Manufacture of arbolitic blocks by own hands

One of the most popular building materials, which is actively used in low-rise construction, for many years now are arbolitic blocks.

Strangely enough, but they include not only concrete, but also sawdust.

Arbolitic material has good technical data, has a small weight and is fairly simple to handle, but it has not only pluses, but also disadvantages.

At one time, arbolitic blocks were produced in huge numbers in many countries of the world.

From this material, not only temporary objects were erected, but also capital houses.

Surprisingly, the technology of production of this stone is so simple that it can be realized independently at home.

For its manufacture it is necessary to purchase or assemble the proper equipment, as well as to study the technology of the production process of arbolitic blocks.

This material due to its high thermal insulation properties is excellent for private construction and if you establish your own production of arbolitic blocks, you can significantly reduce the cost of erecting the house.

What is arbolite?

The main advantages of this universal building material, which is suitable for erecting low-rise buildings, can be attributed to the low cost, optimal heat conductivity and ease of manufacturing.

Arbolite blocks consist mainly of sawdust and cement, while manufacturing technology allows the addition of some other impurities.

Arbolitic blocks can be used to build houses even in harsh weather conditions.

If it is planned to build a country house, then it is possible to arrange their production and install appropriate equipment right near the construction site, which will significantly reduce costs.

The forms for their manufacture for the required size and weight of the stone, the machine and other necessary equipment is easy enough to assemble independently right next to the house under construction.

Arbolite-based blocks are classified as lightweight concrete.

Its characteristics in some ways resemble a stone, but only an artificial type, based on waste from the processing of wood, such as chips, small chips, as well as sawdust.

Nowadays, various prefabricated slabs, as well as universal blocks and panels for solid solid walls are arranged from the arbolite.

For this stone produced in production, there is a conditionally accepted size, while it is not mandatory, but only recommendatory.

If you assemble the equipment and start production at home, then the size and weight of the finished unit can be adjusted independently.

In addition, based on the climatic zone in which the construction of the house is planned, the arbolite blocks can be made with additional impurities that will increase their thermal insulation properties.

In our time, blocks of arbolite are actively used when building partitions of buildings, as well as garages, all kinds of outbuildings and private houses.

The arbolite stone is also suitable for building internal partitions in apartments.

It should be noted that such a stone has not only advantages, but also disadvantages, and the main one is low density, which is not permissible when multi-storey construction is conducted.

If you collect all the pros and cons of this building material, you can come to the conclusion that it is almost ideal for private construction.

Producing arbolitic blocks by oneself is quite simple, without serious financial investments either in the necessary equipment or in the raw materials used.

The basic composition of the mixture

The composition of the arbolitic blocks are two-component materials.

In their composition, the main elements are a special woodfill filler and lightweight concrete, in addition, in an insignificant amount, to increase the performance, some chemical components are introduced.

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Even though the arbolite blocks in their composition have a wood component, they can be used to build small-scale private houses whose characteristics will not be inferior to those that are built from traditional materials.

The only prerequisite is the internal and external protective finish.

It should be noted that the technology of erecting a house from this material is analogous to the usual and has exactly the same drawbacks and advantages.

This universal building material has an optimum fire resistance, and when laying on the foundation it does not give any shrinkage.

Arbolit is conventionally divided into two varieties. The first include solid blocks of arbolite, which have an increased density and are suitable for facial walls.

The second type is a thermal insulation hollow arbolite, designed for interior work and erection of the upper floors.

Blocks that are lightweight can be successfully used to facilitate the top floor in buildings with a small number of floors erected on such a ground, on which it is undesirable to build private houses with a high weight.

In the video below, you can see the erection of a house from blocks of this type.

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The basis of this building material is sulfate-resistant or Portland cement, as well as wood-organic component.

In addition, chemical additives are introduced which give the additional wood in the arbolite additional characteristics, namely: remove excess polysaccharides, which increases the life of the arbolite, greatly increase bactericidal performance, and also regulate sawdust porosity.

As a filler, it is allowed to use chips, chips, as well as crushed bark or needles, sawdust.

In some cases, solid stems of crops such as cotton, grains and more are added.

This allows you to reduce the cost of building a house, even in remote regions, mainly engaged in agriculture.

Sometimes, the structure of the arbolite is injected with liquid glass, ash, as well as slag and lime.

Stages of production

Starting own production of blocks from arbolite, first of all, the machine should be installed on a hard foundation.

Its installation and adjustment must be carried out in accordance with the instructions and rules.

Also required:

• mixing equipment;
• masonry;
• molds having the required size and weight;
• oven.

It is worth thinking about the place where the stone will harden and strengthen. It must have a foundation and be protected from moisture.

The composition of the mixture can include, for example, liquid glass, wood shavings, as well as cement grade M500.

It is best to use diffractive sawdust with a small admixture of ground chips that will be pretreated with a lime solution and dried.

Forms for arbolit can be made by hand, but remember that the weight of the finished product will depend on its size. For the convenience of excavating the stone from the mold, it is possible to lay pieces of linoleum in it.

When filling the prepared form with a mortar, you can compact it manually, but it is best to use a vibropress for this purpose.

The weakened mixture is kept in the form itself for a day, then placed in the appropriate place in the shadow for setting and solidification and covered with a film.

Specialists recommend keeping the finished stone in this way for a week.

You can not leave blocks from the arbolite in the frost, but the temperature above zero also does not affect their strength, weight and characteristics.

If you leave the finished stone in the heat under the sun, then there will be flaws in the form of cracks. Better during the time that the arbolite dries, periodically lightly water it with water.

The production process for the arbolitic blocks can be viewed in the video below.

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Mixture for the production of arbolitic blocks can be kneaded in a box or trough installed on a solid foundation.

Firstly, carefully spread the shavings and sawdust, then all this is filled with water with the addition of some chemical additives.

The substance thus obtained must be thoroughly mixed, after which dry cement is gradually introduced and mixed again.

The formation of lumps and the heterogeneity of the mixture are significant drawbacks, which must be eliminated.

The recommended proportion of the finished mixture is one part of sawdust, one part of cement and about one and a half parts of water.

You can add more cement, but with this stone will increase not only its strength, but also its weight.

When filling out the form, remember that the size and weight of the finished product does not depend on the ratio of components, but on the size of the mold itself.

How to make blocks from the arbolite can be seen on the video below.

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Tips and tricks

To ensure that the mixture in the form is well tamped, the machine should only be installed on a hard foundation.

The technology for extracting the finished product from the mold is the same in all cases: the shape is turned over and, with small jerks, pulls the stone onto the foundation for drying.

For the production of voids in arbolitic blocks, when filling a liquid mixture into the mold, several wooden bars are simultaneously inserted, and the mixture should be stacked in several steps.

If you plan to make a stone for the first floor, directly on the foundation, in its middle you can put pieces of reinforcement.

Surplus mixtures should be removed with a trowel or a wide spatula.

When making blocks of arbolite yourself, the first lot is best done small. This will allow you to check the properties of the arbolite, for example, when cutting it or keeping nails.

When building a house from arbolita, it is best to make a tape type foundation. It is worth noting that the construction of the arbolite foundation does not require additional reinforcement.

Arbolite will be stronger if you use as diverse as possible chip-sawdust mixture. Before filling the form with arbolite, it should be treated with lime milk.

Arbolit is ready to perform construction work after it has well settled and grasped.