| Making concrete or cement blocks from hand | | | | which binds the other components together. If |
| molds is the simple way to get started in the | | | | there is too little cement the concrete will be |
| concrete block business. Now you can buy | | | | weak and if too much water is used it will not be |
| cement block molds from dealers on the internet, | | | | good either. You need to measure the various |
| or for a lot less money you can make your own. | | | | components accurately before mixing them. A |
| The molds you can buy will generally be plastic or | | | | recipe for a concrete mix is given as three |
| cast metal and are not cheap. Molds made from | | | | numbers for example 1:3:4. This means one part |
| plywood and sheet metal are quite easy to build | | | | Portland cement mixed with three parts sand and |
| yourself, and cost much less. They are also a lot | | | | four parts gravel. Sometimes cinders or other |
| easier to repair or replace as they wear out. To | | | | light "aggregates" are used instead of gravel to |
| make a reasonable quantity of blocks at a time | | | | make light weight blocks. |
| you will need a few dozen molds so you can save | | | | You can mix the concrete by hand on a concrete |
| a lot of money by making them. | | | | floor or plywood sheet. Do not mix it on the |
| If you need to make concrete blocks in far larger | | | | ground where contamination by extraneous |
| quantities you will need a concrete block machine. | | | | material will result in weaker concrete. For modest |
| Again you can buy an expensive commercial | | | | amounts of concrete hand mixing is appropriate |
| machine which will do an excellent job for you. It | | | | but if you are in production and need large |
| will turn out enough blocks to pay for itself in time | | | | quantities to manufacture concrete blocks or |
| and makes the manufacturing process fairly easy. | | | | other products it is necessary to have a cement |
| The alternative is to build your own concrete | | | | mixer or mixers to do the job. A mixer also |
| block machine. You can build a very good machine | | | | ensures that the concrete is thoroughly mixed |
| from used auto parts which will cost a fraction of | | | | and even throughout. |
| the price of a commercially made machine. It will | | | | A concrete block making machine or machines will |
| do the job just as well and you can build several | | | | enable you to turn out hundreds or even |
| for less than the cost of one purchased machine. | | | | thousands of cement blocks daily. If you are in |
| You can buy ready mixed concrete in bags or | | | | business to supply builders or other buyers in |
| save money by mixing your own. Concrete is | | | | quantity you will require machines to produce |
| composed of sand, gravel and water mixed in the | | | | enough blocks to fill large orders. Building a |
| right proportions with Portland cement. Depending | | | | machine yourself is a great way to get a low |
| on the job to be done the proportions of the | | | | cost start when you want to move up from |
| various components in the mix will vary. Concrete | | | | making blocks from hand molds. Later you may |
| does not just dry and harden. There is actually a | | | | want to acquire a high production commercial |
| chemical reaction between the cement and water | | | | machine but that is unnecessary till you need a lot |
| which causes it to harden into a crystalline mass | | | | more production. |