How to Make Interlocking Adobe Bricks

Interlocking bricks ideally require the bricks to have a uniform size.

Adobe bricks are made with dirt and water, although, for a stronger brick, some combine cement with the mixture. The process is relatively inexpensive since any dirt will work. Form the bricks with a brick press, which produces a compact brick with a consistent size and mass. The brick press will add a male and female component to each brick, making them easier to interlock when constructing a wall or other structure. Adobe bricks are common in Central and South America as well as other parts of the world where resources are sometimes scarce.

Things You'll Need

• Dirt
• Cement (optional)
• Water
• Bucket
• Manual brick press

Instructions

1. Fill the bucket with dirt. If desired, mix in equal parts of dirt and cement to produce stronger bricks.

2. Add water to the bucket and mix until the dirt or dirt-cement is moistened but not soupy. It should be about the consistency of mud for mud pies or slightly moister than sand used in building a sand castle.

3. Fill the brick press with the moist dirt or dirt-cement mixture. The brick press is usually filled to the top and smoothed off. Put any excess mixture back in the bucket so you don't waste it.

4. Press the brick using the manual brick press level. You will need to apply considerable pressure to ensure the mixture is firmly packed. This is similar to building the parts of a sand castle, using a bucket of moist beach sand. It is also similar to packing brown sugar when baking.

5. Open up the brick press, carefully. With a partner, carefully lift the pressed adobe brick off the press and place in a safe spot to dry. The bricks will take more than 24 hours to dry, in most cases. You can tell they are drying because the color lightens as moisture evaporates.

6. Repeat with the moist dirt or dirt-cement mixture, forming bricks until the bucket is empty. Mix up more dirt or dirt-cement and moisten with water to create more adobe bricks.

Tips & Warnings

• The best interlocking bricks are made with a brick press that forces a male and female feature into the top and bottom of each brick. The interlocking method involves laying one row of bricks, then shifting the next layer to line up over the joint between the two bricks below, connecting them with the male and female interlocking features.

• Adobe bricks made with a wood frame will not have the interlocking male and female components pressed into the bricks.

References

• Habittech International; Low Cost Construction Housing: Interlocking Blocks Building System Projects; Dec. 15, 2008
• Habitech International Building System
• Desertphile.org: Tips on Building an Adobe House
• Earth Blocks Manufacturing and Construction Techniques; Plinky Fisk III; Tucson, AZ; March 26-28, 1982