In one of the Warhammer 40k science-fiction books there's a scene I've always liked. One of the characters is standing at the centre of a human space empire. Within the most important palace on Earth. And finds himself in a museum wing called "The Hall of Victories". Which is cherishing the accomplishments of human race in the distant space-faring future. It contains a variety of technological achievements. Some military, most scientific. Such as the first stable human cloning formula. The first Titan rover. The first faster-than-light navigation circuit, etc. But in the middle of the museum is the centrepiece. A display case containing several shards of dented clay. Forming the outline of some sort of bowl. Hundreds of thousands of years old. The character expresses confusion at the placement. Pointing out that it's so simple a child could make it. But another character explains why it's so crucial. That without that bowl, all the other museum exhibits wouldn't exist. That at some point in the unrecorded past, one of our primitive ancestors noticed that a type of mud hardened when left in the sun. And he or she decided that they were going to MAKE something. That our journey as a species had those tentative first steps! Primitive Technology feels like a celebration of those steps.

if there's one thing i'm glad for not having changed on KZfaq, it's the contagious feeling of willpower this channel provides.

With the way the housing market is going, I am very here for this.

You really took "I'm going to build my own house in the woods." to a whole other level. The time you spent really shows, this is quite impressive.

I feel so lucky to see so many hours of work compressed into a 13 minute video.

Always a breath of fresh air to see this guy's videos. No talking, no filler or bloat, just one guy showing off primitive buildings and techniques.

Mad respect to this guy for not faking his vids

make sure you enable captions! he explains what he does and it adds a lot of life to the video.

Dude just built a waterproof brick and mortar house, completely from the earth, with his bare hands. The time, mental dedication and physical effort required for this video is absolutely immense. Amazing.

I rarely find myself in awe of a brick structure, but seeing this come together was impressive. Also exciting to see a more permanent fixture in the portfolio of huts and shelters

As a career brickmason, I approve. Fun Fact: Did you know primitive builders of the past who built structures near the ocean used the horizon to check the level of their walls?

There are many fake videos pretending to be doing things like this but this channel is genuine. I salute this gentlemen for his skill, endurance and determination.

KZfaq is a better place when you're making videos mate, great stuff!

Every now and then you find a channel that makes you think "I'm really glad this person/group is successful", and this dude is one of them for sure!

You created each brick from baked clay to make it hard and created your own cement using primitive technology, to build a house, you are really good, congratulations on your project's success.

Videos like these are always my preference. The people building these naturally-sourced structures are far more impressive to me than CEOs or celebrities. Building from the ground up with your bare hands is connecting to the way of our ancestors. It's what we humans are actually supposed to do and it's what we benefit from. We're all meant to build and create with our bare hands, gather what's in nature, and live sustainably. It's what centers us and makes us content despite the hard work. This is who we are, and I wish I had the opportunity to do this as I live in the suburbs.

It's always incredible to watch but building an entire brick structure out in the wild with nothing but the material you created yourself is truly remarkable.

Was wondering when he would admit that his poor hands were being torn up by that mortar. I love this guy. He's a magic man.

how 80s dads explained how life was like back then

Thanks! My 7 yr old and I watch together

Primitive tech the way it’s meant to be. No crazy jungle theme parks, just great content. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.

Okay this might be John's most impressive video to date. This is the most in-depth, weather-resistant shelter I've seen him build. This must've been a major project. Very rewatchable video. As a reminder, if you want to see John's descriptions and commentary on what he's doing in each video, turn on closed captioning.

I am so glad that I bought your book. If everything goes down, and things fall apart, at least I have access to the skills I need to make structures and survive. Now I just need to work on your levels of stoicism.

I’m currently planning out building a traditional Korean house(hanok). The most difficult thing to find in America to build this has been the roof tiles. This has led me to want to make the tiles myself. I’ve done my research on how they are made traditionally and watching this videos makes me think it can be accomplished…over a long time of course. A large house can take thousands of tiles so I want to start with a small one similar in size to what is built in the video

It's a relief to see Primitive Technology back in action - now we know the world can be rebuilt no matter what happens

So glad to see Primitive Technology back! The man who created an entire genre at work!

This dude took being a 10 year old playing in the back yard to the professional level!

Esse cara tem um talento enorme, as construções e as técnicas de sobrevivência são incríveis de assistir

I love how whenever he builds a new hut its always just a little nicer than before. Really makes it feel like he's slowly progressing in ancient technology

I love the fact that the form of "talking" we get is an explanation of why and how he did what he did with the CCs (Which HE also made). The amount of effort put in these videos is immensely motivational.

My constant thought while watching all of your videos is how very 'little' you care about how much time or effort it takes to do what you are doing. So, you are teaching us to not care about 'Time'. Just do the necessary steps and you will accomplish the task.

Dude just solved the housing crisis

I’m SOOOOOOO glad to see the OG back in action!! Started watching years ago and will continue to watch whatever content this man puts out! Hands down the best primitive channel on KZfaq!

Happy 7 years of being one of the most interesting channels on KZfaq! Looking forward to seeing more of your amazing work!

This is the best youtube channel hands down, balls to the wall, no holds barred. This channel IS youtube. Hope can be held for humanity as long as this channel exists.

Im glad to know that from day one, you havent changed. Its always the same, real, time divulging projects that really show the capability of a human

This isn't even a hut, it's a house. Thank you for your incredibly relaxing content.

Quick tip for new viewers: Turn on CC (closed captions) on all Primitive Technology videos for helpful information about what and why he is doing the things he's doing.

I've binge-watched a lot of these now. . VERY informative and strangely relaxing. I REALLY like the fact there is no speaking. . No music. . Just ambient noise. That makes it international

Imagine how thankful of every Sq foot of your home you would be if you had built it like this. I don't know about you but my place just got a whole lot bigger!

When a new video of our favourite woodman pops up, everyone forgets the troubles of life for at least 10 to 15 minutes 🥰 Thanks for uploading man

I love that he’s still making videos even after all the copycats and liars, he’s still here showing that you can honestly do this stuff without power tools and heavy equipment

This so cool! It's like you can make a semi-proper house using primitive methods. It almost looks like a regular house. I love it!

I have watched so many of this kid's vids, but just now, with headphones for the first time, I am blown away again. So impressive.

The fact that you've finally gone and made a full on Brick and Mortar house is utterly fascinating to me, this is beyond grass thatch and adobe walls, this is something built to last for generations with proper upkeep, I hope some day you're able to get that metal ingot you've been trying for up to this point because that'll be an amazing day

This man is not only a national treasure, he is a global treasure,. I feel like Mr. Plant deserves some kind of award for his work. Amazing stuff as always, blown away with the dedication and knowledge you posses, Great stuff!!!

It would be interesting to see this guy build a little town on a road progressively getting more complex with each building. Imagine if he makes and blows his own glass

I find videos such as these to be very calming and relaxing. I am not the outdoors type, having spent a career in the military. That was more outdoor experience for a lifetime. I could actually spend short periods such as these to relax, provided I keep in some protective measures I'm place and readily available.😁

You are an absolute legend ! 7 years ago almost day for day you were putting mud on woodsticks in your video and now you built a full brick hut with a tiled roof, this is by far the most satisfying DIY/crafting channel on youtube. Thanks for sharing this with us !

Seeing this being done so simply, it's hard to imagine how long it took for our ancestors to build up to this level of knowledge.

Man future archaeologists are gonna be confused as hell as to why there is Neolithic era pottery and general technology in the 21st century layers of soil

This is the only dude that I feel proud of for being absolutely loaded with cash for his KZfaq efforts.

ive worked with masonry many times in my life, and when i saw you put your hands in the mix i just nodded my head waiting for it, and you immediately showed the chemical burns and i was just like "there it is, yeah we've all been there man". i got a chuckle at the wood margin trowel, excellent work John, what a pleasure to watch

I am so happy that he returned. These videos give me joy.

For thousands of years our ancestors worked very hard every day tending the crops to survive and when the sun set they go back to their caves, sheds or huts to rest and it's pitch black Technology is an amazing thing

Guys everyone turn on [CC] there's amazing narration for every scene.

Your channel saved my life many years ago.. i was struggling after military with some deep depressions and was severly suicidal.. but every time i felt the shit creep up on me i could put on some of your videos and be transported almost out into the forest with you! its now been many years since i was at this point and i have even made a family at this point and my son is amost 5 now =) thank you for such great videos.. you are by far the best of these type of channels

I see why there was a long hiatus between videos…this must have taken an incredible amount of time and effort from John. Extraordinary!!

This guy deserves a standing novation for all his hard work.

I've had those sores quite a few times from working with thinset/grout, they can be surprisingly painful for how small they are. Great channel and information 👍

Glad the Lye burns were mild, minor panic attack when I saw you mixing by hand. Loved seeing the evolution of efficiency during the mortaring process (hand->stick->trowel->pallet); really showcases the fact that you are learning as you go.

The process of people working this all out is absolutely mind-blowing. I imagine the experimentation, refinement of techniques and careful communication our ancestors must have done and am humbled. There's so much knowledge in all your work. I love all your videos and the sense of peaceful precision you provide

Je suis épaté ! Tout ce travail à la main - et à l'ancienne - est absolument admirable !

It's amazing how much you can focus and learn just by watching. without someone over complicating things with explanation ,the human mind can comprehend and learn faster.

I can´t even begin to express my admiration for this achievement. Being a craftsman myself and occasionally gathering some sticks and whatever grass I find to just do some crude weaving, I still can´t imagine the time and effort it takes to do what you do. It´s so good to see you doing these awesome videos again

I just love how the most basic of materials can be transformed into something so functional and beautiful. I dream of building my own home, and like many the variable of cost is a plague in my mind. So it's just so refreshing and inspiring to see how science and technology, patience, and hard work can yield such incredible results.

Meditation in action....he just shuts up and focuses on the task at hand. There's another lesson for us all. Respect and thanks.

Time Stamps 👍🏼If useful 0:00 Excavating clay from the pit by hammering stakes and collapsing the sides in 0:15 Adding water and mixing clay into lumps for transport 0:24 Into the mixing pit 0:26 Digging sand to mix with clay (stops clay cracking as it dries) 0:34 Mixing in sand 0:51 Forming the brick 1:16 Turning the bricks as they dry 1:25 Collecting fire wood. 75cm long pieces ( the length of the kiln fire box) 1:45 Fire by friction 2:33 Drying the bricks (they need to be bone dry before firing or they explode due to steam escaping) 2:43 Stacking the kiln. 50 bricks can fit into one firing. 3:11 The kiln can be stoked from both ends and it fires quickly 3:19 Some bricks on top to keep the heat in 3:36 Each of the 14 brick firings took 2.5 hours to complete 3:45 Storing bricks around workshop before use 3:52 Digging the foundations for the hut (a 25 cm deep/wide trench around a 2 x 2 m floor area) 3:57 Newly fired bricks 4:01 Compacting foundations 4:04 Placing bricks in 4:12 Digging out wood ash left over from firing the bricks 4:18 Sifting the ash of stones and charcoal 4:24 Mixing the ash with water and forming into pellets 4:48 After multiple firings the pellets add up 4:53 The pellets dry hard before re-firing 4:56 Time to calcine the pellets to before being able to make them into mortar 5:11 The flames move through the pellets calcining them (the heat and oxygen converts the calcium carbonate in the ash back to calcium oxide) 5:22 The pellets must glow red to orange to calcine (the hotter the better) 5:29 This took less time than a brick firing, about 2 hours. 5:35 Now, after calcining, the pellets are weaker and crush easily into a powder 5:45 Digging sand to make the mortar mix 5:51 3 pots of sand to one pot of calcined wood ash 5:57 Make a well in the sand and pour in the ash 6:04 Add water and mix (don't used hands like I did, it's a bit caustic) 6:15 Applying mortar to bricks 6:20 Also, you should soak the bricks first to make the mortar stick better. Dry bricks suck the moisture from the mortar. 6:29 Second layer, mortar on top of the first bricks and laying bricks on top. 6:48 Foundation level is 3 bricks or 25 cm deep. 6:51 See, I got lye burns from handling the mortar bare handed. That's why you use a stick to mix it and a trowel to spread it. 7:09 Wooden trowel to apply the mortar 7:16 A half (broken) brick to start the door way. 7:42 First layer done (I did about one layer a day, mixing the mortar as I needed it) 8:28 It rained a bit as I worked but it didn't seem to affect the brick work or erode the mortar 8:39 Putting in a window 8:49 A few weeks passed because I ran out of bricks and had to make more (hence the change in wall color) 9:00 Gable end walls were completed thusly 9:12 Here's a sample of wood ash mortar that has set. Note how it doesn't dissolve in water. This is a subtle yet important advantage over mud as a building material adding to the longevity of the structure 9:26 Cutting lawyer cane to form a frame for making roof tiles 9:31 Split the cane and then kink it to form a trapezoid 9:51 Forming a roof tile 9:57 Folding the tile over a curved mold 10:08 Laying the tile out to dry 10:24 Tiles into kiln 10:27 The kiln does 32 tiles per firing 10:36 A tile firing takes 1.5 hours (less thermal mass than 50 bricks) 10:46 I did 8 firings (lots of spares, used the ash for cement as well) 10:49 Cutting purlins for the roof 10:56 10 purlins 2.75 m long 10:59 The purlins simply sit on the gable ends with the force direct vertically down onto the wall, thus avoiding lateral forces that may push the wall outwards 11:15 The purlins roll like wheels if unsecured. So they were mortared in place to prevent movement (broke a few tiles figuring this out) 11:27 The optimal roof angle is 30 degrees, steep enough for the tiles to shed rain but not enough for the tiles to slide off. Weight and friction are enough to keep them on. 11:33 Overlapping layers of tiles facing up act as chutes to shed the rain, while tiles facing down cover the gaps between these columns of tiles. 11:47 This process was tedious, lots of tiles broke due to the poor quality clay. In future I'll use better quality clay for roof tiles, this clay is ok for bricks though. 11:51 Finished hut. 12:07 The mortar pit is now a fire pit. 12:12 A rain storm tests the roof 12:32 The roof is mostly water proof, I fixed some minor leaks later with with pieces of tiles. I was able to keep a fire going and the ground was dry and dusty despite the rain. 12:42 After the storm

Love how even the ash from creating the bricks can be used to build a freakin' brick house. Amazing.

Glad you’ve returned. The knock off channels fail to bring the sense of satisfaction your videos deliver. It’s nice to see you develop your skills. Is there a way to transcribe what you’re doing with the ash and clay ratios?

this is honestly his greatest achievement in my opinion. Building a liveable dwelling in the middle of nowhere that can stand up to wind and rain is honestly just incredible

Very impressive. It never hurts to know this stuff; you never know when you’re gonna need it.

Really love the honesty you reveal by showing us the trial and error aspect of the projects. And I'm fascinated by all the uses of wood ash you have found

I love that you've stayed true to what this channel always has been. I hate all the other guys that try to copy what you do. Except all they do is build in ground pools with no filtration. Keep up the great work

I still cant get over the thought that he is basically just playing minecraft irl. Love the videos, keep em comming

absolutely outstanding...One man with little or no tools, no footwear....one pair of shorts, and look at what you have created. Awesome. !

It's awesome the way he uses absolutely everything that was taught in his previous videos. And when we realize that he made an brick house with clay, water, ashes and knowledge... just wow!

I’ve been waiting for years for him to do the combo brick, cement, tiles and now he finally did it! Chapeau & thank you

My favorite primitive technology channel

I think this gonna be national treasure soon..

For anyone who wants to try the ash pellets themselves, be warned that it releases a lot of heat when put in water. The hotter the pellets got, the greater the reaction with water will be. It can burn you. The after product makes a sort of bonding agent and can be used to make bricks and a type of concrete. Its satisfying to have seen enough of these videos and recognize the product. All his projects are incredible.

These videos are amazing on several layers. First they’re just really nice to watch and beautiful. Second you learn about ancient techniques and you learn about uses of materials found in nature. Third it gives you the chance to understand and imagine how society has developed. Modern building techniques and material extraction are so complicated you can’t imagine how they were developed. But you watch these videos and it gives you an earlier link where it makes sense how this stuff was discovered and how it relates to more modern techniques.

as a bricklayer you have tough me something about my trade i didn't know, how to make them both by hand! great job with the project!

„Primitive Technology dude is a man of focus, commitment, sheer will!“

That's some great work. Historically, there would be quite a few people pitching in to a project like this and you did it solo. Salute!

I can’t imagine the feeling you must experience when seeing it completed with the knowledge that you have 100% built it yourself from (quite literally) the ground up.

i like you mainly because you ACUALY SUBTITLE YOUR WORK which helps with understanding and tell us what your doing instead of just us watching

These videos really makes me appreciate how far society has come.

Always love when this pops up in my feed!! It’s the perfect video to throw on while I eat

So glad to see the bigger projects again, these are what I’ve been missing

This is so much more impressive than those 365 day water slide videos. This is repeatable and authentic.

I feel so lucky to see so many hours of work compressed into a 13 minute video.😘

I always love when he shows how long it takes to make one brick, and jump cut to having 200 more bricks. No explanation as to how much hard work that took to source every material and man power for all these bricks. Just leaves it to the viewer to be amazed by the result and simple explanation. Always a treat to watch these.

This video gave me a new found appreciation of things I take for granted. A little brick hunt in the forest, you can’t imagine the time and dedication went into building this. Cherish everything around you, because they are more valuable than your realise

This is it. This is the most impressive bushcraft build out there. Hands down

I love how he slowly gets adapting to the craft and creates ways to make it easier and quicker on the spot. When i was a kid I used to play with my friends in the woods and we would use our instincts to use everything nature offered us. It was cool.

This might be one of your coolest videos ever I feel like I remember every video, every experiment that went into this It feels so much better thought out than the first tile hut, and all of the different experiments with brick firing and the custom cement mix all paid off here, the walls just look like a regular masonry building thats been there forever. It was like after that first big project, you went back to basics, and worked your way back to this point with so much more knowledge. Might be nice to make a custom tile floor as well, and a proper brick fireplace, make the place extra livable.

It feels like I’m watching someone ride thru the ages of man. Went from mud huts to a literal brick and mortar house. I’m so happy you are back, never leave us again!

This man is all action, no talk.

“I choose not to talk out laziness.” Says a guy who uses nothing but rock and sticks to do primitive construction. Such an underrated comment that became one of the best things about this channel. Thank you for being that kind of lazy John. 😂👍