Alright, let’s talk about them kilns for bricks, you know, the things they use to bake them mud pies into hard, strong bricks. I don’t know all them fancy names, but I seen a few in my time, and I can tell ya a thing or two.
First off, you gotta understand, there’s different kinds for different folks. Some are big, some are small, some burn wood, some burn other stuff. It all depends on what you’re makin’ and how much of it you need.
Now, them old-timers, they used to have these real simple kilns. Just a big ol’ hole in the ground, they called it a pit kiln I think. They’d stack the bricks in there, cover ‘em up with mud and stuff, and then build a fire underneath. Took a long time, but it worked. Burns wood, lots of it. And you gotta keep an eye on it, make sure the fire don’t go out or get too hot. That’s what my grandpappy used to do, he made bricks for half the town. He always said, “low and slow,” that’s how you get good bricks. He wasn’t wrong, them bricks lasted forever.
- Pit Kilns: Simple, old-timey, burns wood.
- Clamp Kilns: Stack bricks, cover with mud, burn.
Then there’s these updraft kilns, or somethin’ like that. They got a firebox at the bottom and the heat goes up through the bricks. Faster than them pit kilns, that’s for sure. But you still gotta watch it, make sure the heat spreads even. Some folks use wood, some use coal, even gas I hear. Ain’t seen one of them gas ones myself, but I heard tell they get real hot, real fast. My neighbor tried to build one, said it was cheaper than buyin’ bricks from the city. Well, it worked for a bit, but then the thing blew up, made a heck of a mess. He went back to farmin’ after that. Guess brick makin’ ain’t for everyone.
And there are downdraft kilns too. The fire goes up first, then comes down through the bricks. They say it gives you a more even bake, but sounds complicated to me. More moving parts, more things to go wrong. Probably cost a pretty penny too. Them city folks, they like things fancy. They use all kinds of fancy kilns with computers and stuff. I seen pictures, looks like spaceships, not brick ovens. They make a lot of bricks though, more than you can shake a stick at.
Now, if you’re just makin’ a few bricks for your garden, you don’t need no big ol’ kiln. A small one will do just fine. You can even buy those electric kilns, like a big oven. Plug ‘em in, set the temperature, and let ‘em bake. Easy peasy. But if you’re tryin’ to make enough bricks to build a house, well, you’re gonna need something bigger, something that burns hot and long. And you better know what you’re doing or you’ll end up with a pile of crumbly nothin’. Remember what my pappy always said, “low and slow”
Choosing the right kiln, well, it’s like choosin’ the right pair of shoes. Gotta fit your needs, gotta be comfortable, and gotta last. You wouldn’t wear high heels to plow a field, would ya? Same goes for kilns. Big kilns for big jobs, small kilns for small jobs. And don’t go buyin’ somethin’ you can’t handle. Start small, learn the ropes, and then you can think about gettin’ fancy.
So, there you have it, a little bit about them brick kilns. Not a whole lot, I know, but enough to get you started. Just remember, makin’ bricks ain’t easy, but it can be done. And if an old woman like me can understand it, well, so can you.
Tags: [kilns, bricks, brick making, types of kilns, pit kiln, updraft kiln, downdraft kiln, choosing a kiln, brick kiln sizes, kiln temperatures]
