Thanks to Jaime Marin for this excellent find. This video shows how to build and use a handmade tube filler to make hyperadobe (raschel mesh) earthbag walls. The machine holds the funnel in place to help fill the tube and then rolls backwards down the wall. Note how they’re not using barbed wire because they’re using mesh, and the project is probably not in an earthquake zone. By the way, always use barbed wire on domes.
Curious about more earthbag building machines? Just search this blog for keywords mechanized earthbag. Also, our main website at Earthbag Building.com has more info on mechanizing the earthbag building process.
Is there anyone else who’s built one similar with an English video?
I haven’t looked. The problem is people use different terminology and so it’s hard to search things like this. But it’s simple enough for most people to figure out from this video. If you’re so inclined, please make a better video and send me the link please.
This is ingenious!
I think you could further increase safety and efficiency by adding 2 flat boards on either side of the machine. which could be swivelled down once the machine was on the wall. They should be fixed at exactly the width of the tamped wall to act as a guide to lay the tubing precisely on top of the existing layer. Clear as mud?
Hi Owen…I have some questions-
What is your opinion of building the roof structure first, and then building up the layers of a Hyperadobe house below (leaving the roof open just above the walls, in order to run and tamp layers, before completing the roof)?
Would it be ok to then seal the gap between the top of the wall, and the underside of roof with a cob/bottlewall/cordwood infill?
I just ordered your DVD…maybe the answers are in there.
Kind Regards,
Cath
Yes, you can do that. We’ve talked about this several times on this blog. This is a good technique in rainy climates. If you’re using metal roofing, you can tack it down initially with a few screws. Remove the lower portion above the walls when the walls get high. Then replace the roofing and finish screwing it off.
Thank you so much Owen!
I’m adding a link to a cool video about making beer bottle bricks on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3_0T4rGSM8
Owen,
I made a dome using mesh bags in a non-earth quake area and did not use barbed wire on the mesh courses. I thought I had read in multiple writings that mesh did not need barbed wire. Now I’m confused and concerned.
The main risk is during construction. You’re probably okay now. Each course is cantilevered slightly and can collapse inward. Large domes are particularly risky. That’s one reason why I keep saying domes are tricky. Read the Om Dome blog post.
Is your dome still standing? We are looking at doing a hyperadobe dome and cant find much info on it
OH MY!
what an awesome way to do this! thank you to the folks who developed this and made the video to show the world.
You have to hand it to these people, they found an ingenious way to speed up wall production, using a minimum of labor. Just wish I understood Greek.