Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another one of my DIY projects. So, I’ve been wanting to get into clay sculpting, and what better way to combine two things I enjoy than to make some clay bricks for my very own baseball mound? Now, I’ve never done this before, but that’s never stopped me from trying something new! Let’s get into it.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to figure out what kind of clay to use. Did a quick search and found out that “mound clay” or “baseball clay” is a thing. Apparently, it’s super dense and perfect for withstanding all the wear and tear from cleats. Who knew? I went ahead and ordered a block of Sculpey clay. Seemed like a good starting point for a beginner like me, and it wasn’t too expensive, which is always a plus.
Digging and Prepping
Next up was the fun part – digging! I needed to dig down about 3-4 inches where I planned to install the bricks. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a workout, but hey, who needs the gym when you have a backyard project, right? After digging, it was time to lay down the bricks. I also read online that for two batter’s boxes and one catcher’s box, I’d need around 569 bricks. That’s a lot of bricks, man! I had to do some math to figure out how many I needed for my small-scale mound. I got 95 clay bricks for each batter’s box (which is 3′ x 7′) and 379 bricks for the catcher’s box (which is 8’5″ x 10′).
Installing the Bricks
With my freshly delivered clay bricks, I started placing them in the holes I dug. One by one, I laid them out, making sure they were snug and level. Once they were all in place, I watered them down really good. The instructions I found said to let the water soak in, so that’s what I did. Waited around for a bit, watching the water disappear into the clay. Once that was done, I used a tamper to pack them down tight. This was important to make sure they were solid and wouldn’t shift around.
The Waiting Game
Now, here’s where patience comes in – something I’m not always great at, to be honest. I had to let the bricks dry and harden. It felt like forever, but I knew it was a crucial step. I kept checking on them, making sure they were setting properly. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they were solid as a rock! Almost!
Finishing Touches
Last but not least, I covered the bricks with some infield mix. This helps protect the bricks and gives the mound that authentic look and feel. I spread it out evenly, making sure to fill in any gaps or low spots. Stepped back to admire my work, and I gotta say, it looked pretty darn good for a first attempt! But I found I should use new pre-moistened clay to fill the wear holes.
So there you have it, folks – my adventure in making clay bricks for a baseball mound. It was a learning experience, for sure, with some trial and error, but that’s how you get better at things, right? I’m excited to see how it holds up during a game. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a new trend of DIY baseball mounds. If you’re thinking about trying this out, go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands dirty and have some fun in the process. Catch you all in the next one!
