Tired of drawing imperfect circles? It can be frustrating ending up with lopsided circles because the compass that you are using is of lo quality and/or has a loose hinge. This applies from high school students all of the way up to engineering, architecture, and design professionals, and you can be guaranteed that you are not going to end up with the result you want if you are using low-quality equipment. Tools like protractors, scales, set squares, and of course compasses all aid the drafting process. This is why we have compiled the five best compasses for drafting, so that you have a concise list of quality options.
Now, while there has been a huge shift towards Computer Aided Design (CAD) in the last 10 years, drafting by hand still has its place in the world. That means that you will have put down the budget geometric set that you picked up and put some thought into what you are buying. Rulers take care of straight lines, and this is simple process as it is just a straight line. However, compasses are a little more complicated, and required some tight tolerances in order to produce a good end product.
There are what seems like thousands of different brands of compasses, but you must focus on good reviews from past buyers, and good materials in order to choose the best tool for you. Let’s go through our list of the best compasses for drafting.
5 Best Compasses for Drafting
Be prepared to be satisfied at the perfect circles you will be drawing when you pick up any of the below models!
Staedtler Comfort Compass
In our humble opinion, this offering from Staedtler (a very established brand in stationery) is the best all round option for you in terms of ease of use, flexibility, and precision. As engineers, we are all about precision and this model will not let you down in that regard. It constructed from plastic and zinc, but don’t think that because it is made from plastic that it is cheap or flimsy. This tool has a good weight to it, and you can feel through use that it is robust. It it smooth to move in graceful circles and the anchor point is sharp enough so that it doesn’t move.
The size of your circles can either be slightly adjusted by slowly moving the central wheel or using the sliding buttons on either side. Each arm’s lower half can be bent to maximize convenience when drawing a circle. Extra lead attachments come with the compass, along with an adapter that can grab normal items like pencils etc.
Mr. Pen Professional Compass
Do not get intimidated by all of the extras that come with this professional compass from Mr. Pen. It is actually quite easy to use and features some nice functionality at a great price. The basic design is similar to the previous option, with two arms (one with a point, and one with a lead), that are adjusted by either quick-sliding buttons or a central wheel. Again, the arms can be bent for easier circle drawing, although be aware that they can sometimes get a little loose and bend when you are not expecting it. To combat this, a small screwdriver is provided so that you can ensure that all of the joints are tightened to your desired setting.
The lead tip can again be swapped for an adapter that can fit a number of pencils and pens, or there is also an extender that will allow you to draw huge circles. When using this extender be gentle, as the increased length can make it a little unstable.
Alvin Introductory Bow Compass
If simplicity is what you want, then the Alvin Introductory Bow Compass could be for you. With no bells and whistles, this is just a reliable compass that will get the job done for you. One arm holds the lead tip with the other posses a sharp needle, and both arms are constructed from unbendable silver zinc and have fiberglass heads. The central wheel is again utilized to adjust the size of the circle, with this model being able to draw circles from one eighth of a inch, to 12 inches in diameter. This compass is robust and will last you for years, and with its resistance to slipping, it will continue to produce great results over time.
Offidea Woodworking Compass
Need to draw huuuge circles? That’s where the Offidea Woodworking Compass comes into play. It is a heavy-duty, robust compass that is made for the most demanding of projects. This compass can draw massive circles and arches for you all day long, without any decrease in performance or adjusting needed. It is constructed of thick carbon steel, and it about 12 inches long, so it won’t be slipping out of your grasp very easily. Pull the arms to open up the circle, or push them to close it, it’s as simple as that. One arm has a point that is specially designed to grip leather, wood, and other materials, while the other arm has a place where you screw a pencil or other drawing utensil in.
Rotape Tape Compass
Our wildcard on the list, you might not have ever seen a compass like this before, but that does not mean that it might not suit your needs perfectly. The Rotape Tape Compass is a combination of a compass and a tape measure, to ensure that you have perfectly sized circles every single time. It features a retractable tape that have both imperial and metric measurements, and at the end is a holder for lead. To use it, you simply pull the lead holder out to the desired length (i.e. radius of the circle) anchor the length in place, and draw your circle. The pin that hold the body of the tool does have to be pushed into the drawing surface, but the mark it leaves is barely noticeable.
One slightly awkward thing about this compass is that comes with included leads, and once they run out you will have to try and source the same size replacements, there are no adapters for pencils or anything. This will also take some practice to perfect, as the tape that connects the main body and lead is flexible, but the results that you get are amazing. Did we mention that you can draw circles up to six feet with this compass!
Thank you very much for being here – we appreciate you taking the time to read our content. So, what are your opinions on the above choices in our list of the best compasses for drafting? Will you be picking up any of these models, or is there one that you use that you feel belongs on this list? MEHQ would love to hear from you in the comments below! And sign up to our newsletter for more of the same content!
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