[Strawbale] Alis plaster

[Athena & Bill Steen]

Orion,
Basically it's a paint rather than a plaster and if you translate the  
word correctly it simply means "smooth."
So a smooth clay paint is what you're after.  Depends upon the soil  
how you mix it.  If you go to a ceramic supplier and buy bagged  
powdered clay you will typically need to mix it with some type of  
filler.  In the SW a lot of people have used mica flakes, but could  
be anything like marble powder, whiting, depends what you have.  Add  
silica sand if you want some texture.  Usually this works somewhere  
around 1 part clay to 1/2 part filler.  If you simply window screen  
some type of soil most likely you want need any filler.  From there  
you usually benefit with some type of binder.  Depends upon what  
you're going over.  If it is a clay plastered wall you might get away  
with just the clay.  If something else then most likely you will need  
to add something.  Keeps it from dusting and falling off the wall.   
Popular one for a lot of people is some kind of starch paste as in  
wheat.  Easy recipe is mix 1 part white flour with 2 parts water,  
boil 1 1/2 parts water and then add the 1 to 2 mix.  When it thickens  
dilute it with 2 parts water to 1 part paste.  Then add your dry  
ingredients to the point that it resembles a thick latex.  You want  
to brush it on thick so that it covers, going over drywall and smooth  
surfaces will take more coats (typically.) Once it starts to set up  
take a tile sponge or something similar (damp) and work out the brush  
marks gently.  If you have mica in the mix it will help bring it  
out.  Other glues will work by the way, you would have to  
experiment.  This oughta get you started.

Bill
On Mar 29, 2007, at 12:42 PM, Orion Walker wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> I know this comes up from time to time, and there are probably some  
> good
> answers in the archieves, but I didn't find anything after looking  
> for a
> while.
>
> I'm looking for a good recipy for an Alis finish plaster.  I've  
> checked out
> a few books, seems that an Alis generally contains clay, fine sand,  
> and
> sometimes wheat paste, and a few other things like borax or mica.
>
> Anyone have a difinitive answer on a good mix?
>
> Thanks much,
> -Orion
>
>
>
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Athena & Bill Steen
The Canelo Project
HC1 Box 324
Canelo/Elgin, AZ 85611
absteen at dakotacom.net
www.caneloproject.com