Cretacolor X Mega Drawing 12-Piece Tin Box Set Sketching Pencils, White Chalk Oil, Sanguine Oil, Sepia Light, Sepia Dark, Nero, Graphite

Having similar sets from Cretacolor already, such as a regular-sized oil pencil set, and another with charcoal pencils, I didn't think I had a need for this set at first glance. But I had been advised by the physical therapist for my hands to get large diameter pencils to ease some of the pain I get with drawing, so I looked again. I didn't like the price on these, but when you consider the size of the cores, it seems more reasonable. I looked around and didn't see anything else of similar quality that I wanted to try. I do already have the Conté pencils, which are nice, but a very dry and smudgy type pencil, like most chalk or pastel pencils are. I wanted the large-diameter oil and graphite pencil experience, and decided to try these.The issue with some smaller core sepia and sanguine pencils is that they can be brittle. Same with charcoal pencils. I have never been a fan of the loose sticks, which are thicker but harder to control the line. These large pencils are the answer for this. They give you control, keep your hands from having to hold fragile or uncomfortable chunks of charcoal or other coloring blocks that can be very messy, and the cores are thick enough for shading by turning the pencil to the side, and still can hold a point for finer linework.The big graphite pencils are great, too. The tin gives a useful range of several types of pencil, all in a larger size that reduces hand fatigue and pain if you have nerve or joint issues that are worsened by the clenching down on smaller pencils. An excellent set, which arrived quickly. The size of the pencil is a bigger benefit than it might seem - comfort is crucial when pain can limit creative capacity. The various types of pencil make a nice travel kit.I didn't like the slightly chunky finish on the pre-sharpened points - the testing right out of the tin wasn't ideal because the points weren't smooth. A quick sharpen with a Dahle 133 fixed this - not one pencil had crumbling or breakage, though the sepia ones definitely have the driest feel, and seem like they could be crumbly. I was happy that none of them did fall apart at all. These pencils can take a surprisingly long point without issues. Once they were sharpened properly, they were perfect for me.I didn't try using a handheld sharpener with these, as I have always had better luck with the Dahle on avoiding breakage, especially for colored or specialty cores.Smooth, excellent color, very nice to use. I wish I had known about these sooner.

Set includes everything one needs for sketching. Great graphite pencils.