Recommendations Please - A Good Compass Set For Technical Drawing:

[Blake's 7]

Hi all,

My niece started secondary school last September and her favourite subjects are technical drawing and geometry, and is doing well in both. Her birthday is coming up in a month or so and I'd like to give her a good compass set as a present.
I'd like something that is all metal if possible, But what I've found online so far is about 50% metal \ 50% plastic. I'm willing to spend a bit more for a decent quality set that will last. I'll probably get her an adjustable set square too.

If anyone has any recommendations with links I'd be grateful.


Thanks.

 

[James1979]

Rotring was always the standard I think. What my Mum used in the drawing office anyway.

 

[Blake's 7]

Rotring was always the standard I think. What my Mum used in the drawing office anyway.

Thank you, I was thinking of a draughtman's set, but unsure of what brand.

 

[Nick67GT]

I used British Thornton back in the days when I started in the design drawing office:

Vintage technical drawing instruments by A.G.Thornton (Techset series) | eBay

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Temple are another good make:

VINTAGE BRITISH MADE TEMPLE PRECISION DRAWING INSTRUMENTS WITH ORIGINAL CASE | eBay

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They might not be what your niece would choose, but as far as accuracy and reliability is concerned you can’t go far wrong.

Very little money for some quality kit.

 

[James1979]

Thank you, I was thinking of a draughtman's set, but unsure of what brand.

They used to make the sets I think but nothing on their site.

This was my Dads, all Steadler apart from the square

 

[jsf55]

I still use mine from the 70s when i was in school !

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[Blake's 7]

Thanks, everyone. There's some lovely vintage sets on ebay, I think I might get her one of those.

What is the purpose of the tweezer-like end on one leg of some of the compasses?

 

[Nick67GT]

Ink compass.

Used when drawing in linen paper,

 

[Parm]

I’ve got a rotring and stedlear from back in the day.

both good quality, both excellent

id say get both. Stedlar is good with old fashioned inks. Rotring is good with the modern pens

 

[Blake's 7]

Ink compass.

Used when drawing in linen paper,

Like a fountain pen?

 

[Nick67GT]

Similar principle to the nib & ink well set up.

 

[addjunkie]

They used to make the sets I think but nothing on their site.

This was my Dads, all Steadler apart from the square

View attachment 276054

That tramel and the black compass look the same as mine. Came in a big set about the size of a sheet of a4

 

[bricol]

Maybe ask her parents first - I had Rotring set given to me - and it was a pain in the bum at the school - mates sharpened the pencil, shoved it back in their boggo compass and carried on . . . I needed a new lead, then to find the sodding screw that had vibrated out in the week since the last use, or the point . . . and always the worry someone would nick it, damage it, borrow it . .

 

[Memmeddu]

At my time (not more than 12 years ago)
I've used a vintage steadler compass.
Which was already been used from my sister and from my brother prior her .
The compass is most likely 25 years old

 

[Tangledfeet]

Whilst we're on the subject; should she ever need or ask for some new set squares might I suggest fluorescent ones like these; they just make it so much easier in my experience - offering a higher contrast with white paper. Getting her own would be a good investment as they never get well looked after at school as kids (trust me, I know these things...) like to spin them round their pencils and they inadvertently fly off and chip; also one less thing to have to share and sanitise....

This domain has been registered on behalf of a customer of Quick by Design.

This domain has been registered on behalf of a customer of Quick by Design.

www.hellermans.com

 

[Nick67GT]

Also, get a set of mechanical pencils for go with it (plus spare leads) so that she can achieve consistent lines / numbering etc.

Pentel will be fine:

Pentel Sharplet Mechanical Pencil Automatic Draughting Drawing 0.5 0.7 0.9mm | eBay

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[Turbo]

I used a staedlar set to help me toward an O-level in technical drawing, Would have did A-level but the teacher retired!

Still have it 35 years later & it still gets used occasionally!.

Not being funny, but are you sure that they still use pencil & paper to teach TD? I would have thought that it would all be done on computer now. CAD was just coming in when I was at College & every design office will be using it now. It would be pointless teaching them on a medium that isn't used any more!

 

[mtt.tr]

I bought a vintage set for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[Munkul]

The principles are exactly the same, regardless of medium and the novelty of using actual tools by hand is good for kids... lets face it, they get precious few chances of using their hands anyways.
The ol' boggo compass n pencil worked great at school, but if given the choice, I'd rather a Rotring style one... I have a cheap knock-off in my workshop actually from school days, it works well if you have enough leads...

 

[Morris]

British Thornton, non better.
I had an excellent set but seem to have misplaced it