[GSBN] re tying half bales

Fri Oct 30 10:27:24 UTC 2009

Hello everybody

I modestly want to edit a reaction in the round of experts about the re
tying of half bales issue.

The Belgian bale builders (nice alliteration!) were indeed the ones that
demonstrated the clamp technique at the last ESBG. One year ago a creative
self builder showed us his “invention” and since then we show it at our
workshops. We also show the people how you can half the bales with the
needle technique. Experience tells us that self builders tend to take over
the clamp technique when they are building their straw bale house. It really
is very simple, fast and effective. Derek made a good description, but to
make it visible, I will try to find some pictures (after my short family
vacation, so I will be back to you next week on this issue).

By the way
 Eric, that self builder of the clamp technique, is a religion
teacher and he is building his post and beam straw bale house with his own
bare hands, no help, no machines, he probably gets some nice help of his
dear God
 So maybe, God is just helping us through Eric to a good technique
to half straw bales. That also means, dear Derek and dear David, that you
two are now the SB-global prophets of this technique, because you gave the
tip to GSBN

PS for Carol: we indeed had some not so compact strawbales at the
ESBG-workshop. Here is the reason: some proud fathers with profession farmer
sponsored the new school building with strawbales and one of them had never
made building straw bales before. But we couldn’t ignore his nice gesture
and used them.  You hopefully also saw good bales, for instance on Saturday
morning in the demonstration of the straw farmer Daniel. 

Warme strogroeten

Gigi – only a (parttime) “German” teacher – Goffin 

_____________________________   

Geert Goffin

voorzitster Casa Calida vzw

Strobouwplatform België

012 - 214 522

0477 - 03 82 55

www.casacalida.be

info at casacalida.be

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----- Original Message ----- 

From: David Eisenberg <mailto:strawnet at aol.com>  

To: (private, <mailto:GSBN at greenbuilder.com>  with public archives) Global
Straw Building Network 

Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:29 PM

Subject: Re: [GSBN] re tying half bales

Hi all,

I saw the clamp technique used at the ESBG, I think by the Belgian bale
builders. It impressed me with its simplicity and speed. I may have a photo
or two of this technique but don't have the drive with those pictures with
me at present. Derek's description accurately describes what I saw.

David

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 11:08 AM, Derek Roff <derek at unm.edu> wrote:

As others have mentioned, I haven't experienced this specific problem with
arm pain.  However, it might be more common than we imagine, since workshop
participants are likely to be unsurprised by being sore after a bale
raising, and unlikely to call us, even if the pain persists.

On the other hand (the right hand, usually), I have seen many workshop
participants with blisters or lacerated fingers due to the repeated abrasion
by the bale twine.  Usually right at the upper joint of the little finger,
where the twine feeds through the hand, as they are pulling it tight.

I consider this to be a more serious thing than the injured people do. It is
a surface wound, and if properly cleaned, it will heal quickly. But with all
the micro-organisms around bales, if it isn't cleaned, it has a good chance
of getting infected.  Bale frenzy tends to lead to people not taking care of
themselves.

At the recent colloquium in Oregon, someone (Chris Magwood?) referred to an
approach that was new to me.  They suggested using four bar clamps to divide
and compress the bale, before retying.  The head of a bar clamp is pushed
into the bale at the length of the future partial bale.  Then the screw part
of the clamp is brought up to the end of the bale, and tightened.  Use two
clamps per side, so four clamps are needed to divide a bale this way.  Next,
the strings are cut, and the bale divided.  Finally, the partial bale is
retied, without the need to provide much compression via the new strings,
since the clamps are providing pressure.  If the remaining portion of the
bale needs to be retied, the clamps can then be moved to that piece.

This approach is supposed to be faster and easier, eliminating all the work
with the bale needles.  I'm planning to try it.  Has anyone else seen this
approach?

Derek 

--On Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:32 AM -0400 Carolatkn at aol.com wrote:

Hi
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on re tying bales. I did a straw
bale workshop 3 weeks ago and my left arm is still throbbing from
making half bales. It is very painful. I've noticed this for a few
days before, but it is definatley much worse this time. It could have
been exacerbated by the fact that they only had the really thick
baler twine which is very difficult to pull through.
We call our knot the "truckers hitch" although I don't think that is
strictly correct - a loop on the end, a loop a hand width away,
threaded through and pulled in as tightly as possible and tied off.
So my questions are

Is this just me or has anyone else experienced something similar? I
don't want to be demonstrating this technique if I could be injuring
some one.
Is there a better way to do it or a tool perhaps that could take the
strain? I've seen someone use a pallet strapper but the best tension
is achieved with a metal buckle - could those buckles be a
condensation point in the wall? I've also heard of farmers making
half size bales but inevitably some adjustment will be needed so
customising will always be needed.

best wishes
Carol Atkinson
www.strawcottage.co.uk

Derek Roff
Language Learning Center
Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
Internet: derek at unm.edu 

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