I want to make a brick. How hard can it be?

[ToughButterCup]

2 minutes ago, Construction Channel said:

I would much prefer to muddle along trying different things by myself without other people interfering (trying to make me do it properly)

 

That's exactly why online self-paced learning is so popular. Dip in, out, ignore, skip, yes i like this bit, I'll watch / listen.

Just right for you Ed

[Construction Channel]

The Graves family:

 

Ed: where would i get some clay to make red bricks?

 

Mum and Dad: why?

 

Ed: I want to make a brick.

 

Dad: go and dig a hole in brick kiln field,

 

Ed: we haven't got a "brick kiln field"

 

Dad: we used to, its at the bottom of "Throssles" down by the riding stables, got ploughed in a long time ago.

 

Ed: Nice, thanks dad

 

Mum: the Schweres (local family) have got a kiln.

 

Ed: oh yeah, thanks mum.

 

 

Things are looking up  

[Onoff]

If you really get stuck:

 

http://www.whcollier.co.uk/

[Construction Channel]

2 minutes ago, Onoff said:

If you really get stuck:

 

http://www.whcollier.co.uk/

 

Thanks, 

we've used this company before http://www.brickcutters.com they both seem pretty local so it will be good to compare prices IF it comes to that, 

[Construction Channel]

Eand F straight.pdf

EandFpissed.pdf

 

any preferences? I know which one i like but since there is a choice? 

 

hmmm how do i get a pdf to show in the thread?.... thanks @Onoff

 

[Onoff]

Quickest is probably to open the PDF in Acrobat then use Windows Snipping Tool to do a screen grab or use Shutter in Ubuntu etc.

 

Unless you've say full Acrobat and can save as a .jpg or .png etc

Edited December 21, 2016 by Onoff

[Onoff]

E & F pissed to remind you of the cider festival!

[Onoff]

Actually Faye "underneath"....is that not a bit sexist nowadays?

 

Faye "on top" seems equally wrong as she always seems to the one doing the work...

 

Level pegging then! 

[Construction Channel]

 that was exactly the thought process i went through,  

Iv got nothing against Faye being on top, but in this case it would be forced  

[Onoff]

What's the plan, press letters into the surface of the unfired clay?

 

How tall do you want the letters and how thick i.e depth in the clay?

[Onoff]

Sorry, I've got nothing being laser or water jet cut at the mo but how about this place:

 

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=261235174760&category=31587&pm=1&ds=0&t=1482361428380

 

Have used these in the past:

 

http://www.essexlaser.co.uk

 

 

[Construction Channel]

I'm still undecided weather to fix them into the bottom of the mould or try and press them in after. Ill probably try both if i can be bothered to cut out enough letters, 

 

the E and F are about 40mm high, the & is about 30,  was thinking maybe a 10mm recess, 

 

 

[Construction Channel]

14 minutes ago, Onoff said:

Sorry, I've got nothing being laser or water jet cut at the mo but how about this place:

 

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=261235174760&category=31587&pm=1&ds=0&t=1482361428380

 

Have used these in the past:

 

http://www.essexlaser.co.uk

 

 

 

Mdf would be good for the dust to stick to inside the mould but I'm favouring towards the pressing into the surface idea,

in that case i could well just buy some acrylic ones from eBay , good idea  

[daiking]

Straight.

 

the other one just looks wrong. don't ask me why, I don't have 7 years of special flower training behind me, it just looks wrong.

[Onoff]

Some of those stones / plaques have a date on top.

 

Just complicating things for you!

[Construction Channel]

1 minute ago, Onoff said:

Some of those stones / plaques have a date on top.

 

Just complicating things for you!

 

amusingly we have already got a brick that Faye's aunt got made for us. ill have to get a picture of it tomorrow, but its got 2011 on it  

I don't think she realised how long it would take to get from concept to built ......

[Onoff]

6 minutes ago, Construction Channel said:

I don't think she realised how long it would take to get from concept to built ......

 

A concept my wife is all too familiar with...

[RandAbuild]

This is our date stone. You could get one of these on a larger stone and cut it down to size.

 

It's not as much fun as doing your own of course.

[Brickie]

Why not build it in your workshop out of red rubbers & carve the design you want? Must be untold youtube videos showing how it's done. 

[Construction Channel]

surprisingly there are very few good videos of the whole process,

I did consider cutting and sticking the bricks to start with. I have done it before when the customer didn't want to pay for the cant bricks to be made but iv done that before and it wasn't exactly thrilling,

now making a kiln....... I haven't tried that before and it involves a big fire!! who doesn't like playing with fire???

[PeterW]

Just remember that the reason for the old brick lining is to retain the heat and also the exploding bits when you don't get all of the air out of the clay the first time ...!!

 

 

[Onoff]

6 minutes ago, Construction Channel said:

surprisingly there are very few good videos of the whole process,

 

Yet! 

[Construction Channel]

I'm going to put 4 layers of bricks in a mesh patten at the bottom to try to keep the flames away from my new bricks, also if it will fit I'm hoping to get 2 layers all the way round it inside the barrel. 

 

in those outside 2 layers I'm hoping to use them to hold some iron bars across the centre to hold my bricks apart.....  thats the plan at least  

[Onoff]

I have some old storage heater bricks but not sure how many:

 

 

 

And I ain't venturing North of the Dartford Crossing this side of Chrimbo!

Edited December 23, 2016 by Onoff

[Construction Channel]

im not the only one who keeps things like that then....

I have got a decent stack of them somewhere but i can't think where i put them. the postage would ruin the whole idea so i will have to decline but it was very kind of you to offer.