How to Make Kiln Bricks : 7 Steps Guide

Making your own kiln bricks is a great way to save money, and it’s not as hard as you might think. Kiln bricks can be purchased at certain suppliers, but you will usually pay much more for them than what they are worth.

Many people use clay that they dug up themselves for this project, but it is much easier to buy clay at a store. Before making your kiln bricks, make sure that the clay you are using is pure.

This article will outline the steps you need to take to make your kiln bricks. We will also provide some tips on how to make them last longer. So let’s get started.

What are Kiln Bricks?

Kiln bricks are clay that has been made into a brick shape. They are often used in making kilns, but they can also be helpful when building certain types of furnaces. Clay is solid, and it makes for excellent heat-resistant material. Clay bricks are also very lightweight, so building with them is accessible.

You can build whatever kiln or furnace project you want when you have your own bricks. Clay makes for strong insulation, which means the heat will last longer. Clay will also last longer than other types of wood or brick that are used in kilns and furnaces.

Materials Needed for The Project

Making kiln bricks is easy, and you probably have most of the materials on hand. Here is a list of the materials you will need:

• Clay

• Water

• Aluminum foil or plastic wrap

• Cement/Lime

• Clay brick wall forms or molds

How to Make Kiln Bricks- Follow These Steps

There are just a few steps that you need to follow when learning how to make kiln bricks

1. Prepare Your Lime

Prepare your lime by adding water to it. You will get the most potent mixture when using hydrated lime, but quick lime also works fine. Make sure that the mixture is thick and pasty to hold its form well after it dries out.

2. Mix Your Clay and Water

Next, you’ll want to mix your clay and water in a large bucket or pot so that it is thoroughly combined. You can use any clay for this project, but it won’t work if the clay you are using has rocks in it.

If that is your only option, try to remove as many rocks as possible before mixing everything. The best type of clay for this project is pure white earthenware clay or pure white kaolin clay.

3. Prepare Your Kiln Forms

If you want to make small bricks, you can use your hands to mold them. If you’re going to make more giant bricks for building projects, you will need to prepare either brick wall forms or molds. You can buy these at most stores that sell fireplace tools and supplies.

4. Create the Kiln Bricks

Once everything is mixed together, it’s time to form the kiln bricks. If you are making small ones, you will need to put the clay mixture into small paper cups. Press down on each cup so that the mixture spreads along all four sides of it.

Then, please take out the excess clay by pressing your thumb over it and pulling your thumb away quickly. This will leave you with a cup full of even brick mixture. If the paper cups aren’t giving you the size brick you want, you can use your kiln forms instead.

5. Dry the Kiln Bricks

Now it’s time to dry out your clay bricks to be ready for use. To get flat bricks, place the paper cups or kiln forms on a flat surface outdoors and let them bake in the sun for about one day.

If you don’t want to leave your bricks out in the sun, you can also dry them inside using a low oven instead. Just set your range to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit and put your clay brick molds in there for a day.

6. Remove Your Kiln Bricks

Once your bricks have dried, carefully remove them from the mold or form. If you used paper cups, then tear away the extra clay sticking out along the sides of your brick. If you used kiln forms, gently slip a thin knife or wire under the brick and pop it out.

7. Make More Kiln Bricks

Now that you know how to make kiln bricks, repeat these steps over and over again until you have enough to finish your project.

These are simple steps to follow when learning how to make kiln bricks. It’s best to use pure white clay, but you can also get good results by making kiln bricks out of other types of clay.

You can even thinly slice pieces off your larger cakes of clay and press them into the wall forms or molds to make thin bricks to be used for projects that need to have light bricks.

What are Kiln Bricks Used for?

There are many potential uses for kiln bricks. Of course, the most common use is to build things with them, such as houses and furniture. However, some people might want to use the bricks as decoration on a fireplace. Others might want to create art pieces using kiln bricks as a medium.

In any case, there are many uses for kiln bricks. They are versatile and durable, which makes them perfect for all sorts of artistic creations or functional structures that need to be strong.

Types of Kiln Bricks

Kiln bricks are available in many different types. Some of the most common types include:

Slip-Cast Kiln Bricks

These are about three-quarter inches thick, and they usually have a cross-hatched surface. Many people use these to make brick ovens for cooking pizzas, bread, and other baked goods.

Solid Cast Kiln Bricks

These are about one-half inch thick, and they can be used to make all sorts of decorative structures. They are also perfect for building outdoor brick ovens because they are durable.

Porcelain Kiln Bricks

These are about one-quarter inch thick. They are incredibly smooth on both sides, which makes them useful for intricate projects that require a lot of detail. They are also very durable and robust, perfect for ovens or fireplaces.

Glazed Kiln Bricks

These are glazed at the factory, so you don’t have to do it yourself. The glaze is exceptionally smooth, so they will look very nice if you are using these for something decorative. However, these kiln bricks are an only one-quarter inch thick like the porcelain ones.

Unglazed Kiln Bricks

If you need these for building ovens or fireplaces, then they are the way to go. They are solid and durable, so you won’t have to worry about cracking while in use. However, since they aren’t glazed, you will have to do that yourself before using them.

You can find all of these types of kiln bricks at your local brick supplier or even online through various websites. Look around, and you should be able to get what you’re looking for and more!

How Long Do They Last?

Kiln bricks will last for as long as you want them to. You can make your kiln bricks out of low-quality clay that won’t last very long, or you can make them out of high-quality clay that lasts forever. The durability of the bricks depends entirely on how good of a job you do mixing the right ingredients and molding the bricks.

However, it is essential to note that kiln bricks will not last if they sit in water. After your kiln brick has dried out completely, it should be able to handle getting wet again without much problem.

There is a specific window where the bricks can dry out and soak up water before you have too much water. If you expose your kiln bricks to too much water too quickly, then they might become moldy or even crumble under the weight of the water.

Tips on How to Make Them Last Longer

Here are some tips that should help your kiln bricks last longer. The first tip is to make sure that the kiln brick completely dries out after you fire them in your kiln.

• Make sure there is plenty of room between your kiln bricks as they dry so that the air can circulate and speed up the process.

• Leave the bricks in the sun for at least a day or two. This should be more than enough time to make them completely dry out.

• Make sure you store your kiln bricks under cover and away from water.

• Never stack your kiln bricks on top of each other because this might make them crumble or crack.

• If you are making kiln bricks that have to hold their shape, then be sure to dry them out completely.

• If you are using low-quality clay, then do not expose the kiln bricks to too much water at once, or they might get moldy or crumble.

• If your kiln bricks are exposed to water, then make sure they sit in the sun for a few days or until they dry out completely before using them.

Knowing these tips and using them should help you make kiln bricks last as long as possible and make sure that they don’t break apart too soon. The key to making something last is to take care of it properly and give it the right environment to live in. If you do this, then your bricks should last a long time and satisfy all of your needs for them.

The Benefits of Making Your Own Kiln Bricks

There are a number of benefits to making your own kiln bricks. Here are a few of the many benefits.

1. Save Money

If you make your own kiln bricks, then you don’t have to pay somebody else to do it for you. There are no overhead costs or shipping costs when you make your own kiln bricks. This should save you a lot of Money in the long run and help you get more use out of your kiln bricks.

2. Custom Design

If you make your own kiln bricks, then you can be sure that they are exactly how you want them to be. They will have the right color, strength, and shape for what you want to do with them.

Because of this, custom design should not take much effort to use your kiln bricks in whatever project you are working on.

3. Satisfaction

There is nothing more satisfying than doing something yourself and seeing the results of your hard work. This satisfaction will last for years to come, especially if your kiln bricks last that long too.

4. Flexibility

If you are making your kiln bricks, you have the freedom to make them into whatever size and shape you want. You can design them to work best for your project while still maintaining strength and durability.

5. Total Control Over Ingredients

When you make your kiln bricks, you are in total control over what goes into them. You can make sure that they are exactly right, the way you want them to be, without relying on somebody else to do it for you.

This ensures that your kiln bricks will stand up to whatever test is put in front of them and help you get your project done faster and more efficiently than if you had to rely on somebody else.

6. Custom Strength

If you are making your kiln bricks, you can make sure that they have the perfect degree of stability.

They should be strong enough to hold whatever shape you need them to without breaking or crumbling under pressure. This is especially important if you are working on challenging projects that require a lot of time and energy put into making something.

7. Perfect Fit

Making your own kiln bricks makes it easy for you to make them fit perfectly in whatever mold you are using.

This ensures that no matter what project you are working on, the kiln bricks will be perfect for it and help you get the job done faster while wasting less time finding suitable materials to use.

8. Sturdyness

Another benefit of making kiln bricks is that they are usually very sturdy and can stand up to a lot of pressure, making them perfect for all sorts of projects that require the bricks to stay in one place for an extended period.

Because of this sturdiness, it should be easy to get your kiln bricks to stay in place and hold whatever shape you need them.

9. Environmentally Friendly

There is no such thing as manufacturing when it comes to making kiln bricks, which means you are helping the environment by creating these bricks yourself.

You also can feel good knowing that you aren’t wasting money on shipping costs to keep more of your money in your pocket.

10. Better Than Store-Bought

The best thing about making kiln bricks is that they are so much better than anything you could buy at the store because you didn’t have to rely on somebody else to do it for you. Your bricks will be strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, so you know that they are the best thing to use.

These are some common reasons you should take the time to make your kiln bricks. With all of these benefits coming from this project, it is clear that there are many reasons why you should try making your kiln bricks instead of buying them online or at a store.

FAQs 

What Is the Best Material to Use for A Kiln Brick?

Clays are the most common material to use for kiln bricks. This is because they do not break down quickly, plus they already have the perfect color and strength needed for good kiln bricks.

What Kind of Clay Should I Use?

The best clay to use depends on what you plan to do with your kiln bricks. If you use your bricks to make pottery, you will want to use porcelain-based clay. If you are looking for sturdiness and strength, any clay should work.

How Do You Make a Kiln Brick Mold?

Making a kiln brick mold is simple. All you need to do is dig a hole in the shape of your brick and use the clay that will become your kiln bricks to put into it. Ensure no air pockets or cracks, leading to breakage later on down the line.

What Size Should I Make My Bricks?

You can make kiln bricks of any size that you want. It all depends on the project you are working on and what type of bricks will be best for it.

If you need something more significant than a typical brick, keep adding clay until your mold is at the desired dimensions.

What Type of Caulking Should I Use for This Project?

It would help if you used silicone caulking to seal the edges of your kiln brick molds so that they do not fall apart.

In the case of using a lot of clay in the mold, it is even more important to keep the shape until all the bricks have been removed.

What Is the Best Way to Remove Kiln Bricks from A Mold?

If you are having trouble removing your bricks from the molds, the best thing to do is to let them dry for as long as possible to make them easier to take out.

Also, make sure that you cut any excess clay away from the edges of your mold before you try removing the bricks.

How Many Can I Stack in One Mold?

You can stack as many bricks as you want in the mold, but keep in mind that any more than about three bricks is probably too much. So long as your kiln brick molds are adequately prepared and there is no excess clay, you should be okay.

Conclusion

Making kiln bricks is simple and can save you money in the long run. If you need something to hold its shape even with a lot of pressure, these bricks are perfect for any project requiring them. With all of these benefits, there is no reason why you should not make your kiln bricks instead of buying them online or at a store.