Author Topic: Swinging needles  (Read 2795 times)

Alan Breck

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Swinging needles
« on: December 11, 2011, 10:37:30 AM »
Just curious really.

Why is it that some compass needles are more damped than others? Is it the fluid? Does a dampened needle cost more to produce? Why can't all compasses be produced with a needle that doesn't swing all over the place?

And finally what's the best compass as regards a nice steady dampened needle?

Anyone know?

Gosh that's a lot of questions for a Sunday morning. ::)

adi

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Re: Swinging needles
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2011, 11:35:15 AM »
Hi Alan

Good quality compasses from the big companies such as Suunto and Silva use high grade mineral oils to dampen their compasses and have high quality pins for the needle to pivot on giving a very smooth movement where as other companies use lesser quality oils and even water. 
"We do not belong to those who only get their thought from books, or at the prompting of books - it is our custom to think in the open air, walking, leaping, climbing or dancing, of lonesome mountains by preference, or close to the sea, where even the paths become thoughtful." Friedrich Nietzsche

Alan Breck

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Re: Swinging needles
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2011, 07:45:07 PM »
Perhaps but not all my compasses including Silva have the same dampening so is it the grade of oil.............Duckhams 20/50 preferred. ;D