These homemade bricks were created by stamping shale clay with a 3D printed reverse of the text. The text can stick in or out which created the opposite effect on the brick.
Molded bricks have also been created, using a 3D printed brick mold.
Using the sand molding technique, a piece of clay is coated in sand, which acts as the release agent. It is then pressed into the mold, shaping the clay, then immediately removed. The bricks are dried, then fired in a homemade kiln at 2100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The kiln is made from insulating firebricks, and a 1200 watt heating element. These firebricks are very light and have lots of small bubbles which make dead air spaces that trap heat.
Once, the kiln cools, The bricks can be removed.
The sand molded bricks are 1/4 the size of regular bricks. The mold, full size, would be 9 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2in.
The marks can still be seen on the bottom of the bricks where the clay was cut in the mold by a wire.
The shale clay has a significant shrinkage factor. It is very noticeable when the bricks are compared to the mold they were created in.
Full sized bricks will be made, when a larger kiln can be built, but currently 1/4 sized bricks are very good for testing and practicing.
