Review: Caran D'ache Graphwood Pencils

[@kelleyspartiatis4776]

I use the harder pencils in these for skin because they lay down so smoothly and blend out so well. I don't love the darker ones and generally stick with my pitt matte from faber castell or for less blend-ability I use the Mars black stadlear for things like eyelashes and eyebrows etc. A range of different pencils all have their place for me.

[@ecurry76]

I love your honest reviews of graphite pencils. So many get caught up in the hype rather than being honest. I have been eyeing these pencils for quite some time. I think that I may get 2 or 3 to try them out. I would really like to see you review the Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils. I have been using them for years and I’m curious to hear your opinion.

[@Lzmstudio]

Thank you! I can honestly say I haven't used the Caran D'ache pencils again. I don't like that they don't sharpen well. I might save them for some special project, but I just can't see using them in the 25 hours a week I'm in the studio with students... they are just too pricey! I'll add Mars Lumograph to my list to review, thanks for the suggestion!

[@Lzmstudio]

Filming a review of Mars Lumograph pencils this week, will post it in 2018. Thanks for the suggestion, my opinion on them has changed- too!

[@ecurry76]

LZM Studio How exciting! I can’t wait to watch!

[@Lzmstudio]

Awesome!

[@ecurry76]

I actually picked up a few of the Caran D'ache Graphwood pencils and I was surprised that I was able to get a blacker black with both my Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 8b (graphite not carbon) and Faber-Castell 9000 8b pencils. I do like the smoothness of the Caran D'ache, however, I found them a little to soft for my liking. Both the Staedtler and Faber-Castell held a point a little better. They blend better too, in my opinion.

[@JamieBoots]

Hi Laurie. Great review I have used the Grafwoods for over ten years and they are great pencils very smooth and high quality. They adhere to the paper very well and I think this is because the binder is wax based.

[@Lzmstudio]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing! Love your work, too! Do you draw for fun or professionally?

[@JamieBoots]

@@Lzmstudio Thank you so much. I turned professional back in 2006 and it is so nice to be able to do what I love for a living😊

[@Lzmstudio]

@@JamieBoots I agree. Many future commissions to you🙏🏼 Stay in touch, it’s lovely to know peers in this medium.

[@MrMcHoodoo]

Hi, thanks for the video. I am looking forward to watching more of your videos. I am curious if you have tried sharpening these pencils with a KUM long point automatic pencil sharpener? That is what I use to sharpen these pencils and am very satisfied with the point produced. I really like my Graftwood pencils. I have found them to be very smooth and practically smudge proof when I use them. I am left handed so smudge proof is a great feature from a pencil for me! I have found that I need to use almost no pressure applying graphite with these, a definite plus for me. After discovering that, these became my favorite pencil. They are pricey but outstanding none the less!

[@Lzmstudio]

no, I just got the long point, I will definitely try it- thank you for the idea!!!

[@laideae]

I’ve got to say that the Grafwood pencils are my favorite drawing pencils at the moment. So far, the smoothest I’ve ever laid on paper. The color coding used on them is quite useful when you can spread all the pencil at your work table, not so much when you need to pull them out of their tin tube. Still, love the that touch and the fact that their thicker than pretty much all of their competition. As for that wood splintering, it might have to do with the burr blade (or blades) in you Xacto sharpener. I’ve got a similar sharpener that dates back to the 60’s or so, and it was a nightmare to use until I got it restored and reconditioned the burr blades on it. But you might also want to try the M+R 0602 round brass sharpener, it has double holes for different pencil diameters and their blades are quite long-lasting and also replaceable. Never had an issue with this particular sharpener and these or any other pencil.

[@Lzmstudio]

I'll check out that sharpener, but I love my xacto and it doesn't splinter my other pencils. Thanks for the tips!

[@heatherrachel8418]

With the wood, I'd say it's because you're not using the correct size sharpener - grafwood are larger than a standard size pencils. I've never had this problem and I use a larger than standard pencil.

[@Lzmstudio]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean- but yes these are larger than standard size, they don't fit in standard pencil sharpeners.

[@AlpayBeler]

Hi, Laurie. Thank you for the great pencil reviews. I got a whole bunch of these few weeks back for about a £1 each at a closing down sale, here in London. I like their weight, feels like you are holding a feather :) I got a 9B, which is is really dark, darker than the FC 8B for example and quite soft, so you don't have to press it too hard to achieve a nice smooth grade of pure black. Needles to say, I will only be using these sparingly for the final touches in a drawing. :) Thanks, again.

[@Lzmstudio]

Wow, what a great opportunity! enjoy them! I still have preserved mine for special drawings, because they are soooo expensive. I hope to find a project worthy of the cost soon!

[@CKArts6]

It looks like this video was done a long time ago- but I hope you see my post and can answer me. I really like these pencils and I find them creamier too. The biggest problem I have is sharpening them and am just using a knife at this point because I want a sharp point but cannot get it with any sharpener I am using. The lead also breaks off and I think it is loose, also. Nevertheless, they are nice to use. Any suggestions for sharpening or what sharpener might be useful for them? Thanks so much!

[@Lzmstudio]

I actually haven’t replaced this set because I think they’re too pricey to use every day and didn't like that they were wider than the standard sharpener. I have had luck with the Xacto Vacuum mount with adjustable opening, however, the vacuum isn't strong enough for the weight of the sharpener to keep it stuck to a flat surface, so it winds up being a pain to use. Still it adjusts the opening and the point is relatively sharp vs what I can get with a knife. Hope this helps you out? amzn.to/3o2QP3H

[@LeppardPrintAnimal]

@@Lzmstudio Have you tried them in the sharpener that comes with the caran d'ache set?

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

Yes.. specifically, the darker the graphite the wider the diameter of the 'lead' - because the darker the lead- the softer it is and the more easily it is breakable... thus Caran d'Ache intentionally increases the lead-diameter as the softness increases - They also use only graphite from specific mines and the wood used is FSC certified - the leads are also uniquely made to reduce breakage -

[@Lzmstudio]

Nice- does it say this somewhere on their website?

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

@@Lzmstudio Some of the info is on their website... other info I have from a product-training a few months ago with the artstore I work at - I sure love their Museum-Aquarelle pencils, and the watersoluble graphites GraphCube and Technalo with very subtle-muted tones of red-green-blue, too -

[@Lzmstudio]

peter quenter thanks for sharing what you know!!