Hand brick moulder

Hand brick moulders create unique bricks, pipes, and other heat-resistant products using hand moulding tools. They create moulds according to specifications, clean and oil them, insert and remove the mixture from the mould. Then, they let the bricks dry in kiln before finishing and smoothing the end products.

The following job titles also refer to hand brick moulder:

tile mould maker
brick mold maker
hand pipe molder
tile molder
heat resistant product moulder
tile moulder
handmade-brick molder
brick maker
hand pipe moulder
brick molder
heat resistant product molder
handmade-brick moulder
molder of handmade bricks
brick mould maker
tile mold maker
brick moulder
hand brick molder

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a hand brick moulder.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Hand brick moulder is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to hand brick moulder.

precast moulder
candle maker
vacuum forming machine operator
pottery and porcelain caster
glass forming machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of hand brick moulder. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of hand brick moulder with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

automated assembly line operator
metal furnace operator
pulp control operator
paper mill supervisor
microsystem engineering technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of hand brick moulder.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Types of pottery material: Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.

These skills are necessary for the role of hand brick moulder.

• Select mould types: Select the appropriate type and size of mould based on the operation.
• Adjust clay burning level: Adjust the temperature of clay baking or burning by operating the valves and the dampers in order to allow specific amounts of gas or oil to be burned.
• Fill moulds: Fill up moulds with appropriate materials and ingredient mixes.
• Remove mixture excess: Remove the extra mixture on top of the mould by using a wire.
• Maintain mould parts: Carry out minor repair tasks and maintenance of moulds and mould parts.
• Extract products from moulds: Remove finished products from moulds and examine them in detail for anomalies.
• Prevent casting adhesion: Prevent the casting sticking to the moulds by brushing the mould with oil, hot wax or graphite solution, according to the specification of each casting component.
• Monitor end-product drying process: Let the end-products to cool and dry during the correct amount of time. If necessary, hasten the drying process using kilns or delay it by allowing water to humidify the products.
• Clean moulds: Clean the mould using water, grease or oil, washing and scraping them by hand.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of hand brick moulder. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Various types of sand: Types of sand materials and their composition, physical characteristics, use cases and possible issues.
• Sanding techniques: The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of hand brick moulder. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage different pottery materials: Manage different recipes of clay and mud according to the genre (such as china) or the expected strength, look, colour, tradition or innovation in the creative process.
• Construct moulds: Construct moulds for the casting of objects in plaster, clay, glass, plastic or metal. Use casting machines and materials such as rubber, plaster or fibreglass.
• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Maintain furnace temperature: Monitor and govern the pyrometer to control the furnace temperature.
• Perform product testing: Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
• Operate furnace: Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting, to produce specified types of steel, or to finish other materials such as cokes. Set furnace controls to regulate temperatures and heating time.
• Assemble moulds: Assemble iron moulds using handtools to hoist and bolt sections.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Load heavy items on pallets: Use lifting equipment and machines to stack weighty products such as stone slabs or bricks on portable platforms so that they can be stored and moved.
• Repair mould defects: Repair mould malfunctions and damage, e.g. cracks or broken edges; use hand tools, mould boxes and patterns.
• Form moulding mixture: Form the moulding mixture adding specified amounts of materials, such as sand, clay, silica mud or plastic pellets, according to a fixed recipe, set up the controller of the melting tanks and monitor the melting process.
• Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
• Stamp refractory products: Stamp products with the specified pattern or code prior to curing using handtools.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Ensure mould uniformity: Oversee uniformity of moulds; use casting equipment and tools such as hand press.
• Match product moulds: Change moulds to match product specification. Run test samples and check for proper specifications.

7314 – Potters and related workers

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References

1. Hand brick moulder – ESCO
2. Featured image: By Mnasohrani – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0