Compass fluid?

Wayward_Son

Wayward_Son

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British Columbia, Canada
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I have just been given an antique Dirigo gimballed compass in wood box and it is low on fluid. The fluid smells like kerosene, but I am hesitant to use my nose to choose a fluid.

Is there a specific fluid I should be looking for?
 
contact SIRS Navigation
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Mineral oil is not likely to smell like kerosene.

Some compasses contain white spirit. That smells similar to kerosene. Stevebirch2002, in his post on here yesterday, says he learnt that his old Sestrel used "clear paraffin".

Sometime ago when we examined barbeque lighting flud in the lab. we came to the conclusion that it was almost the same (Infra red spectrum I think) as paraffin so I would cautiously suggest it as a soucre of clear paraffin (or kerosene).

The soundest advice of all is to contact a compass repairer such as Sirs Navigation,
as already suggested or BPSC Marine,who contibutes to this forum. Using the wrong fluid could be disasterous.

You could check candidate fluids against the original by mixing small samples of the two. If they mix invisibly they are almost certain to be the same but if you can distinctly see the two liquids as they mix, due to having different refactive indices, then they are definitely not the same. A laboratory test tube is the ideal vessel --- everybody has a rack of test tubes don't they.
 
Thanks! I would tend to believe it to be the clear paraffin, however, since the manufacturer is still enjoying a good existence, I'll get confirmation from one of their licenced repair shops out here. I asked because I thought there may be a generic fluid that was used. It is a real nice four inch compass.
 
Good idea. Not worth taking any risks with a decent compass. All sorts of fluid have been used including alcohol. Bayol (an ESSO product) is another but now not available.

Sorry I should have looked at your location before suggesting Uk companies.
 
Loads of past posts on this topic. I used white spirit and it was first rate and cheap - 4 years since I did and the compass is still fine
If it were me I would get down to B&Q for the old white spirit
Martin
 
White spirit is a solvent and could remove the numbering from the card. Better to use the correct compass oil. Mny modern compasses use plastic moulded cards but the older ones used painted metal cards.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
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