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This project was
submitted by Kevin Crider, a fellow dollhouse enthusiast. It takes a
little bit of work at first, but after that, it's worth its weight in gold.
Materials needed:
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(1) |
One 7-pound box
of "PolyBlend Sanded Tile Grout |
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(2) |
Quikcrete
acrylic concrete
bonder/fortifier |
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(3) |
concrete
color (optional); the bricks can be sponge
painted after they dry. |
Without the
"fortifier" jobs as small as mini-bricks will crumble. Total cost is
less than $20.
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(1) |
Cut or buy 1/8" wood strips. Construct a grid about 5" by
5" (makes approximately 70 bricks at a time) with the wood strips so
that each square is the
same size as your bricks (notch each intersection
of the grid so they fit together and lay flat) - FIG. A
below
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(2) |
Lay the grid on a small
piece of scrap wood and coat the entire mold and scrap wood with non-stick
cooking spray (like Wesson) so the bricks won't stick.
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(3) |
After mixing the mortar, fortifier and color, pour it into the
mold and make sure every brick section is filled.
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(4) |
Lay a scrap piece of
wood across the mold and scrape off any excess mortar. Let dry over night.
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(5) |
Tilt the mold up on one side, supporting it with your fingers, and gently
push each brick out of the mold. Use a push stick the same size as one of
the bricks so it will go through each little square.
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(6) |
Glue or hot-glue them to your project and spray seal with a clear matte coat.
Add the mortar (sanded tile
grout works fine.) It can be applied easily and cleans up quickly
with water. |
Spray the grid each time with non-stick before making more bricks.
My total cost so far has been less than $20.00 and I have made almost 700
bricks (with less than half a bag of mortar.)
Recently, I purchased a small sheet of Plexiglas approx. 1/8" thick
(cost $2.00) and made my mold from that using 5 minute epoxy to glue it
together. It takes a little more work but lasts a lot longer than a
wooden mold. So far, it's working great.
These bricks are more delicate than store bought ones but
look incredibly real and add dimension to your project. After the
bricks are installed and grouted, give them an even more realistic touch by cutting a sponge
and dabbing several colors over each brick to give the color patterns of real brick.
See the finished brick wall below - FIG. B. I also made a
grouting tool (FIG. C)
to smooth out the mortar joints.
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FIG. "A" |
FIG. "B" |
FIG. "C" |
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