[Strawbale] Plywood vs osb for gussets

[Ken Simonelis]

 Well Craig !
           Now you've given me considerable " meat to chew on "! You're right about being in Rural Alta. and not having aggravation of dealing with code. however, that being said we still want to build well and so your comments about beefing up the joints are received with welcome appreciation. In the other buildings that went up twenty something years age there was no glue or gusset reinforcing used ( didn't know about that high tech stuff in them days ), and they seem to be holding out well. But I'm thinking that is due much more to good luck than good management ! That and the fact that the buildings are only 16' wide and strapped inside and and out with 2"x4" , 24" o.c.
             Rest assured that further arches will be braced, glued, screwed and tattooed . As I think further about this matter I'll probably spring for the genuine article and get some plywood, ( which will also be braced , glued, and nailed according to pattern ! )
             Thanks also to Bill Bloom in New Mexico, who also pointed out the wisdom of using properly cut angles on the main structural members and to use lots of GLUE. If I get this thing framed up before the snow flies next fall, I'll try to post a picture on the other list. I think it may make a relatively quick. simple, and cost effective ( cheap ) Insulated envelope that one man or a man/woman team can put up fairly quickly and be sufficiently durable so as to be worth doing. Thanks to all who took the time to share their know-how on this one. 
                                                                                                                                    Cheers, Ken