DIY Cement Block Machine

While making a cement block machine capable of producing upwards of 100 blocks per hour takes both a great deal of money and experience in welding and engineering, a far more simple block-making machine can be built from common materials. While the production output won't compare, it's still an efficient and less expensive way to landscape or home-build than buying bricks from a retailer. If you're interested in starting your own brick-building business, getting it off the ground can be accomplished in half a day.

4 pieces of 2-by-4, 12 feet long
Saw
Nails
Sturdy plastic bag
Bucket
Hammer
Sand
Crushed limestone
Shovel
Edger
Wheelbarrow

Instructions

- 1
  Cut each of the four 2-by-4 boards into four equally long pieces, creating 16 in total.
- 2
  Nail four 2-by-4 pieces into the shape of a square.
- 3
  Nail the remaining pieces below each of the four sides, 12 in total, creating the beginning of a box.
- 4
  Nail the final remaining pieces as needed to the bottom of the square, creating a box.
- 5
  Fill the box with a sturdy plastic bag, such as a dry-cleaning bag. Ensure the sturdy bag stays in the box by gluing or stapling it in with a staple gun.
- 6
  Mark the level in the box that you desire the cement cast to fill. A common dimension of a cement block is 4-by-8-by-16 inches.
- 7
  Fill a bucket of water to measure how much cement mix will be needed to fill to the desired point. Mark the desired point in paint or with a strong marker.
- 8
  Make the cement by combining three parts limestone and two parts sand.
- 9
  Add water to the mixture until the composition of the mixture appears smooth.
- 10
  Pour the mix into the cement cast to create the block. Use the edger to smooth the top surface of the cement block.

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