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Digital devices may have replaced pens for daily writing tasks, but there’s one thing that still can’t be done with a computer or smartphone…
Permanently write on any object. (Like marking your name on the energy drink in the office fridge so Bret doesn’t down it.)
While there are many options for stylish and durable pens that I would be proud to carry…
There are ZERO options for a retractable permanent marker that meets my high standards, until...
I set out to design and make the world's first all-metal(Titanium), retractable, permanent marker...
MARKSMITH /märkˌsmiTH/ noun: a skilled user of markers.
There are several inspirations for the name Marksmith. A wordsmith is defined as "a skilled user of words". A smith is a "worker in metal", which is perfect since the Marksmith is crafted from metal. And you may think that Mark comes from "marker", and it does, but really it's a shout out to my good friend Mark McJunkin who is a beast-mode designer/maker, a prolific user of Sharpie markers and inspiration for this permanent marker pen. Hitting your Mark is also a term that invokes high accuracy, and a Marksman is a person skilled at hitting their mark, which ties into the bolt action mechanism. So all of this comes together to form a new word MARKSMITH: "a skilled user of markers".
BAM! /bam!/ acronym: Bolt Action Marker!
Not only does BAM! stand for Bolt Action Marker, but it's also what I feel like saying every time I extend or retract the Marksmith. From here on out, I'll be using BAM! in place of bolt action marker.
First and foremost, Marksmith is a super-strong titanium pen body that is compatible with a genuine Sharpie® brand retractable permanent marker cartridge, which means you can write on almost anything. The felt-tip is the most common and useful general-purpose size, "fine", and the ink is black. It is not the ultra-fine tip that has a tip more like a pen.
In addition to being able to mark on any surface, Marksmith is the perfect companion for drawing and sketching on paper too. Thin(ish) lines can be drawn using the fine point, or broad lines if you use the wide edge. I use the Marksmith to make wide, dark lines to highlight engineering design sketches.
We CNC "Computer Numerical ̶C̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶l̶ Crafted” machine the Marksmith out of Grade 5 Titanium alloy. It’s precisely designed to go where no permanent marker has gone before.
Grade 5 Titanium alloy will ensure that it can withstand the elements. Titanium is highly prized for its strength, lightweight, and corrosion resistance. It’s one of the most corrosion-resistant metals, so it won’t rust or oxidize. Therefore titanium does not have to be coated or anodized like aluminum and steel, so there is no surface coating that can be scratched off. What you see is naked titanium in all its glory.
First machining operation of the Titanium clip (foreground). Aluminum prototype clip in the background.
Goto the "From Concept to Reality" section at the bottom of the page to see more about the process of taking this marker from concept through prototype to production.
The bolt action is inspired by the mechanism used in rifles. This superior method of extension and retraction provides an elegant and secure mechanical lock without parts that will wear out or break.
It’s also extremely fun to fidget with. You won’t be able to put it down.
I’ve modified the bolt motion so that it securely locks in place and requires only a push to the side to release and retract.
I’ve never mastered the art of removing a permanent marker cap with only one hand. Have you? It’s so annoying to have to set down the object to be marked in order to use both hands to remove the marker cap, place it on the top of the marker, and then write, only to have to repeat the same steps in reverse when finished. BAM! problem solved!
The perfect weight, the ideal size, the premium titanium, and the smooth motion of the slide make using the marker a super satisfying experience. The release was specially designed with a shallow detent to keep it securely in place and requires only a simple flick to the side to retract.
The bolt action is fun to fidget with! With a nice weight and balance, the marker is also excellent for flipping between your fingers.
The clip is beautifully designed and it’s so much more than just a clip. It is integral to the operation of the marker.
The top of the clip is perfectly angled for your thumb and has 3 non-slip grooves that also offer tactile feedback.
With your thumb on this intentionally designed area, pushing the clip down and to the left will extend and lock the marker.
The clip will come to rest in a shallow groove. When you’re done marking, simply push on the clip to the right, and it will release and the marker will retract.
Tired of pens where the clip becomes loose and jiggles around? I designed the clip such that it won't wiggle, and the screws won't become loose. The base of the clip fits tightly into a pocket in the slide. The screws provide the clamping force to keep the clip base in the pocket. It's solid and I've tested the durability by using it as part of my EDC.
The smooth exterior surface, rounded edges, and precision chamfered clip make the Marksmith super comfortable to carry in your pocket. There's nothing sharp to poke you, and it won't scratch the f$!@# out of your hand when you reach into your pocket. Your hand will slide right past like butter.
Titanium has such a beautiful natural dark silver color and the best way to present it is with a matte finish. This finish is extremely low maintenance and looks better and better as it ages and gets used. It is scratch-resistant, but life happens, and if it does get scratched, the appearance is easy to bring back to new using a scotch-brite pad.
What do you reach for when you want to leave a permanent mark? Your favorite Sharpie® brand permanent marker! That’s why I’m including only the best, genuine Fine Tip Sharpie® brand retractablerefillcartridge with the Marksmith titanium pen body. The fine point tip is the standard and most commonly used size that you are familiar with. You can draw fine lines with it by just using the tip, or broad strokes by angling it and using the wide edge.
Won’t Dry Out
The cartridge has a tiny trap door that covers the tip of the marker when retracted and will prevent it from drying out. It’s a lot easier than hunting for the lost cap. Since the trap door is part of the cartridge, the mechanism is refreshed every time the cartridge is replaced, so you won't have to worry about this wearing out.
The Marksmith is refillable. The cartridges can be easily replaced by unscrewing the tip and exchanging the old cartridge with a new one.
Want to add more cartridges to your pledge?
We'll be using Backerkit to collect your shipping address after the campaign has ended. During the Backerkit checkout process, you'll be able to add extra cartridges to your order.
Where to Buy Replacement Cartridges?
Marksmith will ship with 2 cartridges. Additional cartridges will be available as add ons in the Backerkit survey after the Kickstarter ends.
OPTION 1: When you use up both of your included cartridges, you will be able to buy the refills for your Marksmith from us. Replacement cartridges will be available to purchase from our website and online retailers like Amazon.
OPTION 2:I highly recommend buying the cartridge from us for proper fit and to reduce waste. However, I know that some of you like to do everything yourselves (myself included) so I will explain how you can refill the Marksmith if you choose not to buy the replacement cartridges from us. The cartridge is the same used in the plastic Sharpie retractable fine point marker, but we make a modification to it to fit the Marksmith BAM!. If you're feeling adventurous you can disassemble a Sharpie retractable marker, snip off the long tail to make it shorter and insert that into your Marksmith.
OPTION 3: I'm investigating a 3rd option that will allow you to refill the cartridge using readily available permanent marker ink, like PILOT Super Color Permanent Marker Refill Ink. This will be a more eco-friendly refill method as you can continue to refill the cartridge until the felt tip is worn out. One bottle of ink will likely last a very long time.
Many have asked if the Marksmith is lefty friendly. Even though I am right-handed, I have no problems using the Marksmith with my left hand. Tatiane is left-handed and she approves of it being easy to use. Unlike pens that have a separate clip and bolt which are primarily designed around right-handed use, the Marksmith's integrated clip/bolt design allows it to be used ambidextrously.
I stand behind all my products because we are passionate about designing only the best. We've spent months on the design, prototype, construction, and have been carrying it every day to test the durability in real-life situations. The Marksmith carries a lifetime warranty of the all-metal body. The warranty does not cover the cartridge since it is a replaceable, disposable item.
Length: 140mm (5.51in) - This is the average pen length.
Diameter: 14.5mm (0.57in)
Weight: 49g (1.72 ounces, or approximately 1/10 of a pound. That's light!)
Material: Grade 5 Titanium
Clip Screws: Titanium Screws with permanent thread lock
Mechanics: Bolt action extension, lock, and spring-loaded retraction
Tip Style: Fine felt tip
Compatible Cartridge: Fine tip Sharpie® Brand black retractable permanent marker cartridge
Lifetime Warranty
The Marksmith BAM! is officially Patent-Pending. Design and Utility patents have been applied for the Marksmith.
The "Marksmith" brand name is trademarked. Marksmith™ has been applied for a registered trademark.
The Back Story
As an engineer, designer, and maker, I do a lot of hands-on work and have to make marks on a variety of materials. The standard Sharpie marker is my instrument of choice, whether I'm marking cut lines on wood, sketching designs, or labeling containers in the shop. Plastic Sharpie and other permanent markers are inexpensive, but I always thought that a metal, retractable marker would be so much nicer to use and carry.
A major inspiration behind the concept and name is my friend Mark McJunkin. He was the first person I've met who used a Sharpie marker for everything. In a pinch, he might even use them as chopsticks to eat. As an industrial designer, he sketched all the time and all of his sketches were in Sharpie. Initially, it annoyed me when he would write on notebook paper with a Sharpie because the writing took up more space than had he used a pen. Over time I grew to appreciate that this was his way and it was efficient because he was using one tool for multiple purposes. The marker enabled him to quickly layout designs, and he would sketch on large rolls of paper so that the design timeline could be traced in a linear progression of evolution.
From Concept to Reality
These are some of the steps that we've taken to bring the Marksmith to reality. It all begins with an idea, which in this case has been on my mind for years. Once the light bulb moment occurs, I move to start designing the marker in CAD.
Marksmith CAD model with hidden lines visible
Once the CAD is fleshed out, then it's time to start 3D printing some models to see how they function in real life. Previously I used FDM 3D printers, and the quality for small parts like this was not very good. Now I have some resin 3D printers that have exceptional quality and fine detail. It makes it very rapid to iterate the design.
3D printed resin prototypes
I go through many revisions using the resin 3D printed models, making improvements each time until I'm finally satisfied with the marker design and function. The 3D printed resin models may look like the real thing, but they are not strong. Now it's time to make it real by CNC machining it out of Titanium.
1st operation CNC machining the titanium clip
Aluminum is much softer and easier to machine than Titanium. Titanium becomes hard when bent (and there's a lot of bending when cutting chips of metal), so it generates a lot of heat and resists cutting. The first prototype parts are made out of aluminum to test the CNC program and the part appearance.
2nd operation of CNC machining the clip
Test fitting the aluminum clip on the 3D printed prototype
CNC turning the marker tip profile
Once we're satisfied with the design and have worked out the bugs in the CNC program, we move onto re-machining the parts out of titanium.
Getting the perfect profile on the tips was probably the most challenging aspect. I went through several revisions to make the tip look amazing while staying as slim as possible.
Titanium marker tips in different stages of machining
The body is turned on the CNC lathe first. Then it is mounted in the 4th axis rotary table on the CNC mill so that it can be turned while machining.
4th axis CNC milling the bolt action slot
Once all the parts are finished machining, it's time to put on the finishing touches.
The Marksmith BAM! is designed by Daniel Bauen, owner of the product design firm Engineerable LLC located in Atlanta, GA. Marksmith BAM! is the first product released under the BAUEN MADE brand, because I’m especially proud of this design. BAUEN translates as “to build” from german. As an engineer and designer, this is the perfect last name.
15 Successful Kickstarters Under My Belt
Daniel Bauen + Engineerable Team has launched 15 successful Kickstarter campaigns, some in collaboration with other makers, like Bastion. Our community of loyal backers consistently return to pledge on the newest campaign.
Marketing Partners - I work closely with my marketing partners so that they can spread the word, while I stay focused on delivering the best titanium marker ever.
This project is promoted by Jellop, the ad tech power behind the best Kickstarters with 1,100+ successful Kickstarter projects with over $460M raised between them.
We're making it super easy for you to share the marker with the world. The press pack, share links, video, and embedding instructions can all be found below.
Help make the Bolt Action Marker a reality by selecting the reward of your choice, and help spread the word by using the links below to share this page on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
Titanium marker tips in different stages of machining
