Introduction: Concrete Block Molds

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I am going to show you how I made a concrete block.  This block is my prototype.  You can see the broken down mold in the background.


This block is about 18 inches long x 10 inches at the base x 11 inches tall.  It has a foam core inside, the walls are about 2 inches thick.  It used one 80 pound bag of redi-mix concrete.  So it doesn't weigh that much.  

This block was a lot of work,  I had to cut a bunch of foam into triangles and then tape them together to form the core.  It also has a wire cage inside of it too.  That was such a pain to form out of 6 x 6 wire grid.

The next block will be more like a concrete flower pot, and will sit 'upside down' with the opening on the bottom.  I plan on stacking these on top of each other, with two on the bottom and a third one on top.
 This was made out an old real estate sign that was destroyed by vandels, so don't just go stealing signs. I had permission to use this sign.

Step 1: Make Ends

I started with a flat plywood panel.  

Then I added one end and braced it with a 2 x 4. 

I wanted a ledge on the top so I added a piece of wood.  notice that I tapered the edge of the board, to create some draft on that part of the mold.  I'm not sure if that was needed to aid in the removal of the block from the mold, but I worked in the plastic injection molding industry, so I know that molds need to have a draft.

I then added the other end.

Step 2: Add the Sides

I then added the sides.  These are screwed to the ends.  The bottom parts are held in place with the long blocks, since I couldn't get screws down that close to the bottom of the angled ends.

Step 3:

This is the core of the mold.  This will create the hollow part of the block.  

Made with 2 x 8's and signboard panels.

If you look closely, you can see the the ends are angled, so there is some draft on them, this to aid in the removal of the core from the block.

Update: this will later turn out to be a mistake.

I added a board to support the core in the right place inside of the mold.

Remember , don't steal signs!


Step 4: Time to Add the Concrete.

I mixed up one bag of Quikrete Crack resistant concrete, this stuff has fibers in it to help prevent it from cracking it.  I am going to try to make these blocks without any rebar in it.  We will see how that works out.

I then filled the bottom of the mold with about four inches of concrete,  I then pushed the core into the concrete and screwed the core bar to the end blocks.  This pushed the concrete up the sides.  Maybe the next block that I make, I will put all of the concrete into the mold and then see if I can push the core into it. This will make 

I used my recip saw (sawzall), to vibrate the concrete down, to remove all bubbles in the concrete.
 I will add more steps later after I remove it from the mold.

Step 5:

Well this is the block with the core inside it.  I couldn't remove it, it it stuck.  I'm not sure what is locking it in.  I thought that it would just pop out.  I beat on the board that was supporting it, until the board broke.

So , I guess that I will have to use it like this.

Step 6:

Ok, try number three.

I made a temple for the foam.  Mark the 2 inch foam sheet, then used my recip saw to cut out the blocks.  I then taped them together, just to make it easier to handle,

Then I filled up the mold with all of the concrete and pushed the foam into it.

This is what # 3 block looks like.
The way that things are going all 100 of my blocks will be different.

Step 7: Finished Blocks- 97 More to Go.

This is how the blocks will sit, with the third one sitting on top in the grooves.
They will probably sit more staggered.
 These will sit in the lake and make a 'temporary' seawall instead of using all rocks.  We will still pile up rocks next to these.  This will just take up more space so we will need less rocks.