Construction Channel Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 i think the glazing is done as part of the firing, iv got a funny feeling that has something to do with the sand lining the mould that is IF I wanted a glazed brick, I may be wrong but i would say engineering bricks have more of a glazed look, and that is definitely not the look i am going for, if you look to the right of the plastic cup in the thumbnail for the video there is a small chunk of what looks like brick, That was just a lump of clay from underneath a fire we had after doing some hedging, its pretty bloody hard and looks exactly like i want my brick to which makes me want to mess about with the clay even less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Technical Note No.9 here is interesting: http://www.gobrick.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 very interesting indeed, so in theory the clay round here must have a relatively high iron content. good to know. they also speak of much shorter heating and cooling times than i had read before so things may be looking up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 I didn't read it that just because it's red it's high in iron only that'll it'll go varying degrees of red when fired...unless I missed something? "Regardless of its natural color, clay containing iron in practically any form will exhibit a shade of red when exposed to an oxidizing fire because of the formation of ferrous oxide". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 you might be right, maybe it just has an iron content, not necessarily a high one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 £4, job done! http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/das-terracotta-air-drying-modelling-clay-1kg/563745-1000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 2 minutes ago, Onoff said: £4, job done! I'v already dug the clay now, £4 would be a waste! haven't you got a wacker to be building Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Bet the start of that video touched a nerve, trouble getting it up.....things flapping about.....Faye laughing..... Seriously, interesting read here including leaving the clay exposed to frost in the old days of brickmaking: http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/a-z-of-industries/brick-making/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 you should see how much swearing i had to edit out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryE Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 @Construction Channel Ed, any update, or has the clay set in the barrow? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 This is all you're allowed. The clay has been taking a while to dry but I think it is very nearly ready. There is a small chance I might have a first attempt this weekend ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) Shouldn't the letters be mirror image? edit .. just realised one set are! Edited February 17, 2017 by Triassic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 20 minutes ago, Construction Channel said: This is all you're allowed. The clay has been taking a while to dry but I think it is very nearly ready. There is a small chance I might have a first attempt this weekend ? Bet you're bricking it..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryE Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Ed, just a warning: physics is against you. Bricks are the aspect ratio they are to help minimise the distance from the centre to an outside surface to help make it easier to dry out. They often have holes running through them for the same reason. Your brick has a pretty uniform aspect so it is going to take a long time to dry out, and the inside will still be surprisingly damp when the surface looks bone dry. Bricks are often baked at low temperature for a bit or put in special drying ovens to remove the residual moisture before being fired properly. If you don't achieve this level of internal dryness, then the internal stream being generated when you attempt to fire it will probably cause it to crack up or at worst explode. Your lettering looks about 8-10mm deep, so one way of minimising all this is to make a brick that is only 25mm deep or so. As soon as it is dry enough, break it out if the mould and leave on a baking grid in a well aired place, but protected from rain etc., and since the moisture only has 12mm or so to travel to get out, then it should dry better. Once fired , there is nothing stopping you pouring in a 2:1 or even stronger mix into the mould and leaving 25mm gap at the top. Then wet the fired brick and lay it on it on top of the wet mix to bring it up to full width. No one will know the difference once it is cured and up. Any, carry on with what you are doing but just have this option as a back-pocket one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 Don't panic Terry I have already got a cunning plan for that issue. Essentially once I have got the brick and stamped the front I plan on cutting a fairly deep "frog" out of the back of it. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Spray that mould with some release agent and fill with expanding foam. Done by tea time. Get it stuck in place before she sees it. It'll be March 14th! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 I have been considering release agent. But I haven't seen anyone else use it for bricks. All they seem to use is sand. I was intending to use brick dust for the first attempt. We will see how we get on. I'm not expecting this to work perfectly first time. It might which would be nice but I'm not holding my breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryE Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 1 hour ago, Construction Channel said: I have been considering release agent. Cling film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 11 minutes ago, TerryE said: Cling film? lets not be silly about things.... in fairness it probably would work but i can almost guarantee it would leave a texture / the wrong look, If all else fails i will keep it in mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Why not carve your name plate on stone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 1 minute ago, Triassic said: Why not carve your name plate on stone? 2 reasons, I haven't got any stones big enough to cut it out of, and I want to have a go at making a brick. I am fully aware that i could have just paid someone else to make me a Brick or carve me a stone, It would have been a lot easier but i would be wasting an opportunity to have a go at something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 13 hours ago, TerryE said: @Construction Channel Ed, any update, or has the clay set in the barrow? Iv just noticed i didn't thank you for this comment earlier, and i should have, there will be some videos uploaded tomorrow. iv been sitting on footage for days but i just haven't been bothered to make any videos from it. I could achieve so much if i could motivate myself better. Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 This thread is "what it's all about" as far as I'm concerned. Ed doesn't "have to", could indeed take an easier route but wants to see "if he can". Rediscovering a lost art and some of his local history at the same time. Great stuff! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Could you pre-do the frog as a lump of tapered (oiled?) timber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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