Clay Brick Making

CLAY BRICK MAKING  

Body:

In Tala, Caloocan City, where there are vast deposits of clay, the Tala Foundation Inc. has established the Cardinal Ceramics Plant. The brickmaking plant is a socio-economic project of the Foundation aimed at providing employment and additional income while at the same time utilizing the mineral deposits in the vicinity.

Raw materials:

  Clay

  Sand

  Water

Equipment:

      spades, hoes and picks

      14 mesh screen

      wooden scraper

      10" x 5" x 2½" wooden mold

      gas kiln

Procedure:

1. Mine the raw clay with the use of spades, hoes and picks.

2. Remove stones and other impurities using a 14 mesh screen.

3. Add water and sand in the proportion of 25% water and 10% sand, by weight.

4. Place the mold on the drying platform. Put the clay mixture in the mold and 

manually wedge the clay. Scrape off the excess clay.

5. Remove the mold and allow the newly made brick (or green brick) to dry at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks. Turn "green bricks" at regular intervals to prevent warping and cracking.

6. Pre-heat the gas kiln for 2 hours, setting it at 980° C. Stack the bricks in "tie-tricks" formation. Fire for 16 hours.

7. Let the bricks cool completely before using.

 Source: Ceramics Research Division ITDI (DOST) Bicutan,

       Taguig, Metro Manila

 Descriptor: Building industry

 Descriptor: Bricks

This Information Came From: