The first batch of mini adobe bricks are drying in the sun. I ended up making a form to make four 3″x4″x1.5″ blocks at a time. I wanted to start slow so I decided to make a small batch today. I sifted out the large pieces of clay with a 1/2″ mesh screen and mixed 1 3 gallon bucket of clay soil and 1 3 gallon bucket of sand in the wheel barrow. I used an 18 gallon plastic rubbermaid type container to mix the dry mix with water. I love the feeling of the mud squishing up between my toes. 🙂 I ended up getting 52 bricks with some mud left over for next time. I would have made more but I ran out of the boards I was making them on. There is probably enough clay for 8 or 10 more. In all reality if I make a batch like this every weekend I will be doing good. You wouldn’t think stomping around in mud would be that tiring. I was wiped by the time I was done though.
2 thoughts on “Adobe Bricks”
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Awesome! So, are adobe bricks unfired? Will drying outdoors make them durable enough to be used for your oven without a covering, or will you need a “roof” on the oven?
Also, why adobe bricks rather than all construction bricks?
Yes, adobe bricks are unfired. The oven will need to be covered to protect it from driving rain. Clay is a funny thing. If it gets wet slowly the outer layer will swell protecting the inner layer. A driving rain though will knock the clay particles off so there is never a wet protective outer layer. I am looking into a lime plaster. As I understand it and inch or two of lime plaster over the outer layer of clay/sand mix will protect better than the clay. The plan is to cover with a tarp this winter and build a roof for it next year.
One interesting note. The inside inch or so of the oven can actually bake hard given a hot enough fire or series of fires. I saw a photo somewhere on the Internet of someone tearing one of these ovens apart and the inside was hard ceramic like clay.
I could use fire brick for the oven but regular construction bricks wouldn’t stand up well to frequent heating/cooling cycles. I like the idea of the adobe and making the bricks myself though. Kinda cool.