Drafting compass that holds a pen or mechanical pencil?

[Michael Kellough]

Is there such a thing? It seems all the “good” compasses only hold the most primitive drawing instrument of all, a wood clinched led pencil.

I want a tool with a strong joint that can securely hold a variety of different diameter instruments. Because want a sharp clear line that doesn’t change widths. Doesn’t seem like this is too much to ask...but despite looking, nothing like it has turned up.

 

[allthegearnoidea]

There's this:
https://www.jetpens.com/Kutsuwa-Stad-Compass-with-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Silver/pd/9215

But essentially what I think you're asking for is a normal (but solidly constructed/stiff) compass with a slightly larger diameter retaining ring with a screw in it. Which have I also unsuccessfully look for in the past no no avail.

 

[rvieceli]

Michael here's a link to a fairly recent analysis of drafting compasses.
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/product-recommendations/best-drafting-compass-1202690854/

The top three have a single lead for the marking side. They also come with an adapter to clamp in a pen or pencil or even a Sharpie.

Ron

 

[Michael Kellough]

There's this:
https://www.jetpens.com/Kutsuwa-Stad-Compass-with-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Silver/pd/9215

But essentially what I think you're asking for is a normal (but solidly constructed/stiff) compass with a slightly larger diameter retaining ring with a screw in it. Which have I also unsuccessfully look for in the past no no avail.

This is the closest in that it will make a fine line and I can choose the lead. Despite lacking a couple of desirable I’ll buy one them.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The good old General pencil compass would work if they just included a larger diameter loop. Might have to just make one. Not much more involved than bending a nail and threading the end.

Or maybe just opening up the existing loop...

 

[allthegearnoidea]

You could even possibly get away with bending the standard clip open a little wider...

 

[Michael Kellough]

You could even possibly get away with bending the standard clip open a little wider...

Looks like we had the same thought simultaneously!

 

[allthegearnoidea]

Ah yes. Post back with how you get on and I will give it a go if you're successful.

 

[allthegearnoidea]

Ah yes. Post back with how you get on and I will give it a go if you're successful.

Ha! they're £30 in the UK so what's that - $40? Maybe i don't need one that much! [blink]

 

[Michael Kellough]

There is another way to go with the General compass, use a Fine point black pen refill and make a holder that fits the compass. I’ll try that too.

 

[Cheese]

I prefer using this older model Starrett.

1. The metal point & a traditional lead pencil for paper, soft woods & hard woods.

2. The metal point & another metal point for scribing/marking hard woods.

3. The metal point & another metal point plus Dykem for metals.

A very important added bonus round is that the 2 thumb wheels located on the bottom leg combine to be a fine adjuster that allows you to increase/decrease the diameter of the compass by thousandths of an inch.

Important...I would NOT recommend the Rotape Tape Compass, it's a real POS.

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[Amateur]

FastCap makes a pretty nice compass.

 

[ChuckM]

Interestingly, I just needed to scribe the other day with a compass. I used one (marked Hong Kong) that can be fitted with a lead or a pin.

Another older compass I have is marked Eagle Pencil Co. No. 576 New York. Patent Jan 1st 1901.

 

[usernumber1]

Staedtler has like 4 pages of compasses.
Some hold drafting pens, pencils, second needle, universal holder, etc etc
https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/technical-drawing-instruments/compasses/

I'm surprised you haven't heard of them?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Staedtler has like 4 pages of compasses.
Some hold drafting pens, pencils, second needle, universal holder, etc etc
https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/technical-drawing-instruments/compasses/

I'm surprised you haven't heard of them?

I have Staedtler compasses, among others, but I haven’t looked at their offerings in years. Maybe they’re updated? But no, essentially the same design for the last 70 years. None of them hold a mechanical pencil let alone a ink pen or Sharpie type marker.

Maybe I spoke to soon, depending on the capacity of the “universal adapter”. Can’t find any specs for it.

 

[Bob D.]

Jump over to Lee Valleys' site, you might find something that will work for you.

I found this article on the Instructables site, but the solution is such a hack I would not consider it. MacGyver could have fashioned something better than this with his pocket knife and some chewing gum.
https://www.instructables.com/Marker-Pen-Compass/

But, that black plastic compass shown (looks like it's a FastCap item but they don't call it out) looks like it would be a good candidate to modify for a proper holder for a Sharpie. You could remove the existing holder and make a new one from wood to hold the sharpie which would look and function much better than the hack in the article.

If you jump over to the FastCap site, there are some detail photos of the AccuScribe Pro that show it holding a Sharpie and a mechanical pencil. Only problem is this being a scribe tool it has limited capacity as a compass. I've never seen this tool in person, no doubt some of you have one, but it looks to be 3D printed from the photos I have viewed.

Doesn't seem like a stretch for FastCap to make a compass of this same basic design but with longer legs for greater capacity and a few other tweaks. I bet it would sell.

 

[Bob D.]

Or download this from Thingaverse and print it out.

Sharpie Compass
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2760077

 

[rjboch]

I purchased this one from Amazon a while agohttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TC3NNTH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (Offidea - ~$13). Comes in two sizes, locks in place, and is sturdy. It also holds both a PICA pencil and any 50-cent mechanical pencil from Bic or Papermate. It definitely does not fit any of the higher end pencils I have, but I'm sure it will hold many of the random pens and pencils in our home.

 

[semenza]

I have an older Accuscribe. The holder has been changed since I bought mine. There is a reducing insert for pencils. Remove the insert for Sharpie. The one I have is for a standard hexagon pencil. See the video on the Fastcap site.

Works fine as a compass, though you can't "twirl" it from the top like a drafting compass for a complete circle. More of a two handed operation. Which is no big deal since I find that on most wood / building material surfaces I need two hands to keep it in place for anything more than about a 1/3 arc anyway. Good for about a 6" radius like most compasses.

The one I have is not 3D printed, and I doubt current production versions would be either.

Seth

 

[Bob D.]

"The one I have is not 3D printed, and I doubt current production versions would be either."

Thanks for that clarification. I based that comment on the appearance in the photos. The surface
has the look of a 3D printed object. I did not mean that to imply it was inferior, just that if that
was the method of manufacture it might be possible to make a compass with greater capacity
than the AccuScribe.