Therefore to properly compare production times you have to cut them in half. Now your machine compares to the AECT 3500 (for example) which makes 500 blocks per hour. But, using yours still requires twice as much block-laying. The walls will also have less strength, because the weakest part is the joints between the blocks.

6×12 is a great size, but you should consider modifications to allow for 10×14 at 4 inch height. Obviously that would not be difficult if the original chamber is 10×14 and you had a solid insert to reduce the size to 6×12, and a removable press head mechanism that allowed interchangable heads.

The other thing to consider is to make the hydraulic pressure automatically compensate to achieve a uniform block height. This tremendously reduces block-laying time and allows for a thin slurry which can be done by very inexperienced workers, as opposed to a mortar which takes much longer and requires more experience. It also saves time and/or money on the amount of material (slurry/mortar) needed for building and further increases wall shear strength.

If you were able to make these two modifications you might just have one of the premier block machines in the world. I would certainly buy one. I might even consider one with just the first modification, but especially for unskilled workers, having a uniform block height is invaluable.

I’m not sure if I’m just finding the Wiki hard to navigate, or whether its not intended that it be buildable, or its just not done yet.

Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work, and your contribution to the world. This is a marvel and a triumph.

It’s now also on my list of things to make.

Especially, I like the high-quality documentation you are preparing for the CEB press. (This is still lacking for many other open design projects, so far.)

I do think a machine like this will make a lot of sense to someone who will be building several buildings, or possibly a group of people wanting to build several houses. The costs can then be divided between the several projects.

For a one-off small house, it is probably a DIY project, or use adobes or slip-form instead. (or maybe buy your bricks from someone who has a machine, like I did!)

I’ve just written part of this in Spanish, over at my blog http://imagina-canarias.blogspot.com/2010/06/liberacion-del-liberador.html

It looks like you’re well on your way to building even greater stuff over the Summer. If you invite folks to work on laying bricks with you, maybe someone is interested in how http://hexayurt.com has a first unit installed in Haiti. It’s made from plywood and it looks like it can be built in no time, say at the start of a “building with bricks” month.

The 5-year vision is great. But, in terms of excitement, I’d say this year is even greater. How come reporters are not flocking around your site?

Again: well done, congratulations, and thank you very much. I’m honoured to be a True Fan.