Here’s a bit of good news from Patti Stouter.
I just heard from Maurice Wilson that the raschel mesh tubing for Hyperadobe earth building has come in. He has a limited supply, but the manufacturer has sent longer rolls. These rolls up to meters long will still be offered at the price for meter rolls- $237 Canadian plus shipping.
This mesh tubing is easy to build with. It has a supple texture that rolls up on a chute and allows the earth fill to flow into place by shaking. Much easier to handle than stiff solid poly tubing. Mesh tubes sit solidly on each other and do not need barbed wire (although it can be added selectively if needed). This mesh is also easier to plaster than solid weave bags.
I used a red sample length in the gable of my shed and loved it more than the white or black bags or tubes above or below. Next building I build I’m using raschel mesh!
Contact Maurice at bagsupplies.ca to order.
[Note: We have lots of articles with thorough coverage of hyperadobe and raschel mesh. Use the search engine near the top of the page.]
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In this post I want to describe some of the differences in working properties between mesh and poly bags. Bag properties will vary between suppliers, so your experience may be different, but with our bags the results so far are very positive in favor of mesh bags in most every way.
– 1/4 the cost of poly bags in our area! (6.5 cents versus 27 cents.) This savings would be substantial on a full sized home. The cost difference is largely due to buying recycled bags at the farmer’s market. We’re using a product that’s in perfect condition, but would likely be thrown away. Poly bags have more uses and fetch higher prices even when recycled.
– Can add an additional 1-2 extra buckets per bag (6-7 versus 5). This creates longer bags with more overlap, which creates stronger walls.
– Can tie the tops of bags with one 4” piece of galvanized wire. I twist the bag closed, insert one end through the mesh, bend the wire over and poke the other end into the contents. This means you can use half the wire and close the bag in about one third the time of our typical method. (Small improvements like this add up over time.)
– Faster plastering due to better bond. (We’ve yet to verify this, but this is what I expect.) A previous post discussed improved bonding strength, but plaster work should go faster as well.
– We pounded the mesh bags very hard because the bond beam sits on this course, and yet there was no damage to the mesh.
– There was extensive drying in just a few hours.
Other comments:
– A slightly moister mix will reduce spillage through the mesh. Only 2-3 teaspoons of fine material fall out with this method.
– Requires a smaller bucket chute. We’re using a 3 gallon (11.4 liter) stainless steel bucket with the bottom and handle cut off. It’s 9” high and tapers from 11” wide at the top to 8”.
– A plastic bucket of similar size broke almost immediately. (Anyone else getting fed up with crap tools?) Might as well pay a little extra and have something that will last for years.
– Mesh bags are stretchier and take a second or two longer to insert the bucket chute.
– Mesh can tear if hit hard with the corner of a tamper. Round the edges of your tampers and hit the bags flat. (None of our bags tore, but this is something to watch out for.)
– Someone could experiment with double bags for seismic areas and report back their results.
Refer to our previous blog posts for more info:
Hyperadobe Update from Brazil
Open Weave Fabric: Ideal Working Properties
Hyperadobe Continued
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I was able to find some fruit and vegetable bags that seem to match what is being used in Brazil by Fernando Pacheco, the developer of the Hiperadobe earthbag system. What I’ve located is an open weave synthetic fabric, 5 x 10mm weave with 2 x 8mm openings. It has vertical threads and horizontal strips of fabric. They’re called raschel mesh bags or raschel bags in the industry. (Google those terms for lots of photos and details.)
My initial impressions are very favorable: extremely tough, no ‘give’ or stretch when pulled by hand and no sign of tearing during tamping. It has ideal working properties for earthbag walls in virtually every regard. In addition, the material looks almost identical to shade cloth that’s used to shade plants in nurseries and plant stores except it lacks the glossy coating. More testing is needed to determine its ultraviolet (UV) resistance.
Amazingly the 16” x 32” open weave bags expanded slightly to about the same width as standard earthbag walls once filled and tamped: 14-1/2” for open weave in comparison to 15” for poly earthbags. And the openings are just the right size so there’s virtually no spillage with our clay/aggregate road base mix. (The clay clumps the aggregates together like glue.)
So now we have another standard, commercially available product that works perfectly either by itself or in conjunction with poly bags. This to me is a game-changer, folks. Anyone sitting on the sidelines can now use this improved system to reduce costs and labor, and speed construction. I encourage everyone to buy a few bags and test this out. Your results may vary. We’ve already had one report of very weak vegetable bags.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website LANTON PACK.
Summary of benefits:
– Final wall thickness nearly identical to poly bags (about ½” narrower)
– Negligible spillage (maybe 1-2 tablespoons of dry crumbs fell through the bag)
– Excellent strength – perfect for earthbag building
– The rough texture creates more friction between courses, thereby eliminating the need for barbed wire on vertical wall designs (non-seismic areas only)
– Improved bonding with barbed wire if it is used (they’re drawn together almost like magnets and are difficult to separate)
– Enhanced bonding with plaster (it’s as if the bags are wrapped in plaster mesh)
– The open weave fabric is made with less material (about half as much), which lowers its environmental impact
– The bags are probably less expensive, because the merchant at the farmer’s market sold me the bags at less cost than poly bags, even though they were in perfect condition. I’ll report on the cost once I find the supplier.
– Much faster drying (noticeable drying in just one hour in the sun)
– More monolithic structure due to direct bonding between courses
– Standard, readily available product that’s sold locally as bags
– No doubt the same size tubes are available (bags are cut from tubes), which would speed wall construction
– Possibly greater UV resistance (yet to be verified)
– Ease of filling and handling: the fabric readily slid onto the end of a bucket chute and bunched up nicely (less stiff than poly bags)
– They handled almost exactly the same as poly earthbags (same skills can be used for both types of bags)
– No protruding corners
Both Kelly Hart and I see this as a major development for earthbag building. The only drawback we can think of is some loose fill material like sand, rice hulls or crusher fines will fall out of the openings.
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If you're in the agricultural industry, especially dealing with produce such as onions and potatoes, you understand the importance of proper storage solutions. One of the best options available is the Raschel mesh bag. In this article, we'll explore the numerous advantages of using Raschel bags for storing and transporting onions and potatoes.
Raschel bags are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) , Depending on the situation, you can choose virgin materials or recycled materials.making them durable and flexible. These bags are named after the Raschel knitting technique used in their production, which creates a net-like structure. This technique ensures the bags are strong yet breathable, making them ideal for agricultural use.
One of the primary advantages of Raschel mesh bags is their excellent breathability. Unlike plastic or paper bags, Raschel bags allow for air circulation. This feature is crucial for produce like onions and potatoes that require a well-ventilated environment to prevent rot and maintain freshness.
Raschel bags are incredibly durable, capable of withstanding heavy loads and rough handling. Their robust construction ensures that the onion bags and potato bags do not tear easily, making them an economical choice for farmers and suppliers.
The net-like structure of Raschel bags provides excellent visibility of the contents inside. This feature is particularly useful for quality control during storage and transport. Customers can also see the quality of the onions or potatoes they are purchasing without having to open the bag.
Many Raschel bags are made from recyclable materials, making them an environmentally friendly option. Unlike single-use plastic bags, Raschel bags can be reused multiple times and are easy to recycle.
Raschel mesh bags are relatively inexpensive compared to other storage options. Their durability and reusability further add to their cost-effectiveness, providing excellent value for money.
Another significant advantage is the ability to customize Raschel bags. They can be produced in various sizes, colors, and designs to meet specific requirements. Some suppliers also offer options for customized branding, which is beneficial for marketing purposes.
Onion bags made from Raschel mesh are ideal for storing and transporting onions. The breathability ensures that onions stay fresh and dry, reducing the risk of spoilage.
Similarly, potato bags made from Raschel mesh are perfect for potatoes. The durability and flexibility of these bags allow for the safe transport of heavy loads, ensuring the produce remains intact.
With the development of society, labor costs are getting higher and higher. More farmers choose fully automated packaging to improve work efficiency. Therefore, raschel mesh bag roll is the best choice for fully automated packaging equipment. Now more and more farmers will choose raschel mesh bag roll for fully automated packaging to reduce labor costs.
In summary, Raschel mesh bags offer various advantages that make them the preferred choice for storing and transporting onions and potatoes. Their breathability, durability, and visibility make them stand out as an excellent investment for anyone in the agricultural sector. Moreover, their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness add to their appeal.