various things....

["daedelus lanthanien" <daedeluslanthanien@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hello all,
Bill sent me a comment regarding linseed oiled sand joints in classic
masonary and the lack of info. I came across this a few years back while I
was looking into lime putty and old castle construction methods. I do not
remember where I was reading it. Wills comments on his work with lime
mortars revived my old questions. The mortars in our surviving castles was
not a setting type, it stays plasticine, even today between those massive
set stones. The problem this produces is damage from water impaction on the
joint removing this material. I read that once the stones are set oiled sand
is rammed in the joints to stop this. The stones can creep about but they
reseal thanks to this plasticine mortar that was used. Periodic maintenance
is required to fix up the oiled sand joint faces damaged from creep and/or
oil evaporation. That's about all I know of this, I would love to hear more
 from somebody with first-hand experience with these old castles.

More about wire saws.......
I do not think the throat face on these fine wire saws could be much more
than a inch. the fine wire probally does not have the strength to put up
with the increased throat. One could try modifying it, but I would be
cautious of a disgusting "sewing like" accident. I would feed the material
to it very, very slowly. Maybe try one of these "rods" in a table type
reciprocating jig-saw?
I was qouting wire prices from larger industrial wire applications which
cost $180.00 a foot.

Have a good day, daed