wood chip bales

Posts : 98 Join date : 2014-02-13

Straw bales are somewhat popular for alternative building, but straw is costly where I live. We have a lot of wood chips free for the hauling. How do you bale the wood chips? Can a hay baler be used?

I'd like to build a workshop. This type of construction appeals to me as it would be well insulated and quiet ( I might use power tools at night and not disturb the neighbors ).

Admin Posts : 913 Join date : 2013-10-07

Tim I have never heard of anyone using a baler to bale wood chips.
However I think I have some favorites videos on my youtube channel where some guys have figured out how to bond the chips into building blocks that can be cut and shaped for building structures.

They do not share their secret sauce.

Posts : 98 Join date : 2014-02-13

Some companies sell baled wood chips for landscaping. I don't often see baled straw for sale, and when I do its too costly for me use for a building project. In parts of the country where lots of wheat is grown straw is low cost.

I could use some heavy cardboard, place is in a form, then pack in wood chips, then tie with twine as a bundle. That might work but would be relatively loose. Some used 1/4-inch plywood might work okay. The biomass bale needs to maintain shape and be stackable.

Posts : 126 Join date : 2013-12-12 Location : Sheffield UK

I found this

http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US4036359

Subject: Re: wood chip bales Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:20 pm

so just compressing them? no additive?

Posts : 126 Join date : 2013-12-12 Location : Sheffield UK

The lignum in the wood become a type of glue when the heat builds up as the wood is put under pressure

Guest

jameshookway wrote:: I found this

http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US4036359

Much Larger Version of a small wood pellet ! :P

Guest

Tim Keith wrote:: Straw bales are somewhat popular for alternative building, but straw is costly where I live. We have a lot of wood chips free for the hauling. How do you bale the wood chips? Can a hay baler be used?

I'd like to build a workshop. This type of construction appeals to me as it would be well insulated and quiet ( I might use power tools at night and not disturb the neighbors ).

What type of alternative building with straw bales are you referring?

I would think, that straw bales would be an open invitation for rodents ? albino

Posts : 33 Join date : 2014-01-02

dkwelder wrote:: What type of alternative building with straw bales are you referring?

I would think, that straw bales would be an open invitation for rodents ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw-bale_construction

Take a look at this link. The little church pictured there is only about 30 miles from my home and was built in 1928. They basically use the bales like big bricks and coat them with stucco/clay/whatever to seal them from the elements. Good construction method that's been around for thousands of years.

Posts : 98 Join date : 2014-02-13

The bales are usually covered with stucco, but wood siding is sometimes used. The bales are treated for insects and mold with chemicals that are non toxic (to humans), ordinary baking soda can discourage mold etc. Straw bales sometimes have moisture and mold problems

I looked on craigslist and saw cheap plywood and dimensional lumber that was temporarily used in a recent building project. If I used biomass for insulation I might just make a thick wall. It is just an idea I'm kicking around. Lots of older building used sawdust for insulation. An 18 inch thick wall would also be quiet. If I did some work in the evenings the neighbors wouldn't hear me. Tightly packed bales are fire resistant, which is a good thing as most insurance companies won't cover this type of construction. This would be for a workshop heated by a rocket stove, also fueled by wood chips.

Guest

Josjor,

Thanks for sharing that link, I would have never guessed ? I was caught up in the 3 little pigs story! :P I guess anything is possible. Very Happy

Here is a link, if you have never seen a house built from Conex containers, I have often considered something similar. The Red Neck Hillbilly, that I is! rabbit

http://1stvillager.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/build-a-great-house-for-under-10000/

I have seen people in Alaska, take these same conex shipping contains and construct a workshop out of them. Just by spacing two singles or doubles stacked, apart and putting up trussed between them, with a solid wall in the back and sliding doors on the front. Cheap workshop with lots of storage ! Very Happy

Guest

Tim Keith wrote:: The bales are usually covered with stucco, but wood siding is sometimes used. The bales are treated for insects and mold with chemicals that are non toxic (to humans), ordinary baking soda can discourage mold etc. Straw bales sometimes have moisture and mold problems

I looked on craigslist and saw cheap plywood and dimensional lumber that was temporarily used in a recent building project. If I used biomass for insulation I might just make a thick wall. It is just an idea I'm kicking around. Lots of older building used sawdust for insulation. An 18 inch thick wall would also be quiet. If I did some work in the evenings the neighbors wouldn't hear me. Tightly packed bales are fire resistant, which is a good thing as most insurance companies won't cover this type of construction. This would be for a workshop heated by a rocket stove, also fueled by wood chips.

Maybe some type of dug in earth home design? I have heard people talk about how easy they are to heat in the winter, and cool in the summer. Idea

I didn't mean to set your topic post, a drift.

Posts : 126 Join date : 2013-12-12 Location : Sheffield UK

How about these!

http://www.urban75.org/london/trinity-buoy-wharf-container-city-2.html

Guest

jameshookway wrote:: How about these!

http://www.urban75.org/london/trinity-buoy-wharf-container-city-2.html

Just like a Bridge, You build it, and people will come to cross it ! :P :lol!:

Posts : 98 Join date : 2014-02-13

The shipping containers are practical. I could use one of those.

Posts : 33 Join date : 2014-01-02

Unfortunately, as steel prices have gone up, so have the prices on used shipping containers. One of the civic groups I'm involved in was looking at getting one for storage. It turned out to be cheaper to just build a post building.

Guest

Josjor wrote:: Unfortunately, as steel prices have gone up, so have the prices on used shipping containers. One of the civic groups I'm involved in was looking at getting one for storage. It turned out to be cheaper to just build a post building.

Don't Talk to loud, The prices on those stick building like to keep going up as well! Not to mention, a good concrete slab and a metal roof over asphalt. Nothings cheap anymore.

Admin Posts : 913 Join date : 2013-10-07

That is high in my priority list as well, a container home with a twist, really, no hard right angles will be on the build so as to sustain high winds with no problems.

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