Insulative Paint
 

I've been interested in cork paint for some time. These bare metal walls need at least a thermal break.

But the research I've done shows the established brands only sell to professional installers. It also shows the step by step instructions that the installers adhere to. :(

So what I'm wondering about is whether anyone has experience shredding cork for insulation. I know a source for wine bottle corks in bulk. It seems like the progression would be chopper > blender > flour sifter with the residue from the sifter going back to the blender.

That should produce cork dust I can add to a water-based interior enamel. I'd need the three implements, and then I could do some test mixtures.

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For testing purposes.

Maybe use a food processor for the first reduction. Then use a coffee burr grinder to reduce further. The adjustability of conical burrs should allow for a consistent sized particle to be produced eliminating the need to use a sifter.

Wouldn’t a particle size larger than dust be more desirable ?

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Sounds like a good business opportunity if you can figure it out.

Same as Redneck- grinding the cork too small might not be a good idea since it's the air pockets that make for good insulation.

Thanks. Blender and food processor are prolly the same thing.

I was wondering about a sifter with a coarser screen. I agree flour consistency is too fine. My coffee grinder is a miniature blender, I can look into burr grinders.

I just think cork would be better to work with than styrofoam.

The only advantage to Styrofoam is it comes in pellet size if you want. Just add binder.

I once tried the exact thing: to produce cork dust for our Kundts tube experiment. All experience in one word: it sucks.
Tried to process it in meat ?mincer?, in coffee grinder, everything I had at home. Best results were with sanding, but than the cork dust was contaminated with grains from sandpaper.
I was lucky enough to find a company making wine bottle corks and other cork stuff, and they gave me bag of cork dust. They were dumping it

That's a data point. Cork dust is possibly less per gallon than the paint. I'd though of a meat grinder, but I guess not.

Looking on eBay, cork granules are used in boilie balls, whatever they are, by fishermen. 5 liters for $26. I guess I'll look for a brick and mortar fishing shop.
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According to the people who won't sell me their product, it's all in the surface prep. ;)

Search carp bait. Carp are bottom feeders with a penchant for strawberries and need floating to help with the hooking therein using slider rigs.

If youre serious, there is cork underlayment that is rolled and about 1/8" thick. Sticky you have to do yourself

I now have in hand the Rules, Regulations and Community Standards to which I am being held.* Fortunately I'm being grandfathered in.

Bare-metal aluminum is disallowed; one approved finish is stucco. So now I have to consider a cork spray rolled exterior finish. Maybe an epoxy enamel?

On the inside, I'd want a final coat of intumescent paint as well. So there would be savings there.

* Inspecting it for opportunity for malicious compliance. There is a gray area between a bleach bottle on a stake with flaps cut into it and a 'whomp, whomp' rotor.

Some stucco finishes incorporate an acrylic binder instead of portland cement. Guy one block over has that, sprayed on just like paint.