Is Faber-Castell good for drawing pencils?

Faber-Castell describes the 9000 leads as finely ground graphite and clay, smooth and never scratchy, and calls the set ideal for drawing students, artists and designers.

How does the Faber-Castell 9000 compare with Staedtler Lumograph?

The 9000 set has 12 grades from 2H to 8B. The 6-piece Lumograph set runs HB to 8B in a metal tin, so it has no H grades.

Which grade should I sketch with?

Start light with 2H or HB for the layout, then build shading with 2B to 8B.

Are erasers included?

The listing names only the 12 pencils. Pair the set with a kneaded eraser and a vinyl eraser.

Best 12-grade set

Faber-Castell

Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set

Twelve graphite sketching pencils from a hard 2H to a soft 8B, with leads of finely ground graphite and clay that are smooth, never scratchy.

Best for: Drawing students, artists and designers sketching across grades

Grades: 8B to 2H
Count: 12
Lead: Graphite and clay
Brand: Faber-Castell

Check price on Amazon

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Buy it if

You want 12 graphite grades from 2H to 8B in one set
You want H grades for light layout lines as well as soft B grades for shading
You want leads Faber-Castell describes as smooth, never scratchy

Skip it if

You want erasers or blenders included. The listing names only the 12 pencils
You want grades harder than 2H. The Faber-Castell Goldfaber set goes to 4H

What the Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set is

The Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set is twelve graphite pencils running from a hard 2H to a soft 8B. The listing calls it ideal for drawing students, artists and designers.

Faber-Castell makes the leads from finely ground graphite and clay and describes them as smooth, never scratchy. With both H and B grades in the box, one set covers light layout lines as well as dark shading.

Key features, explained

Based on the manufacturer's Amazon listing.

12 grades from 8B to 2H
H grades make lighter lines, HB sits in the middle, and the B grades get softer and darker up to 8B.
Finely ground graphite and clay
The mix of graphite and clay sets how hard or soft each grade is, and fine grinding keeps the lead smooth.
Smooth, never scratchy
Faber-Castell describes the pencils as smooth rather than scratchy, which matters for even shading.
Made for students, artists and designers
The listing aims the set at drawing students, artists and designers, for sketching, drawing and writing.

Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set specifications

Type: Graphite sketch pencils
Count: 12
Grades: 8B to 2H
Lead: Finely ground graphite and clay
Brand: Faber-Castell
Accessories: None listed
Model: 119065

Who the Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set suits

Art students. The listing names drawing students first, and the 12 grades span 2H to 8B.
Designers. The listing aims the set at designers too, and the H grades give light layout lines.
Sketching and writing. The listing names sketching, drawing and writing as uses.

Look elsewhere if: you only need soft grades in a metal tin. The Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Set has six grades from HB to 8B.

Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set vs similar picks

Spec	Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set	Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Set	Faber-Castell Goldfaber Graphite Set (12)
Grades	8B to 2H	8B, 7B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB	4H to 6B
Count	12	6	12
Case	Not listed	Metal tin	Metal tin
Brand	Faber-Castell	Staedtler	Faber-Castell
Choose it for	Hard and soft grades in one set	Six soft grades in a metal tin	Harder grades, up to 4H

Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set
Grades
8B to 2H
Count
12
Case
Not listed
Brand
Faber-Castell
Choose it for: Hard and soft grades in one set
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Set
Grades
8B, 7B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB
Count
6
Case
Metal tin
Brand
Staedtler
Choose it for: Six soft grades in a metal tin
Faber-Castell Goldfaber Graphite Set (12)
Grades
4H to 6B
Count
12
Case
Metal tin
Brand
Faber-Castell
Choose it for: Harder grades, up to 4H

Before you buy

The listing names no erasers or blenders. Pair the set with a kneaded eraser and a vinyl eraser.
Start light with 2H or HB for the layout, then build shading with 2B to 8B.
Soft B grades smudge, so rest your hand on scrap paper while you shade.

Frequently asked questions about the Faber-Castell 9000 Sketch Set

Is Faber-Castell good for drawing pencils?: Faber-Castell describes the 9000 leads as finely ground graphite and clay, smooth and never scratchy, and calls the set ideal for drawing students, artists and designers.
What grades are in the Faber-Castell 9000 graphite sketch set?: Twelve grades from 8B to 2H.
How does the Faber-Castell 9000 compare with Staedtler Lumograph?: The 9000 set has 12 grades from 2H to 8B. The 6-piece Lumograph set runs HB to 8B in a metal tin, so it has no H grades.
Which grade should I sketch with?: Start light with 2H or HB for the layout, then build shading with 2B to 8B.
Are erasers included?: The listing names only the 12 pencils. Pair the set with a kneaded eraser and a vinyl eraser.