathering everything today!
@@ashleydawn8920 great! Best of luck with your project! I'm curious where you are building...
@Miguel Cobalot I have property in Missouri, but I'd be getting most of my resources off my aunt's property. She owns over 100 arces of land. She won't mind if I gather dirt and trees :).
If its a small structure, diy electric is easy if you use a solar panel and a solar generator...no wiring, the "generator" has the inverter and charge controller and batteries internally, making it plug and play simple.
in south texas, putting those reed mats for the ceiling would give a great home to roaches... eventually the ceiling would be raining roaches and their poop on people.. you either go minimalist, and kill on sight, or spray chemicals to keep your home from crawling. roaches around here live wildly in the grass so they just re-infest houses super fast...
Traditionally there was a central hearth in thatched houses and the smoke would deter vermin as it worked its way out through the ceiling.
@@astrogypsy might work in the winter but needing heating in south texas is maybe a month worth and broken up between each cold front.
@@necrokittie2291 yea and LA is pretty generally warm as well. Just letting my thoughts wander.
@@necrokittie2291 he also builds with strawbale and higher R value for places like Standing Rock. Actually the last standing building at Standing rock.
Plaster with a mix of limewash and borax?
Hi how do I get your book
Hi Miguel! I'm looking for cobbers in LA. Can I come by and chat sometime?
Hi Jade I'm not.in LA anymore. I don't know other cob builders there
@@cobalot9 Ohh okay, thank you for your reply! Blessings. :)
Do you do online courses?
I don't do online courses there are some other good online courses out there
I really need to contact u 😢I want to host a project on my land pls help me get a shelter
Gotcha. You can email me at cobalot9@gmail.com where are you wanting to build a cobin?