SB: Re: Bread Dough, Earthen Plasters, Mixing Time

["Rene Dalmeijer" <rened@cistron.nl>]

Rob,

>OTOH, if mixing water (again with concrete & PC mortar mixes) is kept to a
>minimum, the mix will *appear* to be too dry (creating a strong temptation
to
>add more water... this is a Bad Thing) but as the mixing time is
lengthened, the
>mix becomes satisfactory... clearly a function of distributing the mixing
the
>available water uniformly throughout the mix.

I think you have hit the nail right on the head. A good mix coats all
surfaces with water i.e. stickiness is lost till enough drying has taken
place. So BIlls experiences might be pointing in the direction of a might to
wet mixture. I.e. add some dryness without creating lumps.

Another effect is that the earth plaster mixture could be acting as a
colloid suspension. A general characteristic of colloidal suspension's is
that a mechanical disturbance temporarily lowers the viscosity of the
mixture till it settles again. But I think that the first explanation is the
main culprit for the loss of stickyness.


Rene Dalmeijer
Sitting in a quaking mud pool in the reclaimed swamp at the mouth of the
Rhine.

donate some food, press the button
http://www.thehungersite.com




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