HELPFUL INFORMATION
HOW TO MANUFACTURE CONCRETE BRICK & BLOCKS
Below you will find helpful instructions and videos on how to make bricks or blocks, from the equipment and materials needed through to the actual manufacturing processes and curing instructions.
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EQUIPMENT YOU WILL NEED
These are the minimum requirements needed to make bricks or blocks
- A manual or electric brick and block making machine
- 65 Litre builder’s wheelbarrow
- Spade
- Water bucket
- Plaster sheets (such as clean dpc sheets)
- Optional: a cement mixer
MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED
- Cement (with a minimum strength of 42,5N)
- River sand or quarry dust / block mix
- Clean water
HOW TO MIX / MIXING RATIOS
Ratio
The standard ratio of dry sand to cement is 5 level wheelbarrows of sand to 1 x 50kg bag of cement.
i.e. 5:1
Should you require extra strength bricks, then use a 4:1 ratio.
Mixing Instructions:
- Start with five full wheelbarrows of sand, level to the top edges.
- Add one 50kg bag of cement (with a minimum strength of 42,5N)
- Mix dry ingredients together until it forms a uniform colour.
- Create a hollow in the centre and slowly add water while mixing. The mix is correct when it forms a ball when squeezed in your hand. (If water runs out between your fingers, too much water has been added).
N.B. If your river sand or quarry dust / block mix is too coarse, you can blend your sand, by replacing one wheelbarrow with a wheelbarrow of Plaster or Building Sand.
HOW TO USE YOUR BRICK OR BLOCK MAKING MACHINE
BASIC MACHINE OPERATION
- Fill your brick / block machine mold with the mortar mixture.
- Push the top handle of the machine down to press the mortar into the mold and compact it well. Our machines have an indicator on the machine, to show you that you’ve compacted properly. N.B. Good compaction increases the strength of your Brick and Blocks.
- Lift the meddle handle to release the bricks or blocks and lift the mold. The top handle should be left, with the stamper still impacting its weight on the blocks.
- The Bricks or Blocks will be left on the floor.
- Do not move the bricks / blocks, but cover them immediately with a dark plastic sheet to keep them damp and shield them from the sun and wind.
HINTS
Moving your bricks / blocks: Only after 24 Hours can the bricks / blocks be moved to the stacking area and be stockpiled.
Curing: The stockpiled bricks / blocks should be kept, covered and damp for another 7 days (after moving) to cure and gain strength.
Quality Control:
- Keep a record of the number of broken or cracked bricks / blocks in each day’s production. A large number is usually a sign of a poor mix e.g. too much water, too little cement or poor compacting.
- After the 7 days of curing, you can test the strength of your bricks / blocks by knocking two together. If they make a “ringing” sound, it shows good strength. If they make a dull ”thumbing” sound, it shows poor strength.