From there, this paste was filled into a mold and fired in a kiln, and the result was a really strong graphite core that wasn't breakable, that was smooth, usable -- it was so much better than anything else that existed at the time, and to this day, that's the method that's still used in making pencils.
Questa pasta veniva poi messa in uno stampo e cotta in forno, e il risultato fu un'anima di grafite estremamente forte resistente, liscia, utilizzabile. Era decisamente meglio  di qualunque altra cosa all'epoca, ed è ancora oggi il metodo in uso per costruire le matite.