triaxle
Well-Known Member
We have become aware of unhydrated lime drying techniques over the last two years. There was some good lime info at CarmeuseNA.com but the last time I went to the site it was down so I don't know if thats still a good info site but key word search for unhydrated lime or lime drying may be productive.
In two situations, the lime has allowed us to dry a roadbed sufficiently to pass state or county compaction and pave during a rainey cold period.
In both situations, the lime allowed a stalled project to be completed.
The most recent situation was 700' of a 3200' county road went through a valley with no sunlight all winter. Rain was spaced every three to four days and it wouldn't dry. We applied 15 tons of unhydrated lime to that section and passed inspection the next morning. The lime cost about $1500, took 3 hours to apply and work, and opened a housing development for far less than the debt service on the property.
For those of you who have not seen this work, here is some background.
Unhydrated lime is not agricultural lime. Its a lime that has been kiln dried.
When the unhydrated lime is tilled or disked into mud, there is an impressive chemical reaction during which the water is boiled out of the dirt, the dirt molecules are rearranged in a process that is similar to concrete setting up, and in several hours a hopeless site can be going again.
In soils of marginal structural character, application of the kiln by product, fly lime can often improve the structural characteristics of soils cheaper than digging out and replacing deficient soils.
I would be glad to share our experiences with any curious members but there are several areas where I would appreciate input:
1. Since this product is similar to talcum powder, we use a dumptrailer to transport it, buy the rice grit to minimize blowing, super snug the tarp and roll.
Since our method requires no rain during transport ( the impressive chemical reaction I mentioned can melt your truck), although most folks transport lime in trailers like dry concrete uses, I was hoping to get some transport insights from the other members.
2. The tools of choice for mixing the lime with soil for big sites are huge 800hp tillers that mix the lime to 18". For smaller jobs, we have employed tractor powered tillers and knife and disk harrows to mix the product.
Any insight into mid size tiller or other tools that you guys have seen that are more agressive than farm tillers but smaller than the 800 hp units?
3. We are getting our unhydrated lime from south of Birmingham which is a 400 mile round trip from North Georgia. Anyone familiar with any limestone quarries ( the ones where it always looks like it just snowed) in Western NC, Eastern Tennessee or North Georgia,...please advise.
Thanx
In two situations, the lime has allowed us to dry a roadbed sufficiently to pass state or county compaction and pave during a rainey cold period.
In both situations, the lime allowed a stalled project to be completed.
The most recent situation was 700' of a 3200' county road went through a valley with no sunlight all winter. Rain was spaced every three to four days and it wouldn't dry. We applied 15 tons of unhydrated lime to that section and passed inspection the next morning. The lime cost about $1500, took 3 hours to apply and work, and opened a housing development for far less than the debt service on the property.
For those of you who have not seen this work, here is some background.
Unhydrated lime is not agricultural lime. Its a lime that has been kiln dried.
When the unhydrated lime is tilled or disked into mud, there is an impressive chemical reaction during which the water is boiled out of the dirt, the dirt molecules are rearranged in a process that is similar to concrete setting up, and in several hours a hopeless site can be going again.
In soils of marginal structural character, application of the kiln by product, fly lime can often improve the structural characteristics of soils cheaper than digging out and replacing deficient soils.
I would be glad to share our experiences with any curious members but there are several areas where I would appreciate input:
1. Since this product is similar to talcum powder, we use a dumptrailer to transport it, buy the rice grit to minimize blowing, super snug the tarp and roll.
Since our method requires no rain during transport ( the impressive chemical reaction I mentioned can melt your truck), although most folks transport lime in trailers like dry concrete uses, I was hoping to get some transport insights from the other members.
2. The tools of choice for mixing the lime with soil for big sites are huge 800hp tillers that mix the lime to 18". For smaller jobs, we have employed tractor powered tillers and knife and disk harrows to mix the product.
Any insight into mid size tiller or other tools that you guys have seen that are more agressive than farm tillers but smaller than the 800 hp units?
3. We are getting our unhydrated lime from south of Birmingham which is a 400 mile round trip from North Georgia. Anyone familiar with any limestone quarries ( the ones where it always looks like it just snowed) in Western NC, Eastern Tennessee or North Georgia,...please advise.
Thanx