Adobe Craft

At a glance..

This is a technical manual which seeks to bring together in one volume significant information from various sources bearing on small scale adobe production.

The details..

"Adobe construction has been used for centuries around the world," begins the Adobe Craft Manual by Karl V. Schultz, an expert in this field of study. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to producing adobe bricks and building with them, covering everything from soil selection to curing and finishing techniques.

Schultz's interest in stabilized soil as a basic multi-use molding material began when he was part of an American Friends Service Committee college-age summer work camp in Torreon, Mexico where they constructed an adobe building to house a cotton gin. Over time his fascination grew into experimenting with designing simple, inexpensive yet efficient equipment for making adobes which led him down the path of writing this manual.

The fourth edition of The Adobe Craft Manual chronicles Schultz's journey through delights and disappointments on his safari discovering bits of new information about producing quality bricks while collecting soil samples across Northern California. It also includes cost estimates for production along with competitive materials available at that time (1983). Building solid wall or post-adobe constructions are covered extensively along with roofs and floors finishes; landscaping ideas using adobes are included too!

For anyone interested in learning how to produce their own high-quality sustainable building material or looking to build their dream home out of natural resources found locally - The Adobe Craft Manual is your go-to resource! With step-by-step instructions accompanied by illustrations throughout its pages- it's easy enough even if you have no prior experience working with mud-based materials.