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Patreon Special Video

Let's find out what makes a bad brick!

Patreon Special Video

Comments

I am so happy that the world gets to learn and explore another time through Townsend's, vicarious though it may be.

Heather Torrey

I think they said the good ones would be part of the fireplace hearth. But that they will need many more in the future.

Heather Torrey

Glad you got some of them to work out. Experimental archeology at its finest!

Catherine Bradley

Would it be possible to use the bad bricks for grog (ceramic, not rum) after treating with vinegar or something?

Keith McCormic

Thanks for a look at way the bad bricks are unusable. You're always delivering great information!

Craig Beaty

Love that idea!

Jennifer Reese

Hi Jon, our area has many farms circa1700's-1800's, many still have their lime kilns. Some kilns were community used, many were private. Thankyou for your brick explinations failures to successes! Its' fun to connect the history and yes I enjoy a little archelogy in the old farm trash heaps with permission of course.

Linda Hipple

Awesome explanations and behind the scenes footage! In the 90s, I was involved over several years with wood fired pottery kilns of Japanese designs. I had a lot of fun learning more about that and doing the different steps. We fired the kilns to cone 12, sealed it up, and let cool naturally for several days. Your brick firing was very similar. Thank you for the footage!

RG de Stolfe

Do you have plans to build something using the good and the "middle pile" bricks?

Inês Santos

The whole thing about the limestone and quicklime is fascinating for me as I live in a town in California (Felton) that had several lime kilns back in the late 19th through early 20th century. They fired limestone from these hills, with redwood for fuel, in GIANT kilns and then packed them up in barrels (made on site) to send to San Francisco by boat--and from there it was made into concrete! You can still see the giant outdoor kilns today in one of our state parks here. Thanks for showing us this, Jon--very interesting!

Brigit Zent

Bad bricks! Naughty naughty bricks! - they just fall apart under stress! Jon, you bring (for me) a sense of positivity, and togetherness - (I think others feel the same way) I m not what one would cal "handy" I did however just buy the Hannah Glass cook book! - I can't wait!!) I felt I was there every step of the way too building the cabin and your bellows build. The world would be a happier place if everyone was a part of the Townsend family. Peace and Love to to you and everyone

Cindy Klenk (Highlands Recording Arts LLC)

Quick lime is only dangerous in large quantites. Tiny pockets like these are not a problem.

Jon Townsend

Quick lime can be dangerous when it gets wet, does the clay in the mix prevent that?

Sue O'Connor

"I'm super busy today. Got to keep moving." *watches 7 minute video on bricks* You should keep one or two bad bricks that look good from one side so you can crush them in your hands to impress people with your strength.

BvD

They make a great gravel path.

Jon Townsend

Can the Bad Bricks (GREAT name for a postModern garage band... let them open for Tainted Brain?) be crumbled/graveled and used for walkways?

Richard DeLotto

Well once they are fired and the limestone turns to quicklime then the brick will start to disintegrate. So, not much use other than a gravel path.

Jon Townsend

Yes, but probably not with an open face mold. It is likely that they were extruded or they used a two part mold the shape both the front and back.

Jon Townsend

Question - are the bad bricks reusable as outer bricks for further firing of the needs to be refired ones to help contain the heat? Thanks so much for your passion it’s amazing and a great way to destress

Noelani Nomiyama

Fascinating process. Would it be possible to make clay roof tiles using the same method?

James Robert Patrick IV


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