I need a pencil compass recommendation

[Brian Kent]

My pencil compass is way too flimsy. What do you have that holds a good position and is a decent cost?

[cecil rolfe]

I use a drafting compass available at any office supply, around $10.00. Center wheel positive adjustment makes them accurate. They use a lead instead of a pencil.

[kevin nee]

I just upgraded mine. Got one on eBay & one on Amazon 8 & 12 inch.
smooth working stainless high quality very reasonable. I think one came
from Grizly. Free shipping. Good luck!

[Dan Hintz]

If you want a set that will last several lifetimes, look for Dietzgen... I have my father's college set and continue to use it.

But a $10-15 model from the local art supply store will likely suffice in most cases. Cast aluminum and plastic, usually, but durable enough for daily use.

[Al Launier]

I still have my Dietzgen drafting set from college (1960) as well as my "like new" K&E slide rule. Don't know if i could use the K&E, but my handheld calculator works just as well.

[Cary Falk]

I have a set of trammel points that I use. No max size of circles but ther is a limitation on the smaller side.
http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H5876-...trammel+points

[Lee Schierer]

I also use a drafting set. It has two compasses a small one that works well for up to about a 3" radius and a larger one that also has an extension arm that give me a much larger radius. You quite often can find drafting sets at larger flea markets.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Brian, here's the one I have

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...19&cat=1,42936

Regards, Rod.

[Brian Tymchak]

I use a Groz 8" that I think I got from Rockler maybe 10 years ago. I know it's not the best, but it is steel and works for me. I just checked the price on it - $29. I'm pretty sure I didn't pay anywhere near that then.

[Joe Jensen]

I used to use my drafting compass from Engineering school but that's really a fine tool. I recently bought this Fastcap one and I like it a lot. Very rigid and it works great. $13.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Andrew Joiner]

I made a temporary one that works so well I hung it on the wall. It's a wood bar with a nail for a pivot. A 1"C clamp holds the pencil firmly as set.

[Mike Henderson]

You can pickup drafting instruments on eBay very cheap. Nobody uses those for drafting any more.

Mike

[Brian Kent]

I just put a bid for Dietzgen set.

[Mike Schuch]

My nice German compass set wasn't big enough for a lot of the curves I needed to draw so I picked up one of these for $8.

image_12724.jpg
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch...der-96440.html

Very sturdy and locks securely even though it is cheap.

[paul cottingham]

I use this one. Holds tight, and really well made
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...=1,42936,42937
for anything really, really big, I use this
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...=1,42936,42939

both are great tools, very well made.