Primitive Technology
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Primitive Technology: Wet Season Destroys Thatched Workshop
🕑 Added 2024-04-04 21:29:03 +0000 UTCThere has been a strong wet season here (The worst since the 1970's) which has slowed down production of bricks and cement. The video shows normal brick production and then the thatched workshop collapses and so a smaller one is built to continue brick production. Fortunately, the brick and wood ash cement hut remains un affected. The video highlights the importance of structures built with permanent materials. Much appreciated.
Comments
Primitive Technology
Thanks James, I'll keep them coming!
James Tyrrell
I somehow knew that you'd already thought of this lol, but I figured I'd throw it out there, as you are constantly working on refining processes and streamlining things. Looking forward to the next video, stay safe!
Primitive Technology
For the purpose of drying ore it might be good to build a small reverberatory furnace which dries and roasts the ore in the same process. It's essentially a small cross draft kiln that is used for heating ore in an oxidizing atmosphere. Sort of related, I roasted ore in a charcoal mound in one of the recent videos ( https://youtu.be/Csb-AFD58ww?t=921 ). In a similar way, when the ore is a paste it could be formed into cakes and roasted on the kiln. If it's too liquid, a tray on the kiln top could hold more liquid ore and as it dries, more ore could be added. That way it wouldn't have to be lifted off in batches. Thanks.
James Tyrrell
making fired pots with two diametrically opposite holes in them for wood to pass through would allow you place them on top of the kiln and then lift them off / put new ones on without touching the scalding hot pot. (for boiling off water for iron oxide mud)
Primitive Technology
Yes good ideas, I've considered using the waste heat from brick firing for various purposes. If it doesn't interrupt the process of brick firring I'll implement them. Thanks.
James Tyrrell
I'm a huge fan of all that you're doing, I keep wondering if there are ways you can use all that energy from your kiln for secondary purpose. Like placing pots of water on top of the kiln, full of iron participate from the river to boil off and leave you with iron oxide mud. Or making shelves next to the kiln to speed drying of new bricks. I'm sure there are good reasons why not, but I feel you could put all that heat to multiple purposes while firing the bricks.
Primitive Technology
Much appreciated!
M
Shows how important pottery and brick making was for permanent settlements. Great video as always!
Primitive Technology
It's so one side of the roof overlaps the other side. This is instead of roof capping the ridge. This way the smoke can get out but the rain can't get in. I thought I'd try the method and see how it goes. Thanks.
Amy Tobol
At 9:22 in the video I can see that where you tied the thatch support sticks together, one stick sticks up but not the other. Why is that?
Primitive Technology
Or possibly like a besser block mold but for clay instead of cement. The clay would go further.
Mario Stoilov
Maybe a mold with sticks/pilons sticking out of it so you could just do it in one pass?
Primitive Technology
It's not too bad but yes the old hut is easier to stand up in. It takes about 45 minutes to make a batch of bricks so a bit of crouching for a while. I did make a batch of bricks with 3 holes per brick about 4 years ago. I stopped because it took longer to make. On the plus side hole bricks take less time in theory to fire and less clay. I might revisit the concept if there's an easy way to mass produce them. Thanks.
Mario Stoilov
The height of the hut concerns me. Having to crouch for such long periods is murder on your knees. Also, have you considered making holes in the bricks? They would provide some insulation and you could also use the holes stick sticks in there for support.
Primitive Technology
Yes it absolutely does. One of the reasons the little hut rotted so quickly was that there was no fire in it. Repairing it now and will have a fire in it when done. Thanks.
Primitive Technology
It has brought new sand that contains iron, the sand bars then produce iron bacteria. Thanks.
Amy Tobol
Love watching you draw the fire out of the wood and tinder, thanks! Would running a fire under the thatch hut often, would that have made the thatch and lashings last longer?
Pinkus McEverclear
Shame about the hut rotting, but on the bright side, the extreme quantities of water rushing in areas it might not have previously might be good for the iron bacteria. Great video as always!
Primitive Technology
It's definitely satisfying seeing all the bricks being made. Yes, just need to try free standing gable end walls connected by purlins. Later the side walls could be built. To extend it out just add more gable ends. Thanks.
Chris Jones
Great video John - do you reach some sort of inner peace making bricks? I imagine it becomes like a mantra! Could you build your next work with a design so it could extended later?
Primitive Technology
So for the ash, I use it for mortar. Making bricks is just a way to store the ash before use. When it's time, the ash is fired again in the kiln as though they were regular bricks, taken out and mixed with sand and water and then used as mortar. Previously I made them into pellets but bricks are more easy to store and transport than pellets. Thanks.
Dean M
I've noticed the bricks made with ash and wondered what you might build with them *ThumbsUp*
Primitive Technology
A better workshop in the short term. Thatch rots so quickly here that it is necessary to have a tiled roof. Then more brick structures after that. Thanks.
Theo
Seconding Lucas's question! What's the Grand Design for all the bricks/mortar?!
Primitive Technology
Yes, definitely want a permanent workshop with a tiled roof at least. Even a small one will be good for making batches of bricks. Thanks.
Dean M
Thank you very much for yet another awesome video! I'm sorry to hear about your workshop, but especially grateful for the time and energy you put into filming it. Are you planning to build a more robust workshop with bricks soon? I can't wait for the next video!
Primitive Technology
It actually lasted only for about 6 months, but yes the current one only lasted one month. When it is built makes a difference too (dry vs wet season). Also, the smaller one didn't have a fire in it, the smoke is good for preserving thatch. Tiles are best though. Thanks.
Primitive Technology
A hut so I have another space to build more bricks. The new one will be for ceramic, cement and charcoal production where as the current one I have is for metallurgy. Thanks.
Faralis
Wow, that's some serious rainfall, there, the original workshop lasted for years, and this one starts rotting just after a month or so... thanks for the video.
Lucas Costa
amazing! whats your plan for the bricks you have been building?
