Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil 6B, 3.15 mm lead

Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil 6B – soft lead for drawing and sketching

The Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil (art. no. 139406) is a refillable lead holder with a soft 6B lead, 3.15 mm in diameter, for writing, drawing and sketching. The thick lead is suited to broad, bold strokes and shading over larger areas. The pencil is dark green and has a hexagonal barrel with grip grooves. This stops it from slipping and keeps it secure in your hand, even during long sketching sessions.

A strong clamp holds the lead firmly in place. It does not wobble and does not give way as you draw. At 145 mm, the pencil fits easily into a pencil case or sketchbook. The grade is marked on the barrel, so you can identify it straight away even when you have several pencils.

Working with the clutch pencil

The lead is held in the clamp and is released and advanced using the end of the barrel. Let it protrude only as far as you need: the shorter the lead sticks out, the less likely it is to break under pressure. The lead can be sharpened. For a fine point, use a lead pointer; for broad shading, simply draw with the lead blunt or hold it at an angle across the paper. A sharpener is not included with the pencil.

Which grade should you choose?

6B is the softest grade in the TK 9400 range, which is available in 4B, 5B and 6B. It deposits plenty of graphite and gives dark, soft lines. Use it for shading, bold accents and loose sketches. Soft leads smudge more easily than hard ones. For fine, clean lines, choose one of the harder grades. For refills, use TK 9071 leads, which Faber-Castell offers in grades 4B to 6B.

Faber-Castell TK 9400 6B product details

• Manufacturer: Faber-Castell, art. no. 139406
• Model: TK 9400 clutch pencil
• Grade: 6B (soft)
• Lead diameter: 3.15 mm
• Length: 145 mm
• Barrel: hexagonal with ergonomic grip grooves, dark green
• Refillable with TK 9071 leads (4B–6B)

You will also need: lead pointer for 3.15 mm leads