Cinva Ram/ Stabalized Earth Brick Machine

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by Gopherman, Sep 17, 2015.


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  1. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    I ran across this at Permies.com and I bought the kit. I went down to a machine shop and they are working up pricing for me as I write this post to weld this and supply the missing parts. There are several parts which are not included in the kit, and as we were looking at the design, we were able to troubleshoot a few problems and make it better.
    When I get the proto type finished I will be able to get these manufactured complete, ready to use for a very decent price compared to what else is out there.
    At that time I will offer them to all. Some of you are DIY types, I'm not! I would rather have bought this thing fully assembles, minus the lever pole, and was willing to pay a fair price for them, however they are seriously expensive to get that way. Hopefully I can do better, anyway, check it out these are very cool!!
    I built a Cinva-Ram CEB press, and I made it easier for you to build one too! (cob forum at permies)

     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2015
  2. JohnSteven

    JohnSteven CHUNKY MUNKY

    NICE-!
    I was just looking at the topic of "brick-making" (tile making)
    This morning I was just perusing ye-Olde Hemp-Crete...

    And I even wondered about a solar-furnace for making sand/glass block... N-stuff like that. (tho a solar furnace might be a challenge)

    But this contraption is nice.
    a basic sun-baked or kiln-fired brick might be a good thing- This is very cool.
     
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  3. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Yeah I can't wait to use it! I am modifying the mold to make them interlocking so they will not require morter. If you add Portland cement to stabilize the medium as well as chopped straw, these things become waterproof and bullet proof! lol Resistant!
    When I received the kit the parts were covered with slag from the cutting process, if you do it this way, be prepared to use your side grinder. The shop I am working with can put out a much cleaner product and some of the welds will be eliminated, which will make it a stronger product
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2015
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  4. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Can't wait to see your results. Effing cool.
     
  5. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Right now I'm looking at around $950 completely assembled and powder coated The cheapest I was able to find in the US was $2,300 without the moulds. Some of those are as high as $1350.The automated ones are as high as 20k. That's just stupid you can buy bricks for less than that or block.
    At $950 I will save thousands on material, in IMHO that is worth doing and I'll have it for out buildings as well.
     
  6. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Might work to help backup a flood wall. (Adding a wall of brick and more fill for a thicker/ taller flood wall.)
     
  7. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    @Gopherman. Are you planning on using these for a house or just for put buildings where insulation doesn't matter?

    The reason I ask is I lived in adobe house as a kid and the people that built it only built it 8 inches thick so it wasn't really a very well done Adobe. 8" walls are fine for a temperature climate but is you live in more extreme climate the walls have to be thicker. Other wise in the summer you burn up at night and freeze during the day and the winter you get too cold at night.

    Nothing worse than waking at 2 am in the summer when the heat from the sun during the day finally penetrated the walls and you couldn't sleep. If we had had 4 more inches of insulation this wouldn't have been a problem

    Wall thickness makes a huge difference in mud brick if you use it for insulation.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2015
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  8. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

  9. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Didn't really think about it to be honest but could always double run the courses, after all the material is cheap!:)
    I'm also already working on a plan for bigger blocks 12W x 24L x 6T" it would be faster is why I was thinking about it and the thermal element would be nice as well.
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2015
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  10. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I would think bigger blocks would require a lot more pressure to compact.
     
  11. Pax Mentis

    Pax Mentis Philosopher King |RIP 11-4-2017

    I think I would consider smaller bricks...maybe 4" thickness and do a double wall with a couple inches of air in between. Better insulation and not as hard on the back.
     
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  12. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    @PaxMentis. Wonder if the walls would be stable with an air gap and I would be concerned about mold in the gap. Dirt or adobe bricks don't dry evenly nor do they heat or cool evenly.

    Bugs and scorpions. We tucked all the blankets under the matress so nothing touched the floor and had to dump our boots out every morning to check for scopions. More modern adobe is better sealed but that old house was not

    @Gopherman whatever you do I know it will be good! Looking forward to seeing your progress
     
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  13. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Its not adobe, there is a difference, its stabilized with Portland Cement and Straw. It has more in common with Cob, which by the way might not be a bad combination of Tech..I assume the thicker you make the walls, the more insulated it becomes. I really just don't know at this point, however, as soon as I can get this thing going, I'll have a video and
    more info to share.
    I do know I'm more excited about this than I am about my Rabbits.:whistle:

    Actually from what I have seen, cinder blocks are made using far less pressure.It's going to be interesting to find out though!:D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2015
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  14. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    a friend started welding the cinva ram yesterday, all is coming along nicely. I took the 2"x 2" bar of steel to a fabricator yesterday. They are cutting it and drilling the 1" hoes in it for me. i should have an up and running product by Monday. I will show you all my very first brick![biggrouphug]
     
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  15. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    Looking forward to it G!!!
     
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  16. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Ok after a very frustrating day of welding and figuring out how to put this thing together, we finally got it almost done. All I have left to do is actually make a brick with it as soon as the sun comes up.
    When I bought the kit I was thinking it would have some kind of assembly instructions with it, NOT!
    So we had to do it, by looking at it on my I phone, and figure it out as we went.[loco]
    A lot of the parts were very poorly cut and the holes that were in the various pieces were not drilled, they were plasma cut and not even round in some cases, it was pretty much a nightmare from[reddevil]!
    I had the solid steel cam block machined at a reputable shop and it turned out beautifully!
    They said that once I got it put together the could reverse engineer it and eliminate a lot of the unnecessary welding.
    Instead of using 1/2" steel they sent 2 1/4" pieces that had to be welded together. What a pain in the A**!!!
    The good news is I will have the shop redo this crappy kit and come up with a much improved version (with all the parts needed included),that I will offer here at SM. I will also post a video of how to assemble the thing!![angel]
    Here's a couple pics. I still have to side grind the crap out of it before I paint it, but it is a pretty impressive little gadget!
    As promised I will post a picture of my first brick.
    IMG_1329.JPG IMG_1330 - Copy.JPG IMG_1331.JPG
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2015
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  17. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    It works!! It still needs some tweaking though. A limiter to keep it from dropping all the down for reload, and I'm doing something wrong with the mix. It's doing what it's supposed to but I havn't been able to move any of the 20 from the machine without it falling apart. Back to youtube!
    First brick 001.JPG
     
  18. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    I went and picked up the Portland cement. First project is an outbuilding for my animals, I'll keep posting pics as I go.

    Well I've made about 50 bricks so far, only problem is I keep making the same one!![tng2]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2015
  19. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Whats keeping you from baggin out? Work, Woman? I know its a big jump going off grid, just the thought of no AC wigged me out. I have a pretty solid business and a daughter in High School so my option is bugout in case only! When she's gone though we're selling this house and Buggin of the grid, it's cool because by that time I'll have what I need to be very comfortable with it all. Even got a AC in the closet that runs on 115v.
    I'm on the waiting list for the Tesla Power 7Kw unit. That ought'a do for power!
    [​IMG]

    I think I need more clay picking up some Basalite Morter clay hope that works or I'm going to pull my last 3 hairs out![micro]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2015
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  20. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Been there, done that! Expensive shot of Tequila, I'll tell ya that.We started last weekend working on a family property of some really good friends. Got the Chicken coop up and running, just need to put a few pieces of tin. Going to earth berm and CEB block build the other structures. I see tons of people making this stuff, I just have to keep experimenting. If they can do it in Kenya, I can do it here!! lol
    That sucker is kicking my Butt!! Its heavy and I'm Gonna have to get it up higher too.
    That bending over like that is for the young guys! It make some pretty blocks though. If I lay the first course one direction and then the next the other, I will end up with a 1' thick wall then I'll crete coat it and stucco it. That will keep it from moving around and waterproof it at the same time.
    Dirt cheap!:cool:
     
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