Replies

1. 
   BarryE | Oct 13, 2009 01:12am | #1

   I live in Iowa also. not sure I've seen rust colored. Maybe I've seen pink that was old, discolored and stained. a lot of the old vermiculite and a little of the wool

   have any pictures?

   ---

   Barry E-Remodeler

    

1. 
   toogroovy | Oct 13, 2009 03:52am | #2

   I've seen this stuff alot. It is most definitely rust colored. It is not faced in any way, looks placed in and it's loose (albeit tightly packed). Only in attics, never in walls. It's not roll or blown in like newer forms of fiberglass (if in fact that's what it is). Other than cellulose or batts it is the most common attic insulation I've seen in old houses around here.

2. 
   toogroovy | Oct 13, 2009 04:44am | #3

   By the way, I've seen the vermiculite once. Was replacing light fixtures with fans and installing ceiling boxes, What a mess! Like building a house under sand instead of on it. :]

2. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2009 05:18am | #4

   It's very likely that you have "rock wool". It has the look and texture of coarse fiberglass (only darker colored), and is made from either basalt/limestone or blast furnace slag.

   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
1. 
   toogroovy | Oct 13, 2009 05:34am | #5

   I'll take your word for it, thanks. I always thought rock wool was blown (balled) fiberglass. It's tougher when you rule out something you were origially mistaken about :]

1. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2009 05:42am | #6

   I've seen (what I presumed was) rock wool in several forms -- batts, loose fill, formed pieces for pipe insulation, etc.
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

1. 
   toogroovy | Oct 13, 2009 02:54pm | #7

   I've never seen this stuff in any other form. Slag would explain the rust color. The material is very fibrous and "tears" apart fairly easy, easier than fiberglass. I do a lot of restoration and see it mainly in pre-war (WW2) applications. I guess I was concerned it might be asbestos in a form I'd hadn't suspected. Tried to take a pic, but all you can make out is the color. At times I've found it to be very irritating to the skin and other times, no reaction. I'm still a little puzzled though. No one seems to know for sure.

1. 
   BarryE | Oct 13, 2009 03:31pm | #8

   what part of Iowa?Don't remember any rust colored rock wool, except from the environment. but then I again i'm getting old and my memory goes in and out

   Barry E-Remodeler

    

2. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 04:32am | #9

   You know... I think I know what rock wool is, and this ain't it. Des Moines.

3. 
   DanH | Oct 14, 2009 04:35am | #10

   Do remember that "rock wool" covers a wide range of materials. Some is literally made from rock, some from blast furnace slag. I'm guessing the blast furnace slag would tend to be reddish.I've seen it very fine -- almost as fine as fiberglass -- and very coarse and stiff, where it crumbles to dust if you compress it at all.
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

4. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 04:45am | #12

   I'm still holding the bag on this one. It's so common here that I can't imagine no one has seen it before.

5. 
   DanH | Oct 14, 2009 04:49am | #15

   Well, while you're holding the bag, drag it over to the oldest lumberyard in the area and ask the oldest guy behind the lumber desk what it is. Or drag it over to your BI's office and do the same.
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

6. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 04:57am | #16

   Box/impulse stores have taken over around here. All of the old yards are gone. A couple big yards have held their own, but no old guys. A shame really. BI is a good idea or the one old hardware store left. Thanks

7. 
   BarryE | Oct 14, 2009 03:03pm | #26

   We must live in a different Des Moines. :)how about Gilcrest/Jewett? I know some salesmen that were there when I started 40 yrs ago Rick Thompson one of the owners has been there well over 40 yrsBiesser Lumber. Pat Mashek has a lot of knowledgeMillard LumberMoehl MillworkConsumer Lumber over on Hickman...those guys sold the lumber for Noah's ArkLeachman Lumber over on HubbellJust say no to big boxes

   Barry E-Remodeler

    

8. 
   toogroovy | Oct 15, 2009 03:34am | #27

   You're right Barry. Although there is a lack of old guys that know.

   Thanks everyone for the help.

   Makes me feel like taking it all out now and telling customers how well it burns. Can't be the best insulation either.

   Take care all and stay true.

9. 
   BarryE | Oct 15, 2009 03:17pm | #31

   that's because the old people are gone...and left people like me to be the old guy. ;)

   Barry E-Remodeler

    

10. 
    toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 04:47am | #13

    By the way, this stuff isn't "reddish" Think K car rust colored :]

3. 
   Dam_inspector | Oct 14, 2009 04:43am | #11

   Red corn cobs?

1. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 04:48am | #14

   No, we use those in the out house when we run out of catalogs

1. 
   Dam_inspector | Oct 14, 2009 05:04am | #17

   This looks like your description.
   http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/9886/

1. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 05:40am | #18

   Ok, I've never attached a pic here. It looks like this. Don't see them...

   
1. 
   DanH | Oct 14, 2009 05:54am | #19

   Looks like rock wool to me. What does the dog think?
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

2. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 06:00am | #21

   It ain't food. Great nose for what ain't food.

3. 
   Dam_inspector | Oct 14, 2009 05:56am | #20

   I've never seen anything like that, but I've heard of horsehair insulation.

4. 
   toogroovy | Oct 14, 2009 06:04am | #22

   You made me think (it hurts). I burned it (it does burn), smells like wood. Might be wood. The color is always consistant. May be a dye.

5. 
   NietzschesMustache | Oct 14, 2009 11:49am | #23

   Smells like wood?

   The shades of night were falling fast,

   As through an Alpine village passed

   A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,

   A banner with the strange device,

   Excelsior!

6. 
   Dam_inspector | Oct 14, 2009 01:35pm | #24

   It's not horsehair or rock wool then. The next step would be to inspect it under a microscope. See if there is a cellular structure.I suspect wood shavings is what you have.

7. 
   Southbay | Oct 15, 2009 06:11am | #28

   Send me some in a zipper seal freezer baggie. I'm curious and will let all know what it is. Probably cellouse (wood), or, where are you? Iowa? still cellulose (corn husks?).

   We have a microscopy lab. Bart Gallagher
   Enviroscience Consultants, Inc.
   2150 Smithtown Avenue Ste 3
   Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
   (631) 580-3191

   Edited 10/14/2009 11:16 pm ET by Southbay

8. 
   Dam_inspector | Oct 15, 2009 11:47am | #29

   I'm curious too.

9. 
   DanH | Oct 15, 2009 02:53pm | #30

   Well, like YEAH!!
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

10. 
    DanH | Oct 14, 2009 02:20pm | #25

    Yeah, if it burns it's not rock wool. It does resemble shredded wood.
    As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz