Briquette Making - Stop Block and Push Block
The mold mentioned in a previous entry uses a standard PVC pipe with an inside diameter of 2 inches. This mold casing is the chamber where the compression of the briquette material takes place. But by itself, the PVC pipe has two open ends. The Stop Block and Push Block plug these two open ends.
Stop Block
The Stop Block plugs the rear of the mold. It remains stationary inside the PVC pipe through out the compression process as the Push Block pushes the briquette material. The Stop Block, in turn, presses against the C-Clamp Pad.
Shown below is a magnified view of the front of the Stop Block. This is the face of the Stop Block where the briquette material pushes against.
Shown below is a magnified view of the back of the Stop Block. This is the face that pushes against the C-Clamp Pad.
The Stop Block is made of plastic, metal epoxy clay, a thin metal sheet and rubber.
Procedure to make the Stop Block:
- Find a thick plastic bottle that has an outside diameter of 2 inches. In my case, I used an old medicine bottle.
- Cut a segment that is 1 inch thick. This segment is open on both ends.
- Fill this with metal epoxy clay and let it cure to harden.
- Cut a circular thin metal sheet with a diamter of 2 inches.
- With a heavy duty glue, fasten the metal sheet on one side of the Stop Block.
- Cut a circular rubber sheet with a diameter of around 1 inch. Ideally, this is the diameter of the C-Clamp Pad.
- Fasten the circular rubber sheet on the other side of the Stop Block.
Push Block
The Push Block, upon the pushing motion of the C-clamp's spindle pad, compresses the briquette material within the mold chamber. Unlike the Stop Block which remains stationary, the Push Block moves from the front end of the mold towards the back (after compression).
Shown below is the front side of the Push Block. This side has a depression where the spindle can be inserted.
The Push Block is made of plastic, a thin metal sheet and rubber.
Procedure to make the Push Block:
- Find a thick plastic container like the one in the picture above. It should have an outside diameter of 2 inches. The depression inside should be big enough so the spindle pad can be inserted. In my case, I used an old container for a facial cream.
- Cut a circular thin metal sheet with a diameter of 2 inches.
- With a heavy duty glue, fasten the metal sheet on the flat side of the Push Block.
- Cut a circular rubber sheet with a diameter of around 1 inch. Ideally, this is the diameter of the spindle pad.
- Fasten the circular rubber sheet inside the depression of the Push Block
Alternatively, you can make one that is similar to the Stop Block. You only need to create a depression on the epoxy clay. You can do this by depressing a 1 inch diameter plastic cap before the epoxy clay hardens. Then add the metal sheet and rubber as mentioned.
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