Drafting compass that holds a pen or mechanical pencil?
- Thread starter Michael Kellough
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- Feb 22, 2016
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Don't waste your time with the Noris® 550 01/02. The 'universal adapter' as they call it will accept a regular Sharpie or a Retractable Sharpie but in both cases the lock screw can not clamp down on the pen as the threads will not engage. The screw is not threaded up to the end so only the very first thread starts to engage and that is not enough. I did a 'try before you buy' with a friends 550 compass. No joy.
I did not know, but I guessed that I would find this at Harbor Freight. It is just the type of gadget that they do cheaply and well.
They show a 6” and a 12” at $6.00 and $10.00 respectively.
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=Compass
They show a 6” and a 12” at $6.00 and $10.00 respectively.
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=Compass
Cheese
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- Jan 16, 2015
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- 12,506
I've owned this Starrett divider/compass for ages...just look at it. [smile]
It comes with 2 metal scribes/legs that work well for sheet metal layout. You can also replace one of the legs with a traditional pencil and use it on wood.
However, the feature I like best is the "micrometer" fine adjustment. You can literally adjust it in .001" increments. You adjust the divider to the approximate diameter, lock down the divider and then slowly dial it in with the 2 knurled wheel adjusters for precise line-to-line contact.
https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/85E
[attachimg=1]
It comes with 2 metal scribes/legs that work well for sheet metal layout. You can also replace one of the legs with a traditional pencil and use it on wood.
However, the feature I like best is the "micrometer" fine adjustment. You can literally adjust it in .001" increments. You adjust the divider to the approximate diameter, lock down the divider and then slowly dial it in with the 2 knurled wheel adjusters for precise line-to-line contact.
https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/85E
[attachimg=1]
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I took drafting in high school (1964). I still have the compasses, dividers and ruling pens. I forget the name of the manufacturer, tomorrow I will check.
But in any case the compass had the thumb screw adjuster (micrometer style) and the divider arms were geared to each other so they both moved in unison. Beautifully chrome plated.
I thing the center wheel arrangement was pretty standard. It had a horizontal bar to extend the size. It could use lead or a ruling pen.
I continued to use the ruling pen when I had my picture framing shop. I used it to rule decorative boarders on the mat boards.
But in any case the compass had the thumb screw adjuster (micrometer style) and the divider arms were geared to each other so they both moved in unison. Beautifully chrome plated.
I thing the center wheel arrangement was pretty standard. It had a horizontal bar to extend the size. It could use lead or a ruling pen.
I continued to use the ruling pen when I had my picture framing shop. I used it to rule decorative boarders on the mat boards.
