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Frosty Compass

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thaind
Navigator

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Canada
145 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2005 : 12:24:42

I have a 4" or so Danforth compass that has gone unreadably frosty over the years. I have been told that extra brightening toothpaste works, but found that the brand I used didn't.

Any ideas from the world of knowledge?

Thanks

Derek Thain 78 TR FK "PASSAGES"

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 12:38:04

Try a motorcycle shop. A lot of bikes have a plastic wind screen and you can buy a compound that works to restore the plastic. If I recall it would come in three levels of abrasivness, the other possibility is to get some jewler's rouge. It is a very fine powdered polish that would brighten up the lense on your compass. Make a paste of it with a little water and rub in a circular motion. My dad who was a varnish lover would do the mahagony with 600 wet followed by jewler's rouge. "what a shine"

BTW Derek, Where is Prescott? I'm on Neebish Island and the border with Canada is about 100 yds off the end of my dock. I look at St. Joseph's Island all summer long. I hope these new proposed border regulations don't hinder us from cruising in each other's waters.
I know that many of the towns along the North Channel depend heavily on cruising traffic from the states. It would be a shame to see that end.

All the best and good luck with your compass,

Edited by - John V. on 04/12/2005 10:41:21

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 12:59:12

I second the jewler's rouge but it can take over an hour to polish a watch crystal so I would take the opportunuity to trade up on the compass. Since I got my GPS I do not use my Plastimo.

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 18:05:49

My compass looked hazy and crazed several years ago and I used some chrome and stainless steel polish on it. It worked very well. Haven't redone it for at least a year. I think the combination of the abasive and the wax in the the polish combined to give a great result.

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2005 : 02:16:53

I had my san Juan 24 and the compass was so cloudy you could not even read it, I posted this on there site when I did the fix I will post it here. It does work just takes the time and you will be very happy and proud when it is done.

Any help for cleaning or sanding the face of a cloudy compass. the
acrylic material that the compass is made of is getting cloudy from
being in the sun all of the time. It will cost 100.00 to replace,
and I have thought of getting some MICRO MESH wet/dry sanding paper.
This is the same stuff American Airlines uses to fix scraches in
there Airplane windshields. The paper comes in a 2000, 3000, and
5000 grit.

Chris McKillip
DC 586

So I have taken the plunge into the unknown. I ripped apart my
compass 2 nights ago. taking the Compass oil and puting it into a
glass container. removing the clear (right!!!) glass off of the
front of the compass. I have spydering on my compass to. SO I got
out the 600 wet and dry and started sanding away 30 min. Now my
compass is so cloudy it looks like it could rain in there.(2) I used
rubbing compound and a foam 5" pad attached to my sander that has a
speed adjustment. the drill at this stage would get the plastic too
hot. Around 1 hour. (3) Into the bathroom I went and got the tube of
toothpaste. back out to the garage and started again with the foam
pad. around 1 hour. THEN THE FINAL POLISH I cut up one of my
favorite flanel shirts. Very soft and attached it to the sander
base. then using extra virgin olive oil and a light touch polished
the 30 year old compass back to life. put the Compass oil back in
the compass, and mounted it back in the plastic case. TADA

Chris McKillip
DC 586
PS my wife thinks it was new off of ebay :)

1. I took mine apart 8 bolts on front w/ metal ring and 8 on back
2. Drained oil
3. Cleaned every thing w/ water. Very carefully
4. took the plexiglass 1/2 globe and sanded it w/ 600 wet&dry (wet)
(#4 eta was 45min to 1hr. plexi is very dull and cloudy.)
5. Polishing Compound 30 to 45 min.
6. wash off with soap
7. Toothpaste (was some king of orange gell with sparkly things)
(#7 eta 1hr at least glass has a dull reflection, this is how I knew
when to stop by the reflection of the light in the glass.
8. Olive oil w/flanel shirt for pollishing 30 to 45 min.

Now last night I took the compass back apart because I still had
some alligatoring in the glass. and repeated the whole process
again. I also went to pepboys and bought a chemical polish (I can't
give this information to you all, its top secret.) no it is called
Liquid glass Pre Cleaner 8fl. it was $9.00.
so get it right the first time.

1. 600 w/d
2. Polishing Compound
3. Tooth Paste
4. Olive Oil w Flanel
5. Liquid Glass
6. Cleaned the card with Liquid Glass.
7. washed everything off and let it dry. Dont mix water and oil
8. put it all back together except for the back of the unit
(bladder and cover.)
9. Filled the unit to the top of the bladder with Wisconsin
hardwoods Snow River products Wood Oil (minerial oil) takes 24oz.
10. put bladder and back on the compass.
11. Held over the sink and with a small poker added more oil in the
top screw while pushing on the bladder to remove the air.
12. I hade an off white housing that was stained bretty good I put
this in a pan with bleach and a #3 on the stove slow cooked it clean.
13. final assembly.

Let me say this (being serious) the compass looks 150 time better
than before. I can read all of the numbers and it is very clear.
I am very pleased that I have restored the compass even thoe the
time involved and the labor of the job I could have just bought one.
But this is why I bought a fixer upper vs a new boat.

Happy sailing
Chris Mckillip
DC 586

YOU Can view the compass at
www.chdsi.com/compass.htm

Edited by - on

thaind
Navigator

Members Avatar

Canada
145 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2005 : 16:05:12

Thanks for all the help. Will try your suggestions. I got a handheld mapping GPS so may not be using compass much anyway.

Prescott is across from Ogdensburg NY on the Saint Lawrence river. It features a Fort built by the Duke of Wellington to defend us from the American hoards in the war of 1812. New regulations seem to indicate that perceptions have changed, and we are now viewed as the threat to you.

Thanks again

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2005 : 11:20:44

Derek,
Actually one of my distant relatives was one of the mis-guided "horde" who stormed the windmill just upstream? of Ft. Wellington. Fortunately at 14 he was young enough to be deported rather than legally tried. In my younger days, I recall watching from a 16ft Tanzer day-sailor anchored either near Prescott or Brockville the coordinated fireworks from both the Canadian and US shores in celebration of our respective independent days...awesome!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2005 : 12:09:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glivs
 I recall watching from a 16ft Tanzer day-sailor anchored either near Prescott <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I loved my Tanzer 16.

Edited by - on

thaind
Navigator

Members Avatar

Canada
145 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2005 : 11:30:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glivs
 Derek,
Actually one of my distant relatives was one of the mis-guided "horde" who stormed the windmill just upstream? of Ft. Wellington. Fortunately at 14 he was young enough to be deported rather than legally tried. In my younger days, I recall watching from a 16ft Tanzer day-sailor anchored either near Prescott or Brockville the coordinated fireworks from both the Canadian and US shores in celebration of our respective independent days...awesome!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Great story! The Windmill is a mile downstream of Prescott and the Battle actualy happened in 1838. My boat is kept another mile down stream at the Bridgeview Marina.

Edited by - on

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