Does anyone make a good compass/pencil scribe anymore?

[srmofo]

Ive been looking for a decent pencil scribe, but cant find one at any of the home box stores. Ive looked on amazon but have only come up with starrett dividers for $150.

The general brand scribes that Ive found are complete piles of ****, completely worthless.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[RivennHewn]

Have you checked Lee Valley/ Veritas?

Or this little guy:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17347&site=ROCKLER

 

[Hammer1963]

I would like to have a decent set myself as well. Maybe an Art supply or Drafting supply co. You can probably find them in the UK or Germany

 

[2oolhound]

I bought starretts for $35 -40 bucks in the 70's with the 2 way levels on them. I can't believe how expensive they've gotten. They are nice and solid.

 

[jjjrmx5]

How big of a circle are you looking to scribe/mark?

Most hobby stores and schools stores only carry them up to 3" radius or so.

I keep several German made beam compasses around with a german pen/penci/scribe holder that will do a 2' radius and a 4' radius with the second beam and connector attached.

They are not overly expensive and found at most good art stores or via dickblick.com

If doing wood working or big metal work I like to source Alum channel and set up a custom sliding scribe to mark lines or when using with marking blue dye aka Dykem or scribers blue.

 

[HenryAZ]

This C.S. Osborne divider is what I always used for layout when I worked in a millwork shop. I still have several in my "retired woodworking" toolbox. 5" and 6" models.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Fastcap.

TheGrooveking

 

[srmofo]

How big of a circle are you looking to scribe/mark?

Most hobby stores and schools stores only carry them up to 3" radius or so.

I keep several German made beam compasses around with a german pen/penci/scribe holder that will do a 2' radius and a 4' radius with the second beam and connector attached.

They are not overly expensive and found at most good art stores or via dickblick.com

If doing wood working or big metal work I like to source Alum channel and set up a custom sliding scribe to mark lines or when using with marking blue dye aka Dykem or scribers blue.

I honestly dont need it for drawing circles at this point. I have just been doint a lot of trim work in an old house and as such have been scribing lots of small imperfections. I will have to check some art stores. Micheals as the same **** as the home improvement stores and I honestly didnt know what brand to even shop for. I also didnt want to just plop $30-$40 on a product online that I cant handle first because of fear of getting the same **** at a multitude of a higher price.

 

[CWP1616L]

Fastcap.

TheGrooveking

This one?

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=7&idcategory=3

 

[TheGrooveking]

This one?


http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=7&idcategory=3

Yes, that one.

TheGrooveking

 

[BWS]

HenryAZ shows what we use in woodworld......removable leg gets swapped out for pencil,for most chores.Theres a small General model that seems to be everybody's favorite for...uhhh,small work.

Layout in WW uses same,highend dividers as machineshop....Starrets,B&S,etc.Some old trammel points for medium sized arcs.And shopmade rigs for the really big chit.I made 52' diameter Oak arches as part of my whole milljob in a Catholic church years ago......So yes,the "swings" can get rather significant.

Sheet metal world sees some nice old pexto scribes/deviders.They're usually of a size up from Henry's....I don't have any,but they're still around if you're diligent in your searches.Good luck.


Oh yeah,our "drafting" tools stay at the design table.....IMO,they're almost worthless in shop.

 

[rick carpenter]

This one?

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=7&idcategory=3

Geez those are big, must be a Li-ion battery in there somewhere.

 

[Solo]

I have this set from when I was in college. Mine are German stainless steel.
This is the same company I ordered them from 25 years ago.
http://www.dataprint.com/store/p-18773-alvin-compact-bow-compass-and-divider-drawing-set-608k.aspx

Solo

 

[sailcat]

Woodcraft has a compass just for scribing called the AccuScribe Pro #147402 for $17.99.


http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2005886/18181/accuscribe-pro.aspx

 

[kythri]

I can't say that I've really payed attention to this kind of stuff, as I'm not familiar with the various applications of the tool, and how it would benefit me, but, I frequent a couple of independent stationery stores, and they typically seem to have a lot of this kind of stuff (and I've seen similar stuff when there) that isn't carried by Staples/OfficeMax/OfficeDepot.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you have any surviving Drafting supply stores you can give then a try. Staples has a modest selection of drafting tools and may have a decent compass/divider set.