Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil 4B, 3.15 mm lead

TK 9400 clutch pencil 4B – soft lead, firm hold, pocket size

The Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil with 4B lead (Ø 3.15 mm) is a refillable pencil for writing, drawing and sketching. 4B is a soft grade: it gives dark, bold lines and works well for shading and expressive sketches.

The barrel is hexagonal with ergonomic grip grooves, so the pencil does not slip while you draw. A strong clutch holds the thick lead firmly in place. At 145 mm long, the pencil is handy enough for a bag or sketchbook. The grade marking on the barrel shows you at a glance which lead is fitted.

Which grade should you choose?

The TK 9400 is available with 4B, 5B and 6B leads. The higher the number, the softer the lead and the darker and broader the line. 4B is the hardest of these three grades. It gives you bold lines that you can still control well. Soft leads wear down faster and smudge more easily, so it is worth protecting finished drawings with fixative.

Changing and sharpening the lead

The lead is replaceable. As replacements, Faber-Castell lists TK 9071 leads in grades 4B to 6B. You sharpen a clutch pencil lead with a lead pointer that suits a diameter of 3.15 mm. Turn the lead evenly as you do so, so that the point is round and centred. For broad, soft strokes you can also deliberately leave the lead blunt.

Faber-Castell TK 9400 clutch pencil 4B product details

• Manufacturer: Faber-Castell, art. no. 139404
• Model: TK 9400 clutch pencil
• Lead grade: 4B
• Lead diameter: 3.15 mm
• Length: 145 mm (pocket size)
• Barrel: hexagonal with grip grooves, grade marking on the barrel
• Colour: dark green
• Refillable with TK 9071 leads (4B–6B)
• Contents: 1 pencil with lead

You will also need: a separate lead pointer for leads with a 3.15 mm diameter to sharpen the lead; a sharpener is not built into the pencil.