Idlerboat
New member
i have a danforth "freedom" compass and i need to refill it but dont know what type of fluid is in it. (and it is not scotch or brandy etc
compass fluid
- Thread starter Idlerboat
- Start date
LadyInBed
Well-known member
White Spirit works well. Cheap and easy to obtain.
jollyjacktar
New member
Take care
Some compasses use an alcohol fluid, and some use an oil. If you use the wrong one the refractive index of the fluid will be wrong and may upset focus etc on prisms and compass cards, and worse still sometimes the plastic content of the compass can be adversely affected by the incorrect fluid. Best check with the manufacturer first.
I was a smart ass and decided that I could sort out one of my compasses and top it up, first the top up fluid reacted with whatever was in there and the whole thing clouded over. Emptied this out, replaced the lot with an alcohol base [clear meths, gin, or such like] and then could not focus on the card, perhaps I shoud not have sampled the gin first. So emptied the lot out in the end and took it to "an expert" as I did not have a clear oil [baby oil would have done] who claimed to know it all. He replaced it with something, non-alcoholic but either he caused some damage or I had done some or else the whole thing was an inferior product and was deteriorating any way [hence the original leak], but the plastic gave way, developed crazy pattern cracks and the whole thing eventually litterally came apart at the seams. An expensive lesson and I am still not sure what I learned.
Well so much for the DIY. Many people have success with refils. My present replacement [another brand] has not developed a similar fault. Good luck.
Some compasses use an alcohol fluid, and some use an oil. If you use the wrong one the refractive index of the fluid will be wrong and may upset focus etc on prisms and compass cards, and worse still sometimes the plastic content of the compass can be adversely affected by the incorrect fluid. Best check with the manufacturer first.
I was a smart ass and decided that I could sort out one of my compasses and top it up, first the top up fluid reacted with whatever was in there and the whole thing clouded over. Emptied this out, replaced the lot with an alcohol base [clear meths, gin, or such like] and then could not focus on the card, perhaps I shoud not have sampled the gin first. So emptied the lot out in the end and took it to "an expert" as I did not have a clear oil [baby oil would have done] who claimed to know it all. He replaced it with something, non-alcoholic but either he caused some damage or I had done some or else the whole thing was an inferior product and was deteriorating any way [hence the original leak], but the plastic gave way, developed crazy pattern cracks and the whole thing eventually litterally came apart at the seams. An expensive lesson and I am still not sure what I learned.
Well so much for the DIY. Many people have success with refils. My present replacement [another brand] has not developed a similar fault. Good luck.
Idlerboat
New member
Re: Take care
Thanks for your reply. I am familiar with the problem that you mentioned and have seen metho have the same effect on some plastics (I had a diesel fuel view guage that I did the same thing too !) Which is why I am trying to find out what was put in this particular compass (Danforth freedom) Danforth seems to have gone to the great accountant in the sky. and my own accountant says the 100 dollars aussie to get an expert to refill is out of the question.
Thanks for your reply. I am familiar with the problem that you mentioned and have seen metho have the same effect on some plastics (I had a diesel fuel view guage that I did the same thing too !) Which is why I am trying to find out what was put in this particular compass (Danforth freedom) Danforth seems to have gone to the great accountant in the sky. and my own accountant says the 100 dollars aussie to get an expert to refill is out of the question.
B
bob_tyler
Guest
The answer to your prayer? Have a look at this:
http://www.rule-industries.com/compass.htm
Should get some info here.
I'd like to know how you get on.
Bob
http://www.rule-industries.com/compass.htm
Should get some info here.
I'd like to know how you get on.
Bob
brianrunyard
New member
I've come across some that use White Spirit and some that use a mix of meths and water (distilled). Be careful the wrong fluid can disolve the markings on the card.
Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard
Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard