Has anyone tried Beaufort Ink's "Endurance" refill?

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KMCloonan

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I received Beaufort Ink's newsletter this week, and they are now selling the "Endurance" ink refill.... it is the same geometry as a Parker G2 ink refill but contains "Grafwrite" which behaves the same as pencil lead.




The individual refill cost is reasonable (3.45 pounds which is about $4.63 US), but the shipping makes it pretty expensive. Not sure if Exotic Blanks or Turners Warehouse would consider adding it to their offerings....

Has anyone had a chance to give these a try?
 
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No, but I am definitely intrigued!
Likewise. I saw their notice of a refill that is the same footprint as a Parker Ballpoint refill, but simulates pencil lead, basically allowing you to swap refills and turn a ballpoint into a pencil without having to change mechanisms.

Just this morning I had a potential customer send me a photo of one of my listings (a PSI executive) and asked if it could be converted into a pencil. The quick answer is "No", but I remembered the Beaufort email, and I thought I would ask IAP members if anyone has had an opportunity to try one out.
 
@KMCloonan wouldn't the Schmidt DSM 2006 drop right into a PSI Executive? I've used one in a different twist pen before that otherwise used a Parker style ballpoint refill, and while it was a little strange to twist it back and for the engage the click mechanism, it did work just fine.

This Endurance refill is interesting. I wonder if "Grafwrite" is the same thing essentially as the "Everlasting" type pencils that have been around for a few years.
 
@KMCloonan wouldn't the Schmidt DSM 2006 drop right into a PSI Executive? I've used one in a different twist pen before that otherwise used a Parker style ballpoint refill, and while it was a little strange to twist it back and for the engage the click mechanism, it did work just fine.

I had not heard of the Schmidt DSM 2006 - It looks like it will work. I have ordered a couple from Amazon to try out. Thanks for the tip!
 
I ordered from Amazon and received a couple Schmidt DSM 2006 0.5mm pencil lead mechanisms to try swapping with a G2 ballpoint refill.

The DSM2006 advances the lead much the same way as other mechanical pencils - you push on a spring-loaded clicker on one end, and the lead advances out the other end.

While the Schmidt DSM 2006 has approximately the same footprint as a Parker G2 ink refill, I have no idea how to advance the pencil lead once it is inside the pen. I looked at some other sites, and many of them show the DSM2006 being used on a click pen, which would make sense. However, the pen in question per my potential customer is a PSI Executive, which requires twisting the finial to advance and retract the nib - it does neither with the DSM2006 installed.

The Beaufort endurance appears to use "Grafwrite" instead of ink. I assume it has a ballpoint or rollerball delivery for the Grafwrite.

Unless someone can enlighten me on how to use the Schmidt DSM2006 for a twist ballpoint pen, I will drop this line of inquiry and wait for a US supplier to pick up the Beaufort Endurance and make it available here.
 
I have used the Schmidt in a "Perfect Fit" twist pen, which was admittedly apparently designed around using that mechanism in place of a Parker refill. One twist = one click. Kinda inconvenient, but it's what the "clients" (my kids) wanted, and it did work consistently.

Any twist mechanism is just translating your rotational motion on the pen body or finial or whatever into a small amount of forward-backward travel. I assume by means of some kind of helical in most cases. If twisting the pen with a DSM pencil mechanism in place isn't causing the pen internals to press on the button at the top of the DSM mechanism, I would guess that you might just need to stick some sort of spacer in there to take up the empty space between the pen internals and the DSM click button.

But this is all speculation. Hopefully you find a way to get it up and running!
 
You may have to hassle Turners Warehouse and ask them to stock the Endurance Pencil. I'm pretty sure they will if you ask - it's just that we shipped their most recent wholesale order to them shortly before the Endurance pencil was available.

I get told off for putting live links to the Beaufort Ink website on this forum, but I've pasted below what our website says about it. It doesn't have any leads that need sharpening, and it will fit absolutely any pen that ordinarily takes a Parker type refill, irrespective of whether it's a twist or a click. It operates just like a normal ballpoint refill in terms of advancing and retracting it in the pen.

"Converts any pen that takes a Parker style G2 ballpoint refill, to make it into a pencil.

This clever little refill, although it looks like a Parker ballpoint refill, is actually a pencil, and it will fit into absolutely any pen that takes a Parker type refill, be it a commercial pen or a kit pen, to convert it into a pencil.

And what's even more clever is that it doesn't actually have any lead in it. Instead, its tip is made of something called Grafwrite® which is a special alloy that imparts a pencil-like mark on the page just like a pencil, and just like a pencil you can rub it out with an eraser. It doesn't need sharpening, and yes, it will wear out eventually, but it will last for months, if not years with normal use, which is why we call it an Endurance Pencil.

Simply swap the existing refill in your pen with an Endurance Pencil Conversion Refill, making sure that you retain and fit the pen's spring. Your pen will now operate as normal, but will write as a pencil."
 
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I'd love to try one out. Unfortunately the timing couldn't be worse for it only to be available from a UK seller :D. I checked and courier shipping from Beaufort is about $41 USD.

Once mailing shipping gets figured out, or a US-based retailer gets some of these in stock, I hope to give it a shot!
 
Unless someone can enlighten me on how to use the Schmidt DSM2006 for a twist ballpoint pen, I will drop this line of inquiry and wait for a US supplier to pick up the Beaufort Endurance and make it available here.

Just did that today! It may require a bit of initial fitting but then works perfectly. It only works on transmissions that sit behind the refill and push it in or out.

Turning like you're advancing the pen tip pushes down on the mechanism to advance the lead. Then you turn it back like you're retracting the pen to "hold" the lead in place.

There's a black plastic plug at the back end of the mechanism. You may have to adjust the length until it's just right so the transmission isn't pressing the mechanism when retracted and pushes enough to act like the clicker when extended.

Hopefully the attached picture shows what I mean. I replaced the black plastic plug with the piece of white plastic you see, and filed it down for the Everyday Classic at the bottom. But I tested in the twist pen above this morning and it worked fine.
 

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Thank you, David for pursuing this further!

Based on your success, I swapped out the ink refill in the PSI executive, and installed the Schmidt DSM2006, and after a little fussing, I was able to twist the transmission and advance the lead. I was not, however, able to retract the lead when I twisted the transmission the other direction. I do appreciate you looking further into this, but I think I am going to explore getting the Endurance refill, as it would be more seamless to use as a pencil.

Kevin
 
Yeah, twisting and holding in one direction is equivalent to pushing and holding the button on a click pen. Un-twisting won't retract the lead. It's just equivalent to letting go of the button. To retract the lead, you would have to twist and hold, then press the lead back in while the clutch is open. Just like how with a normal click pencil you have to hold the button down and manually push the lead back in.

One of the reasons I like true vintage twist-advance pencils... that and the celluloid... and the fact that they're usually 0.9mm ;)
 
Thank you, David for pursuing this further!

Based on your success, I swapped out the ink refill in the PSI executive, and installed the Schmidt DSM2006, and after a little fussing, I was able to twist the transmission and advance the lead. I was not, however, able to retract the lead when I twisted the transmission the other direction. I do appreciate you looking further into this, but I think I am going to explore getting the Endurance refill, as it would be more seamless to use as a pencil.

Kevin

That's not quite how it works. You have to twist *both* ways to advance the lead.

Twist it to extend, and the lead advances, but can also be pushed back in. Then you twist it back to 'hold' the lead in place. If you need more lead, repeat the twist forward-twist back. To retract the lead, twist forward, push it back in, and twist back.

Twisting forward=pushing clicker down and holding
Twisting back=releasing clicker
 
Also, depending on the kit, it may not work out of the box--the plug will need to be shortened. This is the plug I use in my PSI Everyday Classic. It also works on the American Beauty above

20250828_075809.png

Click the plug a few times to extend a bit of lead, then put the mechanism into the body. Make sure the clicker or transmission is fully retracted. Slowly screw the tip back on, tapping the lead every half-turn or so.

When the lead slides back in, stop. The remaining gap between tip and body shows how much to remove; take the mechanism out and file down the plug. Lather, rinse, repeat, until the tip is screwed all the way on and the lead stays extended.

Be careful and don't remove too much, or the mechanism will be loose in the pen
 
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