[Strawbale] Carbide Lime

[Stone Tool]

	I have finally gotten around to inquiring about the huge pile of 
carbide lime available locally...... about 100 miles from home.  As I 
had expected it is free for the hauling...... but I have to load it 
myself.      I probably will go down and load a drum or two to 
experiment with in making my own stucco mix....... I have a truck load 
of bales...... bought a two ton truck the other day for the 18' van 
body, power lift gate, and brand new 20" rubber on an auction...... 
stole might be a better word as I got it for a mere $1000.00 ........ 
and it had several tons of bales in it as I discovered after the 
auction...... Doesn't run but who cares??   The bales are actually 
crested wheat grass hay..... which is what I probably would have used 
anyway rather than actual straw.

	Anybody have any estimates of quantity of lime required per cubic foot 
or cubic yard for stucco...... I am assuming that a 20% cement / 80% 
lime based  mix would be about right.   It'd like to work up an 
approximate quantity for my wall footage so I can accumulate what I need.

	My other concern is what chemical state this lime is actually in...... 
I can get it pretty fresh from the acetylene plant, or get it many years 
old... any ideas on this?   No doubt some of it would have reacted to 
CO2 in the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate again, though it should 
be pretty well hydrated having come out of an acetylene plant where 
calcium carbide is reacted with water to create calcium hydrate and 
acetylene......... I must admit to being eager to see what actually 
transpires when I mix up lime, sand, water, and a bit of Portland.

	Any thoughts or first hand experience???


                          H.W.