What is a mudbrick?
A pressed earth block, sometimes called adobe an Australian term for any block made from earth. The hand presses are made in Australia and thus Australian terminology is used

What size are the mudbricks from a Dalrac Press?
10" wide x12" long x4" high or 250mm x 300mm x 100 mm nominal, weighing approximately 15kg/30lbs. Actual thickness will depend on the soil characteristics.

How many bricks can you make?
If the soil is heaped and moist, one person can make 100 per day and 2 people would make 300 per day.

How does the press work?
It's a hand-operated machine where the use of a lever causes compression of the soil inside the press. See here for full instructions.

What is the weight of the Dalrac Press?
65 kg or 143 lbs.

What type of soil is required?
Any naturally occurring mixture of sand and clay with approximately 50% / 50% of each. The actual ratio can move within a large range and it is always recommended that a few sample mudbricks be made from a range of soils or mixtures before commencing a large-scale production.

Can anything be added to the soil?
Cement (10%) or lime (5%) can be added in small proportions if required, although it increases the cost and workload.

How long before the mudbricks can be used?
If the bricks are protected from rainfall, they will normally be ready for laying within 4 weeks; if sun and air-drying is permitted.

How are mudbricks joined in the wall?
Using mortar made from the same material the bricks are made from but passed through a fine sieve to remove large lumps. It is important to ensure the mortar is weaker than the bricks so no additives should be used in the mortar.
 
Do I have to be a giant to use the Dalrac Press?
No, anyone of 50kg /110lbs body weight can readily use the press

How long will a press last?
Production of at least 10,000 mudbricks can be expected. All wearing parts are hardened except for an easily replaced pin, which is deliberately not hardened and can be reproduced by a fitter and turner anywhere in the world. Spares are available.
 
How is the roof held up?
The simplest way is to use post and beam construction whereby the roof is supported by either large timber poles or steel columns inserted in the foundations. The mudbricks are then used as infills between or around the uprights.
Load bearing walls is another approach, where the wall is constructed and the roof is supported entirely by the load bearing walls with a perimeter beam installed on the top.
The post and beam system lends itself more easily to owner building and if the roof is put up in the early stages of the project, shelter and water collection is immediately available.

How many bricks to make a house?
A small home will need about 3000 bricks.