Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L: The Soft/Hard Pencil
The Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L is a drafting-style mechanical pencil with a plastic barrel and a grooved metal grip. A twist of the barrel switches the lead between soft, cushioned for writing, and hard, rigid for ruler work. Faber-Castell sells it in 0.35, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm, with a built-in eraser.
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Product facts
- Product
- Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L mechanical pencil, 0.7 mm (135700)
- Brand
- Faber-Castell
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- Plastic barrel, metal grip and clip (The Pen Addict)
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Colors
Dark green
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Country of manufacture not stated: Faber-Castell's product pages for the Vario L don't name a country, and retailer listings we could open don't either. The company is based in Stein, near Nuremberg. Price: example listing.
- Colors: names per Cult Pens (US store): Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L Pencil, checked October 27, 2026. The Pen Addict (2018) found dark green plastic with gold type as the only color then. Cult Pens also lists Indigo and Champagne Gold Vario L pencils as separate products. Tints are representative, not measured. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Faber-Castell lists four sizes: 0.35 mm (135300), 0.5 mm (135500), 0.7 mm (135700) and 1.0 mm (135900), each loaded with HB lead.
- A twist of the barrel switches the lead cushion between soft, for writing, and hard, for drafting, per Cult Pens and The Pen Addict.
- Wonderpens lists it at 6 in (15.4 cm per a review) and 0.4 oz; Faber-Castell publishes no length, diameter or weight.
- Cult Pens' US-dollar store listed the 0.7 mm at US$18.36 on October 27, 2026; The Pen Addict called it a $20 pencil in 2018.
- Faber-Castell does not say where the Vario L is made; the company is based in Stein, near Nuremberg.
What is the Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L?
It is a drafting-style mechanical pencil whose party trick is a lead you can set soft or hard. Faber-Castell calls the TK-Fine range ideal for precise drawing, with rigid lead guidance, an integrated eraser and a colour code for the line width on the push-button.
The Pen Addict describes a plastic body, a metal grip, a long lead pipe and a strong, removable clip. It doesn’t look like a premium rOtring 600, the review says, but it doesn’t cost as much either.
Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Faber-Castell, Stein, Germany |
| Model | TK-Fine Vario L, 0.7 mm = 135700 |
| Lead sizes | 0.35, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm (135300, 135500, 135700, 135900) |
| Lead supplied | HB (Faber-Castell) |
| Lead pipe | 4 mm long, per The Pen Addict |
| Mechanism | Click on the push-button; soft/hard lead cushion set by twisting the barrel |
| Hardness indicator | Ring under the grip, 2B to 4H (The Pen Addict) |
| Body | Plastic barrel, grooved metal grip, metal clip |
| Eraser | Integrated, replaceable twist-out |
| Length | About 6 in (15.4 cm per Architecture Lab); not published by Faber-Castell |
| Weight | 0.4 oz (about 11 g) per Wonderpens; not published by Faber-Castell |
| EAN (0.7 mm) | 4005401357001 |
| Made in | Not stated |
Faber-Castell’s pages don’t give length, diameter or weight, so the sizes come from a retailer and a reviewer; we couldn’t open either page directly and read them in search results. Treat them as approximate.
What do the soft and hard settings do?
Soft lets the lead give under pressure; hard locks it in place. The Pen Addict says soft is for writing and hard is for drafting, matching the diagrams on the box, and that both do what they promise.
Cult Pens describes the same trick: twist the barrel to “Hard” and the lead is unyielding for drafting, or to “Soft” and it cushions slightly under pressure. The review warns that hard mode makes the lead more likely to snap.
What lead does the Vario L take?
Faber-Castell sells its Super-Polymer fineline leads in each size, and the Vario L ships with HB. For the 0.7 mm pencil Faber-Castell lists B (120701), 2B (120702) and H (120711), and the lead pipe suits the 0.7 mm size it calls particularly break-resistant.
Our mechanical pencil lead guide covers grades and brands. Faber-Castell’s 0.35 mm leads use the same numbering, such as HB 120300.
What colors does the Vario L come in?
Dark green is the classic one, with gold type. The Pen Addict found it the only color in 2018. Cult Pens now also lists Indigo and Champagne Gold Vario L pencils; we found no Faber-Castell page for them.
How does the Vario L compare with other drafting pencils?
It is the soft/hard option in a plastic body with a metal grip; the rOtring 600 is all metal and the STAEDTLER 925 25 aluminum.
| Vario L | rOtring 600 | STAEDTLER 925 25 | Pentel Graph 1000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Plastic, metal grip | All metal | Aluminum | Plastic, metal grip |
| Length | About 154 mm | 142 mm | 143 mm | 145–147 mm |
| Weight | About 11 g | 22 g | 17 g | About 11 g |
| Band | $$ | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
The Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro is the closest in weight and price; see our drawing pencils roundup for more.
Where is the Vario L made?
Faber-Castell doesn’t say. Its pages for the pencil name no country, and neither did the retailer listings we could open. The company’s story since 1761 is in our Faber-Castell history.
How much does the TK-Fine Vario L cost?
It is in our $$ band, $5 to $20 per pencil. Cult Pens’ US-dollar store listed the 0.7 mm at US$18.36 on October 27, 2026, and The Pen Addict called it a $20 pencil in 2018. For a plain triangular Faber-Castell pencil that costs far less, see the Grip 2001.
Frequently asked questions
What does the soft and hard setting do on the Vario L?
It changes how tightly the pencil holds the lead. In soft, the lead springs back under pressure, which protects it when you write; in hard, it stays rigid for ruler and drafting work, per Cult Pens and The Pen Addict.
What lead sizes does the Faber-Castell Vario L come in?
Four: 0.35 mm (135300), 0.5 mm (135500), 0.7 mm (135700) and 1.0 mm (135900), per Faber-Castell. Each ships with HB lead, and a colour code on the push-button shows the line width.
Does the Faber-Castell Vario L have an eraser?
Yes. Faber-Castell lists an integrated eraser, and Cult Pens calls it an extra-long replaceable twist eraser. The Pen Addict wished for a cap over it.
What lead should I buy for the Vario L 0.7 mm?
Faber-Castell's own Super-Polymer fineline leads in 0.7 mm: B is 120701, 2B 120702 and H 120711 on its site. Any 0.7 mm lead of the right grade should fit, but we haven't tested other brands.
Does the Vario L lead pipe retract?
Faber-Castell says the lead can be fully retracted, but The Pen Addict says the 4 mm pipe does not retract into the tip and can poke holes in pockets or bags. We haven't checked.
How long is the Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L?
About 6 in, or 15.4 cm, per Wonderpens and an Architecture Lab review. Faber-Castell publishes no length, width or weight, and Wonderpens lists 0.4 oz.
Is the TK-Fine Vario L a good pencil for drawing?
It's built for drafting: a long lead pipe for rulers, a hard setting and a lead hardness ring. The Pen Addict found the slick metal grip slippery and the pencil better for drafting than for writing; we haven't tested it yet.
How much is the Faber-Castell Vario L in the US?
Cult Pens' US-dollar store listed the 0.7 mm at US$18.36 on October 27, 2026. That falls in our $$ band, $5 to $20 per pencil.
Sources
- Faber-Castell: TK-Fine Vario L mechanical pencil, 0.7 mm (135700; HB, integrated eraser, colour code on the push-button)
- Faber-Castell: TK-Fine Vario L mechanical pencil, 0.35 mm (135300; four sizes, lead fully retracts, matching leads)
- Faber-Castell Singapore: TK-Fine Vario L Mechanical Pencil, 0.7mm Lead (rigid lead guidance, HB)
- Cult Pens (US store): Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L Pencil (US$ price, sizes, EAN 4005401357001, soft/hard setting, hardness indicator)
- The Pen Addict: Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L Drafting Pencil Review (2018)
- Wonderpens: Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm (6 in, 0.4 oz as shown in search results; the page itself blocked our reader)
- Architecture Lab: Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario Mechanical Pencil review (15.4 cm as shown in search results; the page itself blocked our reader)