Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

I like it. Feels good in your hand and is nicely weight distributed so makes drawing fun. I use an sharp exacto knife to sharpen just the tip to save on lead. Not sure how else to sharpen, other then a sanding block.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

I have a bunch of these lead holders, each one is labeled for the lead in it. I've used all sorts of pencils and this specific tool and Faber Castell leads are my go to for all my drawings. The one below is one example.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

I use these clutch pencils for all my work. I have many because in each one I put a different hardness of lead.
The claws grip the lead really well and they last for years.
I highly recommend the Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

This is a very nice instrument. Handles well, and I look forward to using it for drawing.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

Feels a lot like a new wood pencil, good balance and length. Good precision and shading, and selection of leads is nice, though if you use more than one hardness on a regular basis you may want to buy a couple of these instead of just changing out the lead. Nice for travel since you can push the lead into the holder so you don't have to worry about broken tips.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

I love it, for under $8 just buy one, you won't regret it! While sturdier holders exist (Koh-i-noor), they have the weight to match. The Faber Castell TK9400 is most at home as a replacement for wooden drawing pencils of different hardnesses. I have 4 of these with different hardness of leads and the light weight of the body coupled with the comfortable grip make sketching and drawing a breeze. I find that I don't feel any restriction in my movements or flow while using these lead holders. Unlike a previous reviewer, I read the instructions on my Alvin rotary lead pointer and used the appropriate collar and the lead depth stop on the pointer to sharpen my lead. THAT is where this product really shines! The point I can get on this is as sharp as a hypodermic syringe, the first time I sharpened a 4H lead I drew blood when I touched the point to test it. Seriously, for under $8 you won't regret this purchase. The leads are less expensive than pencils, take up less space, are more environmentally friendly, and your pencil never turns into a stub. I think that last feature is priceless, muscle memory is real and using a lead holder makes every mark as precise as you are capable because your hand remembers holding a certain size and weight object and manipulating it in a specific manner. Changing the size and weight of your drawing implement constantly costs you time and accuracy.

Final verdict? This tool changed my life (not really, but close to it). Great product at a fair price and if you have an IQ above 60, IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY WITH THE ALVIN ROTARY POINTERS AND I'VE NEVER HAD A FINER POINT ON ANY DRAWING IMPLEMENT I'VE USED.

Seriously, just because you're too mechanically inept to figure out how to sharpen a pencil, DON'T WRITE A REVIEW STATING THAT IT WON'T WORK. I seriously doubt the ability of such an individual to wear shoes that tie with laces much less draw precise blueprints or technical illustrations. I hope I've cleared that up... the Alvin rotary lead pointers come with collars with various I.D.'s (inner diameter's) to accommodate ALL of the 2mm lead holders on the market, they also have 2 depth stops for your lead whether you want a sharp or needle sharp point. I highly recommend the red rectangular sharpener that clamps to your desk and a portable rotary pointer. Yes, they aren't free, but it's a drawing/drafting experience worth every penny and you'll save money in the long term.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

For: Appearance, material quality, balance and weight, durability, writing performance

Against: Grip, lack of built-in features, unsuitable for rotary lead pointers, drawing performance

Faber-Castell's most famous lead holder is, not surprisingly, their most available one. It seems most at home on an executive's desk, and its handsome, conservative appearance will complement such a décor.

It is as a writing instrument that it is best suited. Its weight is a product of metal inner workings and a sturdy plastic outer body. While it feels substantial in the hand, it is not heavy, and it is well-balanced, making this quality-rich, durable instrument a good choice for home, school or office.

Alas, some will be dismayed by its lack of versatility. The token plastic grip near the tip will not prove sufficient for detailed or technical drawing, though simple sketching should not suffer as much. There is simply not enough knurling to keep the fingers from sliding around.

Other drawbacks include a lack of a pocket clip and no integrated sharpener. Indeed finding a sharpener suitable for this pencil might be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. It does not work in rotary pointers, so a mini lead pointer, piece of sandpaper, or Faber-Castell's own sharpener for TK leads will be necessary.

Other matters to consider: These are sometimes sold with a particular grade of lead embossed on the holder. It is not clear to me whether those offered by Blick are sold as such, so do inquire about this before purchasing. Also, the TK leads from Faber-Castell that have hardnesses of 4B, 5B and 6B will not work in this lead holder as those are 3.15 mm, and this holder will accept 2 mm leads only (and bear in mind that standard 2 mm leads from any manufacturer will work).

All told, this is a good choice for writing, or the occasional, casual sketch, but for serious drawing or artwork, better options exist.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

The pencil and the led are fantastic. I use these when I am at home and I use the regular Faber-Castell pencils for when I travel. The weight of these clutch are perfect. Will buy one for ever hardness of led.

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

This is my first clutch pencil and I am loving it. I don't know why I didn't try these things sooner! Very comfortable and the lead it comes with is great to start out with and lasts quite a while. I use a sandpaper pad to sharpen the tip.

I've also seen some artists use these to hold their inking nibs, but I tried fitting a 102 in there and it didn't quite fit. Might work with another brand or different nib?

-Professional comic book artist-

Comments about Faber-Castell TK 9400 Clutch Drawing Pencil:

Got tired of going through pencils so I switched to lead holders. I love this one, it has become my go to lay in tool