straw bales

[matty]

Now, I have another little issue today...can anyone give any tips on making a straw bale maker? I have searched (and searched) the net for some sort of simple plan, but alas! I know they have been around since the 1800s.....I want to make one that can be pulled by a donkey though. And I am afraid to say I really don't know how to go about it. This is from scratch... should be actually quite interesting, I think. But I just don't get it. A revolvoing (big) fork? Is that the basis?

[Muddypause]

I've just spent the weekend on another strawbale building course, so if I'd seen your post earlier, I could've asked someone there.

I think I know the basic principle - an arm folds the straw across in front of a compressing plate that whacks it against the tension of the strings, the process being repeated until the bale is long enough. The clever bit is tying the strings off.

You are right about there being very little information about this on the web, though. I have just asked on one of the strawbale building forums, so if I get any replies, I'll forward them on.

[matty]

Wow. That is quite something. i never knew there were straw building courses. What amazes me more and more these days is that in order to learn to do anything, you have to learn it especially! Especially when it comes to more traditional activities. Like Playing With Fires' thing. Or straw bales building. This is like the IITA. They come up with amazing methods and varieties of staple crops, yet the people who need it the most will never have access to the locations in which information or strains can be found - internet, magazines, universities and things.
But, before I start going on...that sounds good Muddypause. Is this the sort of course where you learn it for house making? Are you learning how to make the bales, or just use them? From what you have said in your last post, it sounds like maybe the bales are just a long sheet of hay rolled up. But i won't jump to any conclusions yet. I sit here patiently. I will wait and see what comes up...

[Wombat]

G'DAy Guys,

I have a design for an entirely manual bailer - I haven't made it so I dont know how well it works. It is out of a series of books called "Cloudburst" and I photocopies it years ago form a library copy and have never seen the books since.

I could try scanning and see how it goes...............

Nev

[Muddypause]

In think we might be talking about different types of bale, Matty. The ones I am thinking of are rectangular, like large bricks, but you might be talking about the big round ones. It's still a mystery to me how the round ones are made - they seem to be densely packed, so they must be compressed in some way.

Rectangular ones are ideal for use as building blocks and there is an increasing use of them building houses, barns, sheds and other types of shelter. In a wet country like the UK we have to render the walls - usually with a lime or earth render - but I imagine in your more arid, hot part of the world, this might not be needed.

Strawbale building does use a lot of traditional techniques, but of course no one could build anything with them before the baling machine had been invented. It's generally reckonned that the first bale houses were built in Nebraska USA in around the late 1800s, but it wasn't until recently that it started to gain popularity in Europe. If you want to read more, this site is a good starting place, but the web has loads of other sites from around the world.

[matty]

Ok...Well, I had not chosen one as a preference, i just want to have bales of hay and not piles of it! But on afterthought, rectangular ones would probably be easier and smaller, and my guess is that Wombat's plans are for the rectangular kind. I guess they would be simpler to make manually..maybe. Plus, there are some very interesting htings out there on bales buildings (thanks for link!).
But if you manage to get those plans up on here Nev, I will let you know how well it works. Grass grows fast here, so it would be good to make the most of that. Although, right now, we are 1month with no rain, peak of main rainy season...so grass is a bit slower growing.
Not sure how bale buildings would do. the humidity would be a bit of a problem sometimes, here anyway, but further north I am sure they would be ok. But then further north, there is less grass, and it is usually grazed...but then if livestock was not free roaming..Anyway, the idea is worth pursuing. Look forward to those plans if you manage to get them up Wombat.

[Wombat]

No worries Matty, will try this weekend!

Nev