https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gener...enter-Pencil/1053227

I need a compass to mark a circular hole for a light over the sink. Where is my compass? No compass in the tool box. I remember a compass in my father’s toolbox. Look, there it is at Lowes. Only $11. Perfect. Just like Dad’s. Gold, black, short little pencil.

I opened the Covid-safe shopping locker door and grabbed my package of stuff. Got home, and excitedly opened the bag. Words fail. What in the world is this? It appears like a person in a third or fourth world country made a mold of the real compass using beach sand and poured hot molten slag from a furnace into it, then sprayed it with gold toned fingernail polish. Complete and utter crap.

Will it work for one hole? Yes.

Will it make me think of my father? Yes.

Maybe it is good, after all, to remember how he purchased the best, took care of the best, and had skills to use the best.

I just wish I had his compass.

On line shopping is so good. Easy, at home from your easy chair or desk. Or not.

But it, on line shopping, is always a gamble.

I think both of mine are Staedtler & only downside is they don't open to a very wide diameter.

Made in America?

You made me look over at my desk and find my grandfather's compass set. He was an architect and passed last month. Somewhere I have two steel tape measures - a Starrett and a (I think) Brown & Sharpe - of his as well.

It's a Keufler & Esser set, and it is very well used as tools should be, but not abused. I think of him every time I work through a design in my head.

Like yours, does it work? Yes. Does it make me think of him? Also yes. I'm happy and proud to be able to keep making things with his stuff.

Damn, man, you could've known that from the photo on the Lowe's site, alone. Not criticizing you, per se, but I would never have bought that.

Here's my compass. I've no idea how old it is. "Pretty damn old," I'm thinking

I admit to taking only a glance at the Lowe's imagery. It is the same exact format for woodcraft compass, not architecture, that my Dad used. So, I guess in the moment I failed to grasp the quality of the product.

I misplaced (temporarily, as it turns out) the dividers from my drafting set, acquired during the Carter administration. I thought I'd buy another set at the office supply store.

Think again. I couldn't find any, so I asked a minion. I was shown the dividers for three-ring-binders.

The words "Compass" and "Protractor" were equally unrecognized. I don't always order online out of choice.

I've got a rather nice Staedtler brand compass I bought almost two decades ago. Good workmanship, not cheap crap. I don't recall it being significantly more expensive than the cheap ones, but definitely a large step up in quality.

quote:

Originally posted by whanson_wi:
I misplaced (temporarily, as it turns out) the dividers from my drafting set, acquired during the Carter administration. I thought I'd buy another set at the office supply store.

Think again. I couldn't find any, so I asked a minion. I was shown the dividers for three-ring-binders.

The words "Compass" and "Protractor" were equally unrecognized. I don't always order online out of choice.

Look for a Yacht Chandlers - they'll have good dividers, compasses, and protractors.


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Did you watch the video on the Lowe’s page? Look at the crappy “circle” the guy made. I’m pretty sure he’s never used a compass or knew they make circles.

 
Mine are not my father's either, but thankfully I kept my C.S.Osborne models from the days I worked in a millwork shop, a large and a small. They come with a metal point where the pencil goes, so you can use either pencil or point (as a divider).
 
Sorry for your loss.

I still have my sets I purchased for college back in the 70's. They weren't the best since I wasn't rich but they have held up and still work well for the occasional use they serve now.

What did you expect to get for 10 bucks? The picture looks like its a cheap compass and if it looks cheap it probably is cheap. Cheap is OK if you only plan to use it once or twice, no sense spending big bucks for something you'll use once and then it'll sit in a drawer for the next decade.

Nowadays a good compass is something you stumble across or find in a dedicated drafting supplies store.