Alright, let’s yak about them kiln bricks, what they’re made of and how they’re made. You know, the things they use to build houses and stuff. It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya.
First off, you gotta have some dirt, the right kind though. They call it clay. This ain’t just any dirt from your backyard, mind you. It’s gotta be sticky when you mix it with water, ya know, like playdough. And when it dries, it gets hard. Then, when you burn it, oh boy, it gets real hard, like a rock. They also use somethin’ called shale, which is kinda like clay’s cousin, I reckon.
Then, you need sand. Yeah, like the stuff at the beach. Why sand? Well, it helps the clay not shrink too much when it dries and burns. If it shrinks too much, it’ll crack, and nobody wants cracked bricks, right? Makes the whole thing weak, like a bad tooth.
Next up is water. Can’t do nothin’ without water. You mix the water with the clay and sand to make it all mushy, so you can shape it. It’s like makin’ mud pies, but on a bigger scale, you see.
- Clay or Shale: Gotta be the sticky kind.
- Sand: Keeps things from shrinkin’ too much.
- Water: Mixes it all up.
Now, how do they make these bricks? First, they mix that clay and sand and water all together, real good. They call it a “plastic mass”, fancy, huh? Then, they shape it into bricks. They used to do it by hand, can you believe it? Now, they got machines doin’ most of the work, thank goodness. Makes it faster, I guess.
After they shape the bricks, they gotta dry ’em out. Just leave ’em out in the sun, or sometimes they put ’em in a special room to dry. You don’t wanna put wet bricks in the fire, they’ll just explode, make a big mess. Once they’re dry, they gotta burn ’em, that’s what makes them strong.
They burn the bricks in a big ol’ oven, a kiln they call it. And you know what they burn in that kiln? Well, all sorts of things. They burn wood, sure, but sometimes they burn old tires, used motor oil, coal and even plain ol’ trash. Whatever they can find, I guess. Burning makes the bricks real hard and tough, so they can stand up to the weather and whatever else you throw at ’em.
So, that’s it, that’s what kiln bricks are made of: clay or shale, sand, water, and a whole lotta fire. And let me tell ya, it takes a lot of work to make ’em. People think it’s easy, just makin’ bricks. But it ain’t, no sir. It takes time and effort and know-how. But in the end, you got somethin’ strong and sturdy, somethin’ that’ll last. Just like good ol’ fashioned values, they last too.
In short, making bricks is like baking a cake, but instead of flour and sugar, you use dirt and sand. And instead of a little oven in your kitchen, you use a big fiery kiln. And just like a good cake, a good brick needs the right ingredients and the right amount of heat to come out just right.
And don’t forget the manpower, the folks who actually do the work. Someone’s gotta mix the clay, shape the bricks, load the kiln and all that. It’s hard work, but it’s honest work. And it’s important work, ’cause without bricks, we wouldn’t have houses and buildings and all that. So next time you see a brick wall, remember all the work and stuff that went into making them bricks. It ain’t just dirt and water, it’s a whole lot more.
Tags: [kiln bricks, brick making, clay, shale, sand, water, fuel, building materials]
