The ink is turned and pressed repeatedly by the roller, causing friction and more heat, which evaporates some of the excess moisture. Once the mass has been worked seven or eight times, Chen gets out his mallet. "The point of using the mallet," explains Chen, "is to work out any cracks or air bubbles in the ink.
剛調製好的墨塊黑漆漆、熱呼呼、又容易沾黏，透過碾輾機的反覆輾開、壓平，藉由滾輪摩擦生熱，將多餘的水分蒸發掉，重複七、八次的機器揉壓後，再改用手工槌打。