MARKSMITH Titanium | The Best EDC Marker You'll Ever Own
Created by Daniel Bauen + Microfacturing
Carry the world's first titanium retractable permanent marker every day to make a bold statement on surfaces that a pen can't write on.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Marksmith in Japan!
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 09:02:45 AM
Dear Friends,
I'm proud to announce that Marksmith is being crowdfunded in Japan. If you or someone you know lives in Japan, they can buy a Marksmith locally through our crowdfunding and retail partner Kibidango. Click here to get your Marksmith in Japan!
Don't forget to use your 15% backer discount when you buy more Marksmiths or refills at our www.soulbuilt.us webstore. The discount code is on the sheet in the gift box. Message me if you need the discount code again.
Buy Marksmith on Amazon
I've also restocked MARKSMITHs on Amazon with Prime delivery, so that's another option for quick shipment.
If you want to add a Marksmith Highlighter to your collection of awesomeness, you can get it here.
Marksmith Permanent and Marksmith Highlighter are the same titanium body with different cartridges. Although the permanent ink and highlighter cartridges are cross-compatible, it's more convenient to have a dedicated highlighter instead of swapping cartridges all the time. Highlighters can also be personalized with an engraving.
If you want a custom engraving (Not available on Amazon, only available on Soul Built webstore), please also add the custom engraving item to the cart and enter the engraving details in the "ORDER NOTES" during checkout.
If you want a custom engraving (Not available on Amazon, only available on Soul Built webstore), please also add the custom engraving item to the cart and enter the engraving details in the "ORDER NOTES" during checkout.
The highlighter version is getting a surprising amount of love. Honestly, I didn't even know anyone used highlighters anymore. If you want to add a Marksmith Highlighter to your collection of awesomeness, you can get it here.
Marksmith Permanent and Marksmith Highlighter are the same titanium body with different cartridges. Although the permanent ink and highlighter cartridges are cross compatible, it's more convenient to have a dedicated highlighter instead of swapping cartridges all the time. Highlighters can also be personalized with an engraving.
International orders can arrive in 2-3 days via DHL Worldwide Express, but you will have to select "International Express" which costs $40 to ship. The standard international economy is too slow to arrive for the holidays.
How's it going?
I hope that all is well and you are enjoying your Marksmith! I've been taking care of backers who have contacted us about shipping issues or incomplete surveys. If you have an issue that we haven't communicated about yet, please let us know.
I'm still receiving inquiries from backers who have not yet completed the Backerkit shipping survey. If you haven't received your Marksmith or a shipment email with tracking, then it is likely that you haven't completed the survey. Please let us know and we can send you the link to your shipping survey.
Happy Holidays!
Daniel and Team Soul Built
MARKSMITH Black Friday Sale
almost 3 years ago
– Sun, Nov 28, 2021 at 08:09:06 AM
Dear Friends,
I hope that all is well and you are enjoying your Marksmith! I've been taking care of backers who have contacted us about shipping issues or incomplete surveys. If you have an issue that we haven't communicated about yet, please let us know.
We've been working on so much, but let me just talk about one interesting thing at a time. I've been experimenting with different finishes for Marksmith. In addition to the brushed finish, I'm testing a bead-blasted and stonewashed finish. Stonewashed has been a popular request, and all you need for that is a tumbler and some small stones.
I was frustrated that our vibratory tumbler had multiple consecutive failures recently. Although it's 9 years old, it hasn't been used enough to be falling apart like this. First, the motor failed, which I replaced with a more robust 3 phase motor (SHOP TUFF wanted $600 for a new single-phase motor that should only cost ~$150). The 3 phase motor eliminates the centrifugal switch and starting capacitors required by a single-phase motor. I determined that the centrifugal switch had failed, but the motor was sealed and not disassemblable to repair. For the new motor, I'm using a single-phase 110V to 3 phase VFD, which in addition to allowing it to be plugged into 110V like before, also allows variable speed control. The speed can be fine-tuned to adjust the vibration.
Then the tub lining started crumbling, and SHOP TUFF wanted more $$$$ for a new tub than the original cost of the whole tumbler. This video shows the problem that I'm dealing with:
After temporarily using a bucket inside the tub, I figured out a solution to repair it by lining the tub with HDPE plastic sheet. Watch the video below to see how I repair it. I also made use of the amazing SHAPER ORIGIN handheld CNC to precisely cut the curved side panels.
Here's the almost finished tumbler tub. I wanted to do a test run before welding the seams of the HDPE plastic panels. The Marksmiths shown here have not been tumbled yet.
New tumbler liner. Picture taken pre-tumbling.
What I learned... Natural stone leaves an amazing stonewashed finish. The downside is that the stones will jam themselves anywhere they can (I should have known better...), and they are extremely difficult to get out. I had to hammer some out and crush others to remove them. I either need to get larger stones or plug all the holes with rubber plugs (3d printed TPU?) before tumbling. There is also ceramic tumbling media available that gives a stonewashed appearance that is specifically designed to avoid wedging, but I have not yet identified which is the best media to use for a fine stonewashed finish that is as good as what I achieved with the stones.
Here's the appearance comparison between brushed finish, bead blasted, and stonewashed. I also tried bead blasting one after stonewash, and that made a very nice darker, rugged bead blast appearance (not shown).
Which one is your favorite?
L-R: Brushed Finish, Bead Blasted, Stonewashed
Thanks,
Daniel and Team Soul Built
Black Cartridges Back In Stock!
almost 3 years ago
– Sun, Nov 28, 2021 at 08:07:09 AM
Dear Friends,
We were overwhelmed with orders and the Black marker cartridges quickly sold out overnight. Sorry if you found that they were sold out when you went to buy them. We now have more in stock and ready to ship, so I just replenished the qty available on the webstore.
Shipping update and Logo
about 3 years ago
– Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 12:36:55 AM
Hi Friends,
It's been a long road, andthanksfor sticking with us through it. I would like to announce that all Kickstarter orders are complete!!!!!
It may take a while for your tracking number to update since there are a few packages waiting for pickup and international packages that are en route to the distribution center. If you haven't received a tracking email, please check your BackerKit for tracking.
There are still incomplete surveys. We can't ship your Marksmith until you fill out your survey, so please make sure to do that if you haven't done so already.
Yes, but we have a limited supply remaining. Once we sell out of these, January will be our next restock. Marksmith is currently in stock on the Soul Built webstore, but we are working to add the custom engraving option directly on the product page since that was a very popular add-on. Right now the custom engraving is a separate item that must be added to the cart.
You can order now, and if you want a custom engraving, please also add the custom engraving to the cart and enter the engraving details in the "ORDER NOTES" during checkout.
An update will be sent out in a few days when the custom engraving option is integrated into the product page.
Marksmith Logo
As Kickstarter backers, you own the only non-branded MARKSMITH's in existence. It took us a while to figure out the optimal placement for the logo that wouldn't disturb the clean appearance of the design. Engraving the logos on the slide creates an Easter egg effect where the logo appears and disappears as you use the marker. New MARKSMITHS will have the SOUL BUILT (hammer+wrench=heart) logo and the MARKSMITH script logo engraved on the slide as shown in the videos below.
Our first attempts at engraving the logo used a deep-etch technique. Although this works, it creates a burned outer edge that requires a lot of sanding to clean up. Also, the marking needed to be filled with something like paint or... black permanent marker... for good contrast. Not ideal, and the marker must be disassembled for lasering, which makes the alignment tricky.
Watch this video of our experiment deep etching the logos in titanium:
The engraving method we perfected is an annealing type color change. No material is removed. The laser is run at a low enough power that it doesn't vaporize the titanium. It heats it to the point of changing color to black. Each pass of the laser creates a light color change, but multiple passes increase the darkness of the engraving until it is a deep black. This is similar to the process used to do the custom engravings. The color change goes deep and can not be removed.
Watch this video to see the final method we use to engrave the logos:
What's Next!
I've been waiting impatiently for this moment to be able to launch the next MARKSMITH Kickstarter campaign. This time we've gone ahead and done the production so that we can start shipping them immediately after the campaign is over. Stay tuned to find out more details as we preview it in the coming updates. The Kickstarter will launch in November and I'll let you know when the launch date is set in stone.
