Recipe for Adobe Bricks

Recipe for Six Adobe Bricks
Time required: about one month (most of it waiting for bricks to dry).Cost: little or nothingMaterials:

• One five-gallon bucket


• One mixing stick or old wooden spoon


• 1/2 bucket of adobe clay


• 1/4 bucket of sand


• 1/8 bucket of straw cut into two-to-three-inch pieces


• Enough water to make a doughlike consistency


• Six empty half-gallon waxed milk containers OR six 4 * 11 * 22 inch wooden brick molds, which can be made from 2-by-4s nailed together


• Waterproof tape

Directions:

• Thoroughly mix the adobe clay, sand and straw in the bucket; add only enough water to create a workable consistency


• You can use either the wooden brick molds or the waxed 1/2 gallon milk cartons. To make the molds from the latter, cut one side from the carton (which becomes the open top of the brick mold). Cut and flatten the folded spout end and tape the carton firmly into a rectangular shape.


• Pack the brick mixture into the cartons, filling each about tow-thirds full. IN 15 minutes to 24 hours, the brick will be firm enough to tip out. Each batch is different' you will have to judge when your mix will maintain a brick shape.


• Place shaped bricks in a sunny location and turn repeatedly as they dry. (A completely dry brick is uniform in color, inside and out.)