How does the soft-mud process make wood-mold bricks?

The soft-mud process is a traditional method of brickmaking that utilizes a higher water content to create a soft, plastic clay mixture. To produce wood-mold bricks, this mixture is placed into wooden molds that define the desired dimensions of the final unit.12

To prevent the clay from adhering to the wooden surfaces, the molds are lubricated with either sand or water. Once the molds are filled, any excess clay is struck off the top to ensure a uniform shape. The terms wood-mold, sand-struck, or water-struck brick are derived directly from this specific forming technique and the lubrication methods used to release the clay from the molds. Unlike other manufacturing methods, this process often allows the clay to be transferred directly to the mixing area, bypassing the grinding, screening, and blending stages required for other types of brick production.13