How are adobe bricks made?
They are composed of: Straw (or other binding type agent) clay Sand Sometimes asphalt is used – its not really like black-top – it is how ever a petroleum tar-like adhesive, takes the place or strengthens the bond of the clay. When straw or other long binding fiber is used, it is chopped up into short pieces. The recipe is something like ‘5 shovelful’s of clay, 2 shovelfuls of sand and three to four handfuls of straw’ Yeah real precise measuring. Old school method is to make a pit in the soil and to mix the ingredients adding water to make a paste. One steps in and ‘high walks’ mixing and ‘pounding’ the ingredients together. The consistency is a thick paste One that will ‘slump’ if piled up – but will not run or spread out too far. The mixture is packed into a brick mold (usually a simple wood box) allowed to sit in that a couple three hours drying out to when its turned out it retains it shape. Then the bricks are laid out on dry ground in full sunlight and allowed to bake for days, o
