Making blocks at home and equipment. How to make your own building blocks. Lightweight wall blocks and their advantages. How to make a wall block. How to determine the percentage of components
In any building materials store or in the market, you can purchase special blocks used to build a building. However, building stone is not at all necessary to buy, it can be made independently.
Wall blocks have many properties:
They are strong, durable, have improved frost resistance and fire resistance. There is also another property of wall blocks - an increase in the useful area of \u200b\u200bthe premises due to the thickness of the wall blocks without reducing the quality of heat transfer. That is why wall blocks are confidently replacing the usual materials for construction. Wall blocks will help you to get high-quality building material at low cost, and therefore - high-quality construction. A house built of wall stones will be comfortable and warm, and will also save a lot of money. Moreover, the cost of the wall blocks themselves compares favorably with other building materials. Wall blocks create a feeling of comfort due to the fact that they have a heat-resistant effect, so in a room made of wall blocks you will be cool in summer and warm in winter. That is why the cost of heating is one third less than in houses built of brick. Also, a positive property of wall blocks is that the walls created from them are much lighter than walls built from bricks, thus creating less load on the foundation. This means that there is a guarantee that your house will not only be warm, but also durable and less prone to collapse. Plus, as exponentially, your costs for the delivery of wall blocks are reduced. Due to their weight (wall blocks are much lighter than, for example, bricks), the volumes of delivered material will be greater. 
So, why should you choose wall blocks for building your house, the pros:
guarantee warmth, comfort, frost and fire resistance
increase the usable area of the room due to their small thickness
do not reduce the quality of heat exchange in the room
installed in a short amount of time
at their price and at the cost of their installation costs are much cheaper than other building materials
DIY blocks
I chose the dimensions of the blocks 510x250x215 mm (the volume is 14 bricks). I welded 11 molds without bottoms from sheet iron waste. From the sides welded on 2 handles. Right on the ground I spread the roofing material, put the form. To prevent the mixture from seizing with the walls of the form, I wipe them from the inside with a rag moistened with used oil or diesel fuel. I fall asleep there hard expanded clay concrete. Ramming is not very strong. I remove the first form after backfilling the 11th - this is about 10-12 minutes later. The blocks stand still for 12 hours. Then I shift them under a canopy. They harden at a positive temperature for 24 days. I make a canopy from roofing material, tarpaulin or plastic film. Under it, the blocks will be protected from rain and sun.
Do-it-yourself blocks I tried to make blocks with voids. He inserted two wooden round timber, turned into a cone and wrapped with roofing iron. Hollow formers can be round, square, rectangular... Depending on how the blocks are laid, the thickness of the walls is 215, 250 or 510 mm.
For thick walls, it is better to make the blocks hollow, for thin walls - filled. Conventionally, walls with a thickness of 215mm without voids can be called cold, 250mm - semi-warm, 510mm with voids - warm.
To make half blocks, I insert a sheet of iron in the center of the mold. In the blanks that are used to form openings in the wall of the house, you have to make wooden plugs to secure the door and window frames.
Do-it-yourself blocks I tried to make blocks using a vibrator, but the solution goes to the bottom of the mold and the expanded clay does not bind. To prevent this from happening, I welded a common shape for several blocks. The vibrator was fixed on the side. I made the walls of the mold 1/3 higher - this is for concrete shrinkage during vibration.
Fillers can be local non-deficient materials: expanded clay, slag, sawdust, etc. I used cement, expanded clay and sand in a ratio of 1: 4: 1 to prepare the mixture.
The hardest work is the preparation of concrete. To make it a little easier, I first made a manual concrete mixer from a two-hundred-liter barrel. Its axis of rotation is shifted by 10 cm relative to the center. I welded crosspieces inside. Thus, due to the eccentric rotation of the barrel and thanks to the crosses, good mixing of the mass was ensured. For 8 revolutions of the barrel, the solution was ready.
This way I made 500 blocks. They were enough for laying a warm barn measuring 6.2x4 m and an extension to it - a cold barn.
Despite the fact that the blocks are much larger in size and mass than ordinary red bricks, the masonry techniques and the tool kit remain the same. The dressing of masonry in the corners and on straight sections of the walls is also observed. At the beginning of the laying of blocks, it is desirable to make a red brick belt on the basement or foundation (after waterproofing). It should protrude outward from the base by 30-40 mm, protecting the latter from getting wet.
Building blocks by yourself
The building block of the standard sizes is very convenient in work. The masonry goes pretty quickly, but on the other hand they are not too heavy. In addition, the walls will turn out to be standard sizes, that is, 200 or 400 millimeters.
So, the easiest way to make a mold for blocks is from a cement-bonded particle board of at least a centimeter thickness. You can also take sheet metal. To be honest, almost any material will do, but when choosing, it is important to consider how durable the form will be, whether it will be saturated with moisture, how convenient it will be to get ready-made building blocks out of it, and so on. To be guided in the choice of material for forms, first of all, should be logic. 
Of course, in order to make enough blocks with your own hands, one form will be extremely small. It is better to immediately make about five or ten forms, which will be enough to start. Further, if necessary, the number of forms can be increased.
As for the solution for self-made blocks, it is recommended to use one of two options.
The first option allows you to make blocks of the so-called "cold concrete". To do this, take a traditional solution, which is prepared from sand and cement in proportions of one to four. In other words, for one part of good Portland cement, you need to take four parts of sifted building sand.
Warm concrete is prepared from cement, sand and expanded clay. The proportions in this case will look like one to four to one. That is, for one part of cement, you need to take about four parts of expanded clay and only one part of sand.
Making building blocks is not a difficult process. Forms are filled with a solution, the excess solution is removed with a trowel and I try to level the upper part of the block. By the way, the forms should be installed on a flat surface so that the solution diverges as evenly as possible under the influence of gravity.
After a few hours, the blocks can be carefully removed from the molds and laid out for complete hardening. They harden within a day, after which home-made blocks are stacked on pallets for storage or taken directly to the construction site.
Building blocks at home
Nowadays, you can buy building blocks at any building market and building materials store. Their range today is very large, you only need to make a choice and you will be delivered your order directly to your home. How to make building blocks at home
But you can go the other way - you can make building blocks with your own hands. So, consider below the basic principles of how to make building blocks at home yourself. 
First you need to decide what size you plan to make the building block. The following size is considered to be the running size today - 400x200x200 mm. Blocks of such geometric parameters are not heavy, they are easy to lay when building a wall. With the help of such a block, you can easily make a wall of two types with a thickness of 200 mm and a thickness of 400 mm.
To create a form with which building blocks will be made by hand. We recommend that the form be made into several blocks at once, this will significantly speed up the work process and the prepared concrete will be better used. You can make construction at home as full-bodied and with cavities. The mortar for blocks is made using cement and sand, while the proportion must be maintained 1 to 4 (this is the so-called cold concrete). Also, you can add expanded clay, sawdust, slag or glass to the concrete mixture (such concrete is also called warm concrete). Many people ask themselves: how to make building blocks yourself so that they do not stick to the mold and have a flat and smooth outer surface. To do this, you need to do the following - apply machine oil to the walls of the mold, and even better working off.
When pouring building blocks at home, the form must first be filled by 45-50%, then the concrete should be compacted and the mixture should be uniformly shaped. After that, you can fill the form completely again, tamp, level the top side, remove the remains of the concrete mixture from the brick form and let it harden. The concrete mixture should be allowed to harden for about 30 minutes. Then you carefully remove the form and you can carry out the next cycle of work. The blocks will fully harden only after 24 hours. Care should be taken that the blocks are protected from direct sunlight and rain until completely dry.
So, you already know how to make building blocks yourself at home, now you can safely get to work. And if you make a form of at least a dozen blocks for one run, then a day you are quite capable of making 120-150 blocks without outside help
In any building materials store or in the market, you can purchase special blocks used to build a building. However, building stone is not at all necessary to buy, it can be made independently. Our article will tell you how to make building blocks with your own hands.
Determine in advance the desired dimensions of the future building block. The most common and most popular size: 400x200x200 millimeters. Such a building stone is not too heavy, but the thickness of the wall can be 200 or 400 mm (depending on personal preference).
For future building blocks, it is necessary to design forms. It is advisable to use a cement-bonded particle board with a thickness of 10 mm and sheet metal (2-3 mm). A stone mold can also be made from wood that has been sanded on the inside.
Make the form into one or more blocks (this will speed up the process of making building stone). Do-it-yourself blocks can be hollow or solid (depending on personal preference), which affects the design of the mold.
For "cold concrete", prepare a mortar for blocks from cement and sand (proportion 1: 4), and for "warm concrete" - from cement, expanded clay and sand in a ratio of 1: 4: 1. Then fill the "raw" block shape halfway. Tamp the solution (you can use the handle of a shovel) and only after that complete the form with the missing “raw materials”.
Align the upper surface of the future block with a building rule, that is, remove excess mortar with this tool. After thirty to forty minutes, carefully remove the block from the mold, and form a new building stone in it.
For complete hardening of the solution, the blocks are carefully transported to a special place, protected from the sun and rain. The blocks will fully harden in twenty-four hours.
Lightweight wall blocks and their advantages.
In addition to the traditional material for building walls - bricks, wall block materials such as expanded clay concrete, aerated concrete and foam concrete are increasingly used in private housing construction today. What are their differences, features, advantages and disadvantages?
LEAKED CONCRETE.
Features: Expanded clay concrete blocks are made from expanded clay (foamed and fired clay), used as a filler with fractions of 5-10 mm, water and cement.
Advantages: In terms of thermal insulation characteristics, it surpasses brick, gas and foam concrete. Resistant to moisture. High strength, frost resistance
AERABLE CONCRETE
Features: Aerated concrete is obtained by adding a blowing agent (aluminum powder) to a mixture of lime, cement, quartz sand. The material gains strength at elevated pressure and high temperature in autoclave ovens. Aerated concrete is porous both inside and outside, i.e. its porous. Products are manufactured in the factory, so the quality of products is guaranteed.
Advantages: Greater geometric dimensional accuracy, higher rates of heat and sound insulation, strength.
FOAM CONCRETE
Features: Foam concrete (non-autoclaved cellular concrete) is made from a mixture of water, sand, cement and a foaming agent. It hardens naturally in special forms. The structure of foam concrete is closed bubbles of different sizes. Products can be produced privately, directly on the construction site. Homemade blocks do not always correspond to the declared characteristics.
Advantages: Due to the closed pore structure, moisture absorption is lower. 
Aerated concrete and foam concrete have a high accuracy of geometric dimensions, which allows them to be used during installation with adhesive mixtures, rather than ordinary masonry mortar. The thickness of the joint from the adhesive mixture is 2-3 mm, and from the masonry mortar - 10-12 mm. This makes it possible to make the wall almost homogeneous, as warm as possible.
The common advantage of all considered materials is:
The large porosity of the materials provides high thermal insulation properties, excellent sound insulation characteristics. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the material, the walls "breathe". The blocks are non-combustible, do not melt and do not emit harmful substances when heated. Due to their low weight, they significantly reduce the load on the foundation.
The common disadvantage of all considered materials is:
Despite the high thermal insulation performance, walls made of these materials need to be insulated. The porosity of the blocks requires mandatory protection of the walls of the building from atmospheric precipitation. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain the vapor permeability of the structure.
In aerated concrete and foam concrete, an additional disadvantage can be considered low bending strength. Reinforcement must be carried out every three rows of masonry. A strip monolithic foundation or a monolithic basement is required.
How to make a wall block
Building blocks have a lot of advantages. Among them are the convenience and speed of construction of buildings, the relative cheapness of construction, and others. Wall blocks are one of the few materials with which you can build a house from scratch almost alone. If you have a lot of free time and not a lot of money, you can try making wall blocks yourself.
You will need
Cement brand M400;
- filler (expanded clay, slag, etc.);
- SDO additive (wood saponified resin);
- sand;
- shovel; 
- containers for measuring and stirring the solution;
- block form.
For 1 m³ of expanded clay concrete M75:
- cement M400 - 250 kg;
- expanded clay - 1.05 m³;
- sand - 0.2 m³;
- wood saponified resin (SDO) - 0.3 kg;
- water - 0.25-0.35 m³.
For 1 m³ cinder block M50:
- cement M400 - 200 kg;
- slag - 0.7 m³;
- sand - 0.25 m³;
- lime - 50 kg;
- water 0.1–0.15 m³.
Instruction
1 Choose the type of block that suits you best
Wall blocks can be made on the basis of various binders and fillers. Cement is used as the main component. The choice of fillers is much wider. It can be sand, expanded clay, slag, sawdust, etc. Depending on the type of fillers and their ratios with each other, it is possible to obtain a material that differs in strength, thermal conductivity, moisture resistance, frost resistance. When making wall blocks with your own hands, slag or expanded clay are most often chosen as fillers. Slag and expanded clay blocks have good performance properties - high thermal insulation combined with sufficient strength - and at the same time are relatively cheap. Slag can often be purchased for free or at a meager price.
2 Decide on the block brand
The strength of the building block, characterized by its brand, is determined by the relative content of cement and fillers. By increasing the amount of cement and sand relative to expanded clay and slag, it is possible to increase the strength of the block. However, it should be remembered that at the same time its thermal insulation properties are reduced. Between strength and thermal insulation, it is necessary to find a middle ground.
3 Decide on block sizes
The most common is the standard size 390x190x188 mm. However, you can make blocks of any size. Before settling on a specific size, you should determine the thickness of the wall of the building for which the blocks are intended, and then, based on it, choose the size of the block.
4 Make, buy or rent a block making machine
You can do without a machine tool by making the simplest collapsible forms (matrices) from sheet metal, wood or plastic. However, in this case, a large number of molds will be required, since the poured blocks will have to stay in the molds for some time to harden. Slag block machines, due to the presence of a vibrator, allow you to unload the block immediately after molding. If you intend to produce a large number of blocks, it is better to do this with a machine. The time gain will be huge.
5 Prepare the working mixture
Measure all the components (cement, sand, slag or expanded clay, lime) in the required proportion and mix them well in the sealing container. After that, add water with LMS dissolved in it. Depending on the moisture content of the water fillers, a different amount may be required, so add it gradually, stirring and evaluating the mobility of the mixture. Don't over water. The stiffer (less mobile) the mixture, the stronger the blocks are obtained.
6 Fill the mold with the mixture
If you use manual collapsible molds, when pouring, carefully compact the mixture in the mold with a trowel or shovel until the surface is smooth and covered with a thin layer of water. When using a cinder block machine to compact the mixture, it is enough to turn on the vibrator for a few seconds (5-8).
7 While the blocks are curing, keep their surfaces moist. This can be achieved by regularly pouring water on the blocks or by covering them with plastic wrap. The blocks should solidify when in the shade.
Cinder blocks are attractive due to their low cost. This building material is often used for the rapid construction of low-rise buildings. Already from the name it is clear that cinder blocks are made from slag and, as a rule, at specialized enterprises by vibrocompression of concrete mortar in special forms. If necessary, they can be made independently. Below is the material on how to make a cinder block with your own hands. Such a need may arise, for example, if you suddenly need cinder blocks of non-standard sizes.
Solution preparation
We list the components of the concrete solution for the manufacture of cinder blocks (basic recipe):
- 7 parts of a filler (coal slag of blast furnaces sifted through a special sieve);
- 2 parts of sufficiently large expanded clay sand;
- 2 parts of gravel (with a fraction of 5 to 15 millimeters);
- 1.5 parts of cement (grade M 500);
- 3 parts water (approx.)
In addition to slag, gypsum, expanded clay, ash, gravel, sand, brick waste, crushed stone, coal ash, crushed stone screenings and other available materials are used as a filler.
Throughout the process of manufacturing cinder blocks, it is necessary to ensure that the solution does not spread.
If blast-furnace slag is used as a filler, then in no case should other additives be added to the concrete solution.
For gypsum filler, you should take:
- 1 part plaster;
- 3 parts of moistened slag mixture;
- water.
The solution is kneaded for 6 minutes, and it must be used immediately.
If a plasticizer is added to the prepared solution, then the additive will give it good plasticity, and the manufactured blocks will be more durable, frost-resistant and waterproof.
When adding a dye to the mixture, for example, you can add special chalk, or crushed red bricks into powder, then you can make colored cinder blocks.
Cinder block manufacturing methods
Making your own special devices for the manufacture of cinder blocks is quite easy. The technology usually uses two types of equipment:
- Wooden (metal) molds for drying small blocks.
- Specially made machines. You can do them yourself, but you can ask for help from any familiar turner.
Forms
As already mentioned, molds for cinder blocks can be wooden or metal. Standard dimensions are 390x190x188 mm, but in principle they can be made in any required size.
The form consists of side walls and a bottom. Its height should correspond to the height of the produced blocks. Between two small boards (metal plates), crossbars are fastened with a step corresponding to the length of the blocks being made. The distance between the used boards (metal plates) must be equal to the thickness of the material. It is recommended to make molds with cells into which concrete will be poured, from 4 to 6 blocks - a good way to save material.
The solution poured into such forms must be sufficiently liquid, then a homogeneous mass fills all the voids well.
To facilitate the blocks and reduce the cost, empty glass bottles are placed neck down in all molds filled with the mixture. The mixture is well leveled, i.e. excess solution is removed from the surface of the molds.
After about five hours, the bottles are removed, while voids (cavities) remain in the finished blocks. Without removing from the mold, cinder blocks should be dried for a day. After the required time has elapsed, they are carefully removed from the mold and stacked in stacks. In this form, cinder blocks lie for a month, and only after a month they are considered suitable for construction.
With the use of special equipment
Of course, with the use of special equipment, the casting of cinder blocks will be more productive. And the quality of the resulting blocks will be higher. You can make the necessary machine yourself, but all this will require larger financial expenses, since you will have to purchase a small concrete mixer with a vibrating table. In addition, you will need:
- steel sheet (thickness 2-3 mm);
- asynchronous motor (power from 100 V);
- weights needed to create vibration and imbalance;
- cylinders for the formation of voids.
After you assemble the equipment, you can start making cinder blocks.
In special molds for casting blocks pre-moistened with water, the solution is laid out, after which the molds are placed on a special vibrating plate. The stove turns on for five seconds. During this time, the solution should settle in the molds. Next, you need to add a small amount of the mixture and turn on the vibrating plate again, wait for the limiter to work and that's all - the process of forming cinder blocks on the equipment you created can be considered complete. After 10 seconds, the form is removed, but it is necessary to wait for the complete stop of the unit.
In order for the cinder blocks to have an ideal front side, they are laid out on a flat rubber surface during drying.
Video
You can see how a cinder block is made at home by watching this video.
Equipment for the production of blocks at home
The desire to reduce the cost of construction involves the use of a variety of tools and materials, many of which are worth making on their own. The use of cinder blocks is one of such methods. Although this building material belongs to the "old-timers" of the construction market, the demand for such products in individual construction is comparable to the popularity of foam blocks and gas blocks that have appeared relatively recently. This is due to the fact that equipment for the production of cinder blocks at home does not require significant financial costs. The quality of building materials made at home using a machine is not inferior to factory products.
Cinder block is one of the most popular materials from which buildings of any type are built.
Cinder blocks: composition and proportions
The cheapness of cinder blocks is due to the use of a wide range of materials as a filler, many of which are waste from various industries. Accordingly, there are several recipes for mixing the solution, but cement remains the main component. Builders prefer to use Portland cement M400. In the presence of cement of other grades, the proportions will be somewhat different: grades with a smaller number will require an increase in the cement content by 15-20%, the use of higher quality cements can reduce its content. In addition to cement, the solution for cinder blocks includes a filler and a plasticizer. The filler can be improvised materials available:
- sawdust;
- screenings;
- ash;
- construction waste, including brick fight;
- sand;
- small stones, gravel.
Plasticizer - additive is not required, but it improves certain properties of the solution. There are plasticizers that increase the moisture and frost resistance of the mixture, which is important for areas with a harsh climate. You can find additives that improve the strength characteristics of the solution, prevent the formation of cracks, and accelerate the process of hardening of the working solution. The percentage of plasticizers in the mixture is insignificant: 3-5 grams of the additive is enough to manufacture a unit of production.
The very technology of production and the composition of cinder blocks provide that the blocks use special devices and machines that you can do yourself
The name "slag blocks" was assigned to this building material, since in its manufacture in Soviet times, mainly coal slag was used - waste from metallurgical production. Today, another material can also act as a filler, but as an example, we will give the proportions of the slag mixture:
- three parts of slag;
- one part of plaster;
- water.
The slag mixture is moistened before use. The preparation of such a solution takes 5-10 minutes, while one cubic meter of the finished mixture will require approximately 340-360 liters of water. The addition of plasticizers improves certain characteristics of the mixture, increasing the cost of the cinder block. When using dyes, it is possible to obtain products with different colors that improve the aesthetic perception of the building.
Hollow blocks reduce the cost of construction, while improving the sound and heat insulation properties of products, but the strength of such blocks does not allow them to be used for the production of foundations and walls subject to high loads.
Production of cinder blocks at home
Ready-made equipment for the manufacture of building blocks is quite expensive. The purchase of factory vibrating machines is justified only when conducting construction work carried out in large volumes. In private construction, it is preferable to rent such equipment, but the option of self-production cannot be ignored.
It is the cinder block that is the most profitable material for construction on its site, because in this case the process is fast, economical and reliable.
Cinder blocks in molds
An alternative option is the production of building blocks without the use of vibration equipment. This will require forms of the required geometry and dimensions. They are rectangular boxes with side walls and a bottom. It is preferable to make molds consisting of two or three blocks - this will save material.
The solution poured into the mold is made plastic, which will prevent the formation of voids. In the manufacture of hollow blocks, any suitable material is used as a void former, for example, glass bottles. After filling the form with a solution, it is rammed and left for a day or two. The removed block must stand for a month, after which it can be used for masonry work.
Vibrating machines for the production of cinder blocks
The quality of products made without the use of vibration equipment leaves much to be desired, because the density of the mixture during production will be much lower. Therefore, if this criterion is among the determining ones, it is better to invest in a machine with a vibration unit. They are of two types:
- stationary;
- mobile (popularly referred to as "layers").
Making a cinder block at home is possible using both wooden and metal molds.
For the construction of residential and non-residential buildings, you can use material of your own preparation, strong enough and durable. We will try to tell you how to make a cinder block with your own hands, as well as your own machine for making cinder blocks, in this article.
What is a cinder block?
Cinder block is a building material that is produced by vibrocompression from a concrete mixture with various additives. The result is a product that looks like a brick with good performance. You can build a cinder block garage, a barn or a one-story house simply and quickly.
In addition, you can make a machine for making cinder blocks with your own hands, and produce building material right on the construction site. Having a high-quality recipe and production technology, making cinder blocks with your own hands, you can create a completely profitable business.
Cinder blocks can be divided into two types:
- Full bodied. They have high strength and are usually used for exterior cladding and foundations;
- Hollow. Although they have, in comparison with full-bodied ones, less strength, however, it is enough for the construction of residential buildings. They provide good heat and sound insulation of the premises. In addition, if cinder blocks are made by hand, the consumption of raw materials will be less, and, accordingly, the cost of finished products will be several times lower than when buying finished products from third-party manufacturers.
To increase the heat-insulating properties of the blocks, various fillers are added to a special concrete solution. If slag is used as a filler, then such a block will be called a cinder block, if expanded clay or sawdust, then we will get expanded clay concrete or wood concrete blocks, respectively. Such blocks can serve as an excellent insulation for the outer walls of the house.
In addition, the blocks have large dimensions compared to standard bricks, which significantly speeds up construction work. And the manufacture of cinder blocks with your own hands right at the construction site as they are needed will save you from unnecessary costs for the main building material.
How to make a cinder block at home using simple household utensils is presented in the video below. A mold for a cinder block is made with your own hands, from improvised materials.
Advantages and disadvantages of cinder blocks
Making cinder blocks with your own hands at home and finished products has a number of undeniable advantages:
- The possibility of manufacturing directly at the construction site without attracting additional costs for transportation and intermediary services of sellers of finished products;
- Availability of production methods. Autoclave, steam dry, room temperature;
- Low cost of raw materials and short construction time. Low consumption of solution. Due to the large size of the blocks, the construction progress is greatly accelerated;
- The possibility of obtaining a material with different properties and characteristics by varying the percentage of components in the mixture;
- Various forms of finished products. Making cinder blocks at home allows you to create various shapes and sizes of the finished product, necessary for specific needs, which can greatly facilitate installation.
- The building, built of cinder blocks, retains heat well.
Like any material used in construction, cinder blocks also have their drawbacks:
- Low frost resistance makes this material unsuitable for construction in the northern regions.
- High moisture permeability requires additional insulation.
- Fragility. For the construction of residential buildings, a careful calculation of the load is required. Cinder blocks are of little use for the construction of foundations.
- Low environmental friendliness. Blast furnace slag refers to non-environmental materials.
Scope and general requirements
The cinder block produced at home can be used for the construction of one-story buildings. According to some reports, cinder blocks can be used in the construction of the foundation, but they are full-bodied and subject to the correct formulation and high-grade cement.
Also, this material can be used as an additional insulation in the construction of low-rise frame houses.
Subject to technology and recipes, good cinder blocks can be made independently. The standard dimensions of the cinder block are 390×190×200 mm with two or three small holes. But there are other varieties as well.
How to make a cinder block with your own hands so that it is durable and of high quality:
- High-quality cement (not lower than grade M400);
- Blast furnace slag;
- Coarse sand;
- Do-it-yourself vibropressing machine for the production of cinder blocks.
Due to the fact that slag is a product of coal processing, and the active use of gas leads to a gradual decrease in the volume of slag production, it is often replaced with zitoconcrete (more expensive in cost).
For the production of 36 blocks, you will need one bag of cement (subject to a 1: 7 ratio, that is, 0.011 m 3 of solution is required per block of a standard size).
Advice! Blocks with precise line geometry are needed for the rapid erection of building walls. To do this, the form must be perfectly even and must be filled to the very brim, plus a small margin for tapping.
To create an ideally shaped cinder block:
- The vibroform with the solution is turned on for 10-15 seconds, in case of precipitation below the edge of the form, a clamp is set, then the vibration is turned on again;
- Switching off is performed at the moment of stop of the vibroform against the limiter;
- At the same time, the mold is pulled out and the vibrator is turned off.
In private construction, they can be used as standard-sized blocks of 390 × 190 × 200 mm, as well as 400 × 200 × 200 mm. Each master eventually develops his own proportion and recipe for the preparation of blocks, however, there is a recommended standard according to which you need to mix the components in such proportions:
- 1.5-3 parts of water;
- 1.5 parts of cement brand M400;
- 2 parts sand;
- 7 parts of slag, which can be replaced with broken bricks, gypsum, stone or granite screenings, perlite, gravel, sawdust, ash, etc.;
- When vibrocasting, 5 grams of plasticizer for each block for greater plasticity (due to this, strength, moisture resistance and frost resistance of the finished product increase significantly).
Advice! To prevent the blocks from spreading when removed, the amount of water should be such that when the solution is compressed in a fist, it connects, and when it falls to the ground, it crumbles.
Production of cinder blocks
Step-by-step instruction:
- Fill the mold with a slide solution and turn on the vibrator for a few seconds to shake. When shrinking below the top edge of the mold, more mortar must be added. Insert clamp and start the vibrator again. The formation of the block is considered complete when the pressure reaches the limiter;
- Carefully remove the mold, if necessary, turn on the vibrator for a short time.
- Lay out the blocks for drying for 5-7 days. Full hardening, subject to high humidity and heat, will occur in about a month.
Attention! You can transfer the blocks the very next day, stack one on top of the other after 7 days. When a plasticizer is added to the solution, warehousing can be done after 8 hours.
It is best to store blocks in pyramids with small gaps between them for better drying. After two months of drying, the blocks will be suitable for construction.
Self-manufacturing of the machine
For the construction of a small garage, a shed, a gazebo or, for example, a bathhouse, the production of blocks can be established using ordinary boxes. And for the construction of large buildings, a small machine with or without a vibration function may be required.
To make a machine for the production of cinder blocks you will need:
- Reinforcement with a section diameter of 12 mm;
- Sheet iron 3 mm thick;
- Electric welding and grinder;
- Engine with two shafts, high speed, power 0.5-0.7 kW.
Each block made using a vibrating machine takes about 10-15 seconds. Taking into account the time for pouring the mold and removing the block from it, about 50 pieces can be produced per hour. cinder blocks on their own at home. This is a very good indicator of productivity and financial savings.
Among the many concrete products on the market, cinder blocks stand out. They quickly gained popularity among private developers, thanks to a set of advantages. The increased dimensions and low weight of the products greatly facilitate the laying of walls. By making cinder blocks on your own, you can significantly reduce costs. A cinder block production machine designed for domestic use can be made on your own.
Cinder blocks - characteristics and purpose of the material
One of the reasons for the increased popularity of slag-filled concrete blocks is the low cost of the material. It is associated with the use in the production process of waste from metallurgical enterprises - slag.
Along with traditional components, Portland cement and river sand, various aggregates are used:
- brick fight;
- crushed stone screening;
- granite chips;
- various slags and ashes;
- expanded clay particles.
The manufacturing process is carried out in various ways:
- industrial method at specialized enterprises with the processing of products in drying chambers;
- at home from available raw materials, using a self-assembled machine for making blocks.
On home-made equipment, you can produce various types of cinder-concrete products:
- full-bodied, with an increased margin of safety. They are used quite rarely, as they retain heat worse;
- hollow, characterized by high thermal insulation properties. To ensure strength, the volume of cavities should not exceed 1/3 of the total volume of the product.
Dimensions of products are determined by the size of the form. With independent production of products, the size of the molding box can be any. However, many prefer the standard dimensions of 19x18.8x39 cm.
The increased volume of the cinder block can significantly reduce the duration of various types of construction work:
- erection of capital walls;
- construction of internal partitions.
It is perfect for the construction of utility buildings, sheds, storage facilities. If you need to make a cinder block yourself, the machine allows you to quickly solve the problem. The resulting material has many advantages:
- high thermal insulation characteristics. Due to the reduced thermal conductivity, the material prevents heat loss;
- increased dimensions and low weight. This makes it easy to transport products and quickly build walls from them;
- resistance to the development of microorganisms. This is achieved due to the properties of the slag included in the structure of the block;
- low price. Do-it-yourself cinder block machine allows you to make products that are cheaper than purchased blocks.
The advantages also include the fact that slag-filled blocks are easy to machine, effectively absorb various noises, and are not afraid of high temperatures.
The material also has weaknesses:
- low durability. The period of operation of cinder-block buildings is up to three decades;
- reduced margin of safety. The characteristics of the material allow the construction of buildings with a height of no more than two floors;
- the appearance of cracks under the influence of shear forces. During shrinkage, cracking occurs along the cinder block array.
To ensure an attractive appearance of buildings, the cinder block surface needs an external cladding. These shortcomings do not stop developers who wish to build an outbuilding or a small building in a limited time at low cost.
You can use homemade cinder blocks a month after they are made. Choosing which machine to use for the manufacture of cinder blocks
After deciding on the manufacture of block products on their own, the problem arises of choosing a unit for their production. Many decide to make their own machine for the production of cinder blocks.
When deciding on a device, it is worth considering the following design options:
- a simplified device that provides the ability to manufacture block products at home;
- an improved unit, the design of which provides for a mechanism for tamping and extracting finished products.
The choice of the optimal option is carried out depending on the need and availability of funds.
Simplified cinder block machine with your own hands - drawings and recommendations
With a small need for material, there is no need to manufacture a complex unit equipped with a vibration motor and special mechanisms. A simplified method allows the production of products in special molding boxes.
The technology provides for the following works:
- Assembling molds and oiling the surface inside the box.
- Pouring into collapsible containers of cinder block mortar.
- Exposure for 5-6 hours until the composition sets.
- Disassembly of the box and careful extraction.
- Drying of manufactured products under a canopy or indoors.
To build this kind of machine, you should have the skills to work with a welding machine and a plumbing tool The use of wooden or metal inserts, as well as glass containers, allows the production of hollow blocks. It is not difficult to make a simplified machine for cinder blocks with your own hands - it is a metal or wooden container, the size and shape of which correspond to the parameters of the product.
An improved machine for the production of cinder blocks with your own hands - drawings and device
For the manufacture of the upgraded unit, drawings will be required. You can study the existing machine for self-development of sketches. Before starting design work, it is important to make sure that the device is working. It is advisable to manufacture complex equipment with an increased need for cinder blocks. In any case, when planning to assemble a professional cinder block machine with your own hands, you need to develop the drawings yourself or purchase ready-made ones.
In such a machine there are special mechanisms:
- ramming device. Compaction is carried out by a vibration motor. It is an engine with a power of up to 1.2 kW with a load placed eccentrically on the shaft. You can use a purchased vibration motor. As a result of vibration action, air pores are removed, and the material is evenly distributed over the mold box. The result of ramming is an increase in density and strength properties;
- lifting mechanism. It facilitates the removal of cinder blocks from mold boxes. From a variety of designs, you can always choose the right option. The simplest solution is a U-shaped handle welded to the side surfaces of the container. By lifting the molding box by the handles, you can remove the hardened cinder block.
The size of the mold must correspond to the dimensions of the cinder block, exceeding its height by 50 mm. This will allow you to load an increased volume of the mixture, which, after compaction, will acquire the required dimensions.
To make a cinder block with your own hands, small-sized vibrating machines are used, which are capable of producing small batches of this material. We assemble a machine for the manufacture of cinder blocks with our own hands
If you want to make a homemade cinder block machine with your own hands, you need to draw or purchase ready-made sketches, as well as take care of the materials and tools necessary to complete the work.
Getting ready to assemble a machine for cinder blocks - preparation of materials and tools
The arsenal of home craftsmen usually has the required equipment and tools. Catalog of the necessary equipment and materials:
- electric welding device;
- grinder with a disk for cutting metal;
- a set of locksmith tools;
- vise;
- sheets of three-millimeter metal;
- cutting steel pipes;
- electric motor or ready-made vibrator;
- bolts, washers, nuts for fastening parts.
The amount of metal for the manufacture of the device is determined in accordance with the drawing or sketch, which shows all dimensions.
First of all, workpieces are cut from a sheet of metal 3 mm, work with a grinder should be done carefully How to make a mold for a block machine with your own hands - drawings and assembly
In order to make a home-made machine for a cinder block with your own hands, drawings and diagrams will be required both for the molding box and for the unit itself. Let's start with the mold.
Make it according to the following algorithm:
- Mark the contours of the parts on a metal sheet, cut the blanks to make a molding box.
- Weld the shell of the future container, check the observance of right angles.
- Cut off pieces of pipes with a grinder, the length of which corresponds to the height of the cinder block.
- Make cuts along the axis from opposite sides of the pipes, give the blanks a conical configuration.
- Weld them to the base of the box, connect them with a transverse jumper to increase rigidity.
- Weld the base with conical inserts to the shell, fix the plugs on the end of the pipes.
- Make two handles for moving the mold box, fix them on both sides of the structure.
- Make the cover of the molding box, make holes in it that correspond to the dimensions of the technological inserts.
- Fasten the stops inside the box at a level corresponding to the height of the block. They act as a stopper for the lid.
The use of a group molding box with increased dimensions will increase the productivity of the equipment, and the use of a collapsible casting mold will facilitate extraction.
Do-it-yourself drawing for making a machine How to make a block making machine yourself
As a material for manufacturing, use the metal profile available in the household.
Sequencing:
- Weld the sidewalls of the bed, connect them with jumpers.
- Prepare a work platform and secure between the uprights.
- Attach the vibration motor mounting studs to the platform.
- Fix the eccentric balancer on the motor drive shaft.
- Prime the surface of the metal, then cover with paint.
- Connect the power cable to the motor and carry out a test run.
Having carefully studied the previously developed project and drawings, it is not difficult to make a machine for making cinder blocks with your own hands.
How to prepare a solution for a machine for the manufacture of cinder blocks
It is important to properly prepare the solution so that the cinder block made at home has the required properties. Necessary materials:
- coal ash or metallurgical slag;
- sifted sand;
- fine-grained gravel or screenings;
- cement M400 or M500.
The name itself speaks for itself what this block is made of, and it is made from coal slag, which remains after the boilers are fired in a coal-fired boiler house It is allowed to introduce additives that reduce the duration of hardening and increase strength. The ratios of the ingredients affect the characteristics of the finished material.
Use the following recipes:
- mix ash with cement in a ratio of 7: 2, add water to a plastic consistency;
- mix ash and screenings in equal proportions, add 10–12% of cement from the total volume, dilute with water.
When mixing, be guided by proven recipes.
We check the machine for the production of blocks - we stamp cinder blocks with our own hands
Consider how to use the machine for the manufacture of cinder concrete products:
- Install the unit on a solid base, connect the voltage.
- Prepare the cinder block mixture according to the manufacturing technology.
- Fill the mold box with mortar and turn on the vibration motor for one minute.
- Add solution up to the upper mark.
- Install the cover, turn on the vibration motor.
- Tamp until it touches the cover with thrust elements.
- Carefully remove the forming container.
When the fresh block has set, remove it from the box. Dry the building material in a dry and closed area.
What to look for when making a cinder block machine
Carrying out the construction of a house, a bathhouse or an outbuilding, you can save a lot by using a machine designed for the manufacture of cinder blocks. It is not always necessary to purchase a machine made in the factory. It is not difficult to make a machine for making blocks yourself. Pay attention to the use of proven drawings, as well as study the recipe and understand the technology.