Ferrule is a pencil holder which combines the most cherishable attributes of premium pen design with the natural beauty of a wood-cased graphite pencil. Ferrule offers an unparalleled drawing experience and will last generations.

With Ferrule, we did what we do best; derive inspiration from our favourite tools. Ferrule incorporates an innovative clutch mechanism to grip a wide variety of pencils. The mechanism was inspired by machining collets, a proven and robust engineering tool used to grip milling bits of varying diameters. 

Ferrule extends your pencil, allowing you to use all of your graphite comfortably. Ferrule fits most common pencil sizes ranging from 7-8mm in diameter, whether it be colouring, charcoal, pastel or even makeup pencils.

The eraser holder allows you to extend and replace your natural rubber erasers, maximising their lifespan. The eraser holder breaks the link between your pencils and their attached erasers, enabling you to use them fully. 

Through months of honing our design, we created a tool that incorporates a finely machined body that flows from a hexagonal front to a circular end that fits perfectly between your fingers and rests softly on your hand. We have removed excess material from Ferrule’s body, making it the perfect weight in hand. Ferrule is a joy to use for both drawing and writing.

In collaboration with Kitaboshi in Japan, we have sourced the highest quality pencils one can find, available in both HB and 2B. We use PEFC Certified incense cedar which is not painted but rather has a light coat of natural nitrous cellulose. Unlike lacquered or painted pencils, our pencils will be fully biodegradable and will not contribute to micro-plastics which are harmful to our natural environment. 

Ferrule Pencil Refills have become a staple in our workplace, and we cannot wait to share them with you.

Available as an add on to your reward 

The idea for Ferrule was first brought to the Makers Cabinet design table in 2018 during the design process for Iris.

Our main insights were:

• Every pencil comes with a disposable metal eraser holder (a ferrule).
• The aesthetic of a pencil is important but often comes at the cost of using ecologically harmful paints and lacquers.
• With every type of writing implement, there is a solid, cherishable, refillable and repairable variant, with the main exception being for wood-cased pencils.

At Makers Cabinet, we strive for perfection in everything we create. Our main hurdle was designing a viable mechanism that could serve real people within their creative practices. The epiphany moment came when we were using our lathe in the workshop, using the machinist’s collet to hold the tools we use to cut into metal securely. We miniaturised this mechanism and made it to be engaged with a simple twist.

Iterative refinement of the Ferrule Collet

Stages of the Ferrule’s design process

Ferrule will be CNC machined from a solid billet of brass and will have a radially brushed finish. The other components will be machined from steel and aluminium to achieve a balanced weight and to meet our standards in longevity and durability. Ferrule can be polished to bring it back to its original brilliant shine. 

Packaging Design for Ferrule

Setting new Standards

Building on tools from the past, Ferrule sets a new standard for holding, extending and sharpening wood-cased pencils. This new standard paves the way for an ecosystem of collets held within Ferrule to hold all of your artistic and writing tools, the first of which is our pencil collet.

Culture of Care

We believe when you produce something, it should be built to last forever or to be reclaimed within a circular ecosystem. Each constituent part of our creations is built to provide longevity and teach our community to repair, maintain, and preserve.

Joy in Creativity

Parallel to our dedication to craftsmanship and highly sophisticated engineering is our eagerness to explore and share our creativity. At the heart of our offering is joy. Our tools break moulds, form new perspectives, and, more importantly, offer new ways of engaging with crafts. Creativity is embedded in the way we think differently through our designs.

The Team

Join us once again in bringing Ferrule to life. By backing Ferrule today, you will be one of the first to receive one, you will be a part of our community for life, and you are helping Makers Cabinet’s growing team continue to rewrite the way we think about our tools.

Makers Cabinet plans to fundamentally change the way objects, appliances, and even the means of production exist. Join us as we set a new standard for quality, care and longevity.