Compass Oil

[bigmart]

I have just aquired a new (To Me) Boat which has a Bosun Compass.

The compass has a fairly large bubble but there looks to be a hole for refilling.

Does anyone have experience of this?

Where do I get the Oil ?

 

[ccscott49]

I seem to remember this question coming up before, try a search, but I think Turps substitue was the thing most use. SIRS, a company in Kent I believe. Do compass repairs and manufacture the old Sestrel range, they would know for sure.

 

[bigmart]

Thanks for the info.

I'll try as you suggest.

 

[pvb]

Please don\'t...

SIRS actually stands for "Slowest Instrument Repair Speed". When my compass needed repair, I took it to SIRS, and then chased, and chased, and chased, and chased. Eventually, SIRS offered to sell me a new compass instead of repairing my existing one, because they were apparently so busy. I continued to press for completion of the agreed repair, and eventually it was done. But I'd be very cautious about using them again.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Please don\'t...

I would also be very wary after that littler episode. I only meant to get advice fromthem reference the right fluid, I didn'yt think he'd need them for repairs. I have three sestrel compasses on board, I hope they don't need repairing!!

 

[Guest]

Old compasses were dampened with the use of Glycerine, this is still used for pressure indicating gauges and should be easily available from any instrument manufacture, you may even get it from a chemist, just do'nt mention bombs !

Ed

 

[ozzyb]

I asked this question myself a couple of months ago after someone mentioned using baby oil. It seems a lot of people recommend using either white spirit or baby oil. I repaired my contest compass using liquid parrafin, available from chemists. Apparently this is exactly what Plastimo used in manufacturing, the distictive smell of the existing oil matches this. The biggest problem was getting hold of a syringe in order to inject the spirit through the small hole. You'll need to take the compass off it's mount and rotate as necessary in order to keep the filling point at the top.
Some recommend putting the compass in the freezer for a few hours before filling. I think this helps by not allowing the bellows to over expand also it allows any tiny bubbles to be absorbed when it warms up. I've had no problems since. Good Luck

 

[Gaffer]

I thaught that compasses were supplosed to have an air bubble to allow for the expansion of the oil if it gets hot, otherwise it will fracture.

 

[pugwash]

I had the same problem a few months ago. Contacted SIRS by e-mail and got the info I needed by return. Ordered a bottle of oil by e-mail and it arrived in two days. No problem. I'm afraid I've lost the address but I found it on Google. If it's oil required, as probably it is, you can check by leaking a little on your fingertips and rubbing them, or putting some drops on paper. Also see previous posts for info on putting compass and oil in the fridge before you top it up, so the last little bubble disappears.

 

[bigmart]

Thank you all for your help

Thank you all for your help.

Regards

Big Mart

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Please don\'t...

Or should that be "SLOWEST INSTRUMENT REPAIR SERVICE"
Trevor