When I will eventually start, I will send you my plan for review before I commence.
More concrete grease to your elbow!

VIPICO:

When I will eventually start, I will send you my plan for review before I commence.
More concrete grease to your elbow!

Will be looking forwaed to it, thanks.

Hi Mr Spyder, you are really an inspiration to many of us on nairaland. I really look forward to working with you some day.

However, I would like to raise some objections to some issues raised earlier about the difference between strength of vibrated blocks in comparison with hand made ones. Various tests have been carried out to prove the fact that compressive strengths of blocks are enhanced by mechanical compaction using vibration making it possible to get more numbers of STRONGER blocks per bag of cement than from manually made ones despite the mix ratio factors.

Also, it is bad advice to encourage the use of "beach sand" for block making knowing its salt content. Salt is very bad in reacting with cement and results in a reduction in strength overtime. Good sharp sand is gotten from fresh water rivers not salty beaches and the compaction is made stronger by adding a percentage of what is popularly known as "gum sand" or plastering sand, while "stone dust" could be added in little percentage for extra strength.

It is better to encourage people buy from block makers with mechanised production as it has been observed from some investigations that a greater percentage of collapsed buildings were built using handmade blocks or a combination of both.

Anyways, I believe we all learn each day, and I commend u for your good works and intentions here, I know God placed u here for a great purpose, keep shinning!

swiftycool: Hi Mr Spyder, you are really an inspiration to many of us on nairaland. I really look forward to working with you some day.

However, I would like to raise some objections to some issues raised earlier about the difference between strength of vibrated blocks in comparison with hand made ones. Various tests have been carried out to prove the fact that compressive strengths of blocks are enhanced by mechanical compaction using vibration making it possible to get more numbers of STRONGER blocks per bag of cement than from manually made ones despite the mix ratio factors.

Also, it is bad advice to encourage the use of "beach sand" for block making knowing its salt content. Salt is very bad in reacting with cement and results in a reduction in strength overtime. Good sharp sand is gotten from fresh water rivers not salty beaches and the compaction is made stronger by adding a percentage of what is popularly known as "gum sand" or plastering sand, while "stone dust" could be added in little percentage for extra strength.

It is better to encourage people buy from block makers with mechanised production as it has been observed from some investigations that a greater percentage of collapsed buildings were built using handmade blocks or a combination of both.

Anyways, I believe we all learn each day, and I commend u for your good works and intentions here, I know God placed u here for a great purpose, keep shinning!

Thanks for "resurrecting" this old thread and your points which are not even different from my points. Start from the beginning of the thread and you will note that the two points you raised were addressed properly.

Vibrated blocks vs hand made blocks

In the article I wrote, I was more particular about the mixing ratio and it was not a mistake. I dwelt on the point because that is what makes the difference between strong and weak blocks. Vibration cannot strenghten a weak mix. Imagine if you mix a sand quantity for making 100 blocks with one bag of cement? It will produce very weak blocks that will break on impact with even a feather!
It is good to patronize block makers if and only if their products satisfy my quality tests. I cannot blindly buy blocks only because they were vibrated, not minding how the blocks were made. I will have myself to blame if the blocks they offloaded for me breaks as I try to set blocks, making me lose so much money. In the second page you might notice that I had to advice two friends to buy blocks for some other factors I noticed.

Sand quality

When I say beach, I dont exclusively mean the sea beach. Please you must note that all of us dont reside in Lagos or PH, I was building a duplex in Onitsha Anambra state as at the time I opened this thread. The River Niger is a fresh water and if you are talking about salinity, there are no salt water in Onitsha sands. The sands we used there were tested before use

The least likely cause of building collapse will be the type of blocks used. Blocks contribute very little in terms of structural integrity. Please always look carfully on the qualities of rods, cement and most especially the mixing ratio of cement, sand, stone and water used for columns, beams and slabs. The foundation is another place where mistakes or shoddy work will be disastrous for the building. As I mentioned last year in the first page of this thread, one can build a house till 5 floors without using a single block, and it will not collapse. Columns and beams are the real skeletons of a house, blocks are just the flesh.

Thank you for bringing up the points, very good for us to learn and relearn what we know. Looking forward to working with you. Bye.

spyder880:
The least likely cause of building collapse will be the type of blocks used. Blocks contribute very little in terms of structural integrity. Please always look carfully on the qualities of rods, cement and most especially the mixing ratio of cement, sand, stone and water used for columns, beams and slabs. The foundation is another place where mistakes or shoddy work will be disastrous for the building. As I mentioned last year in the first page of this thread, one can build a house till 5 floors without using a single block, and it will not collapse. Columns and beams are the real skeletons of a house, blocks are just the flesh.

This I must admit is a very dangerous assumption and has led to the death of people in the past. There is a clear difference between a "partition wall" and a "load bearing wall".

Your reply assumes that all storey buildings are strictly designed as framed structures which isn't so. Houses have been known to collapse as a result of people knocking down walls unknown to be load bearing during renovations thereby compromising the structural integrity of a building.

A load bearing wall should be made of strong well compacted, filled blocks or bricks that's y as architects we specify 225mm mechanically vibrated block walls for the ground floor bearing in mind its requirement to transfer lateral loads to the foundation. Only "Partition or curtain walls" are the ones that can be called flesh which do not require strength as they only cover up the spaces between columns & slabs in framed structures which is a much more expensive construction method.
Plese people Never confuse the two types of walls.

swiftycool:
This I must admit is a very dangerous assumption and has led to the death of people in the past. There is a clear difference between a "partition wall" and a "load bearing wall".

Your reply assumes that all storey buildings are strictly designed as framed structures which isn't so. Houses have been known to collapse as a result of people knocking down walls unknown to be load bearing during renovations thereby compromising the structural integrity of a building.

A load bearing wall should be made of strong well compacted, filled blocks or bricks that's y as architects we specify 225mm mechanically vibrated block walls for the ground floor bearing in mind its requirement to transfer lateral loads to the foundation. Only "Partition or curtain walls" are the ones that can be called flesh which do not require strength as they only cover up the spaces between columns & slabs in framed structures which is a much more expensive construction method.
Plese people Never confuse the two types of walls.

I dont see any reason to continue this exchange since it is going off topic. The thread is all about block making and its techniques, not about structural efficiency. I will soon open a thread about the causes of building collapse. Thank you for your points anyway. Have a nice day.

@Prof Refired!

@Prof Spyder, how many 9inch block can i get with a bag of cement and what is the number of bags i can use for a trip of sand that will give me a strong and economical block.

mafifle: @Prof Refired!

@Prof Spyder, how many 9inch block can i get with a bag of cement and what is the number of bags i can use for a trip of sand that will give me a strong and economical block.

It depends a lot on where the blocks will be used. If it is for walling, I make 25-28 blocks of 9" from a bag of cement. I expect to use around 9 bags of cement with 1 trip of 10 ton tipper of sand.

spyder880:

It depends a lot on where the blocks will be used. If it is for walling, I make 25-28 blocks of 9" from a bag of cement. I expect to use around 9 bags of cement with 1 trip of 10 ton tipper of sand.

Thanks.

very invaluable information here, uncle spyder weldone

Thanks uncle Spyder.

I'm concerned about reducing heat in the house and wish to use hollow blocks throughout for a four bedroom duplex. Site engineer recommended using 9inch hollow for the ground floor and 6inch hollow for the upper floor. Is this okay?

YoungBrain:

Dear Sir Spyder

Please kindly redo this topic with more details like mixing ratios, number of blocks per bag(9" ,6" hollows and 5",6" solids)
pictures of best quality of sand to use.

You might be suprised to know how many students are eagerly waiting for this lecture

@ young brain our CLASS PREFECT 'hahhahaaha' tx for speaking on our behalf am one of de student in question

spyder880:

Thank you my man, firstly, your user name sounds familiar, maybe from my former base on SMN?

May I also point out that your inputs about room temperatures within the hollow type of blocks and the solid blocks is an ongoing debate that has not been put to any clinical trial like an experiment with a room thermometer or any other device, maybe some of has to conduct this test to set that argument to rest once and for all. I have lived in houses with both hollow and solid blocks and cannot tell the difference in temperature.

In my present abode, which I am sure was built with hollow blocks, I cannot see any heating of the rooms at night, my rooms are always too cold at night to the extent that I always use blanket for most of the year. I live upstairs though.

On your second point about why 5'' and 4'' blocks are not frequently used, I think it has something to do with the pillar size, diameter. The bigger the width of the blocks you use, the thicker your column, beam sizes as the columns take same size with the blocks it supports. People always feel safer using bigger columns, especially upstairs buildings.

I know more experts will throw more light on this.

@Oga spy, what is de meaning SMN, maybe i will join you there as yr student, haahahhahhh

Good job from oga spy, Weldone

payoski: @Oga spy, what is de meaning SMN, maybe i will join you there as yr student, haahahhahhh

SMN, stockmarketnigeria.com is a site where we trade Nigerian stocks.

Hello,
I am wanting to make my own 4.5 & 9" hollow blocks using a one block mould to build our house. I am using cement and quarry crush. Can someone please tell me what the correct ratio of cement to crush is in order to make decent blocks. How many blocks should I expect from a bag of cement?

Most mini block machines in Nigeria is separated from the engine, but we Topall engineers improved new model with engine in block machine itself.

BM01 model produces one piece 9inches hollow block one time.

BM02 model produces two pieces 9inches hollow block one time.

Also egg laying model was designed by our engineer during staying in Nigeria for more than 5years.

EBM03-6D produces 3pcs 9inches hollow block one time.

Even larger model like BM5-10E , video links from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVQTN0Ljxlw

BM5-10E produces 5pcs 9inches hollow blocks one time, 8pcs of 6inches hollow blocks one time.

We would like to share everything and provide solutions regarding block machines from Nigeria.

Jack/Topall/China
+8615861672347
Marketing Manager

wa@topall.biz
sales@topall.biz

Newest products from
https://www.facebook.com/jacktopall
http://www.topall.biz

spyder. where art thou?

am enjoying ur thread....

chiebube:
spyder. where art thou?

I am fully around, still looking at newer ways to do all these, especially making better blocks. ......

What is the ideal hollow block size for fencing? 6"?

instinct:
What is the ideal hollow block size for fencing? 6"?

Yes.

hello spyder880

thanks for giving us somuch insights

i wish to ask how many 9" blocks will two seperate units soakaway(septic tanks) require? the dimension is 10*8feet with dept of 10feet. the area is a very dry and solid environment.

and is it advisable to mould the blocks? strict supervision and watering isnt a problem because it is a secured location.

dgitrader:
hello spyder880

thanks for giving us somuch insights

i wish to ask how many 9" blocks will two seperate units soakaway(septic tanks) require? the dimension is 10*8feet with dept of 10feet. the area is a very dry and solid environment.

and is it advisable to mould the blocks? strict supervision and watering isnt a problem because it is a secured location.

About 180 blocks, yes you can mould the blocks if you can monitor the quality.

Hello spyder880
Kindly share ur ideas on this type of glass block, in terms of how to fix it, it's pros and cons and also possible present cost of it in ur axis. I got them and about to fix but my very experienced Mason with over 20years experience has never applied it before.

dgitrader:
Hello spyder880
Kindly share ur ideas on this type of glass block, in terms of how to fix it, it's pros and cons and also possible present cost of it in ur axis. I got them and about to fix but my very experienced Mason with over 20years experience has never applied it before.

I have the remnants of the last ones I used in my Owerri duplex project, only experienced masons can do that work, my Togolese mason fixed the last ones, he used the spacers which comes with it.

dgitrader:
Hello spyder880
Kindly share ur ideas on this type of glass block, in terms of how to fix it, it's pros and cons and also possible present cost of it in ur axis. I got them and about to fix but my very experienced Mason with over 20years experience has never applied it before.

Ask your Tiler, they can do it too..

Hajji M.

Thanks so much. I will work with the info you guys provided. Nairaland property section has been a blessing because of people like you.

mufutau55:

Ask your Tiler, they can do it too..
Hajji M.

spyder880:

I have the remnants of the last ones I used in my Owerri duplex project, only experienced masons can do that work, my Togolese mason fixed the last ones, he used the spacers which comes with it.

mufutau55:
Ask your Tiler, they can do it too.. Hajji M.

seconded. Tilers know hw to fix it.

Ways block makers can seriously cheat you. http://amazingviewpoints..com/2015/05/how-block-makers-can-rip-you-off.html?m=1

I am about to commerce construction of 4 units of 3 bedroom storey building at Olokonla close to Pan Atlantic University, Ajah.

Is it advisable to include stone dust in the mixture of the cement and sharp sand? I'm sourcing the sand at Sangotedo.

I'm thinking of making 30 pieces of 9 inches block per cement bag.

Hope it is Ok?

I purchased blocks for the fencing of the land.

topall:
Most mini block machines in Nigeria is separated from the engine, but we Topall engineers improved new model with engine in block machine itself.

BM01 model produces one piece 9inches hollow block one time.

BM02 model produces two pieces 9inches hollow block one time.

Also egg laying model was designed by our engineer during staying in Nigeria for more than 5years.

EBM03-6D produces 3pcs 9inches hollow block one time.

Even larger model like BM5-10E , video links from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVQTN0Ljxlw

BM5-10E produces 5pcs 9inches hollow blocks one time, 8pcs of 6inches hollow blocks one time.

We would like to share everything and provide solutions regarding block machines from Nigeria.

Jack/Topall/China
+8615861672347
Marketing Manager

wa@topall.biz
sales@topall.biz

Newest products from
https://www.facebook.com/jacktopall
http://www.topall.biz
http://topmac.en.made-in-china.com/
http://www.topall.cc
http://topmac.ffob.org

Please send me details of cost of your annual block moulding machine and your egg laying mobile block moulding machine. My email is austineedogbo@yahoo.ca