Make Your Own Building Blocks

[MoonRiver]

I accidentally found this site and thought it was very interesting. In addition to the building block press, they also make a cooking oil press. Unfortunately they don't distribute in US, so the products are only available by container load.

[Old Vet]

You don't need a press to make concrete blocks. All you really need is a form that you can put concrete in and get the air out usually by vibrating or by shacking. The reason that i know this is because I helped my grand father build his house with these blocks.

[knight88]

I have seen and operated a very similar press here in the South West, believe the name was CINVA. They claim a great output of blocks BUT it is very labor intensive, block quality seemed pretty good if you are very careful in mixing your materials. Try looking at the Southwest Solar Adobe web site they have a very good amount of info/links available. Good luck...

[knight88]

Moonriver, I remembered that there are a number of companies that are making block presses, even one in the USA they are ferncometal.com/products... If you do a google search for CINVA ram you will find more info than you can imagine.
The blocks we made here in AZ were 90%+- soil and 10% portland cement, Measurements are critical so that the blocks are uniform. and is is darn hard work, everything must be well mixed before they are loaded into the press. made those block about 18 years ago and they are still good...

[WisJim]

These presses are not for regular concrete blocks, they are for soil as knight88 mentions, so they are very labor intensive but don't use a lot of actual cement. Good if you have lots more time than money.