Alright, so, I got this idea to use clay to make some bricks. You know, those fired clay bricks.
First, I collected a bunch of clay. I dug it up from my backyard. It was a bit of a workout, I gotta say, but I managed to get a good amount of it.
Then, I mixed the clay with water. This part was kinda messy. I had to make sure the consistency was just right – not too runny, not too stiff. It was like making dough, but way dirtier.
Once the clay was mixed, I started shaping the bricks. I used some old wooden frames I found in my shed as molds. I packed the clay into the frames, smoothed out the top, and then carefully removed the frames.
- The first few bricks I made were kinda wonky.
- But I got the hang of it after a while.
- Soon, I had a whole bunch of bricks laid out in the sun.
Next up was the drying process. I left the bricks out in the sun for a few days. They needed to dry completely before I could fire them. It was a bit of a waiting game, but I knew it was an important step. I watched them, checked on them every day, moved them around to get even sun.
Once the bricks were dry, I moved on to firing them. I built a makeshift kiln in my backyard using some old bricks and a metal drum. I carefully stacked the dried bricks inside the kiln, making sure there was enough space between them for the heat to circulate.
Then, I started a fire in the kiln. It was a slow process. I had to keep the fire going for hours, gradually increasing the temperature. I kept adding wood, adjusting the airflow, making sure the fire didn’t go out.
After a long time of firing, I let the kiln cool down. This also took a while. I didn’t want to open it too soon, for fear of cracking the bricks. Patience was key, let me tell you.
Finally!
When I opened the kiln, I was pretty happy with what I saw. There were a few cracked ones, but most of the bricks turned out great. They were hard, sturdy, and had that nice reddish color. I felt really proud, seeing them all lined up there. I had actually made them myself!
They can handle the wind and the * bricks are tough cookies. I remember that they could help with the temperature inside. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer. They felt right.
And, I used these bricks to build a small wall in my garden. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And every time I look at it, I remember the whole process of making those bricks. It’s a good feeling.
So, yeah, that’s my story of making fired clay bricks. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. It was messy, it took time, but I learned a lot, and I ended up with something I’m really proud of. Plus, I got to play with mud, which is always fun.
