Okay, so, I recently got into this whole brick-making thing. It’s a lot more complicated than I thought! Today, I want to talk about the different types of kilns used for firing bricks. I mean, who knew there were so many ways to bake a brick, right?
First, I had to figure out what a kiln actually is. Turns out, it’s basically a super-insulated oven that gets crazy hot. We’re talking temperatures high enough to make bricks hard and durable. My first thought was, “How am I going to build one of these in my backyard?”
So, I started digging into the different types. I found out that there’s a whole bunch of them, and each one has its own quirks. I learned that some kilns are called “intermittent” because you load them up, fire them, let them cool, empty them, and then start all over again. It’s like a one-batch-at-a-time deal. I did a double-take when I read that this whole process wastes a lot of heat. I definitely didn’t want to go that route.
Then I stumbled upon something called a “half-open type heat insulation brick kiln.” Sounds fancy, huh? It’s got this movable cover that helps with airflow and safety. I thought, “That sounds a bit more manageable.” But I kept researching.
I also learned that each kiln uses a ton of wood for fuel. We’re talking like 350 tons of wood every year for just one kiln! That seemed like a lot, and honestly, it got me thinking about the environmental impact. I really didn’t want to contribute to deforestation just to make a few bricks. It seemed a bit irresponsible, to be honest.
Anyway, I’m still figuring out which type of kiln is right for me. It’s been a real learning experience, I can tell you that. I’m leaning towards something more efficient and eco-friendly, even if it means a bit more work upfront. This whole brick-making adventure is turning out to be way more involved than I ever imagined!
