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What are compasses filled with?

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TRogers
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/08/2005 : 14:28:55

My compass has a rather significant bubble (void?) in it.

Assuming I can figure out how to open it and fill it up, what liquid is normally inside the compass? Distilled water? An oil?

Tom Rogers
Tack n Two
Spokane, WA

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1774 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2005 : 14:33:41

Hi Tom,

I'm not sure, but I think it is mineral oil ... 'hope someone else can confirm that ... I don't want to give you a bum steer

Edited by - on

bren737
Captain

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291 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2005 : 16:15:59

Buzz, Tom --

I found this on the Ritchie web site:

What type of fluid is in my Ritchie Magnetic Compass?

Until 2001, all Ritchie compasses (see exception) were filled with odorless mineral spirits. Ritchie now uses a fluid called Isopar L ® that has similar properties but with some added benefits over Odorless Mineral Spirits. These can be mixed together.

Exception: Some old style Flat Top Compasses used an Isopropyl Alcohol and water mix. This process was stopped in the 1960’s. If you have a Flat Top Compass it is recommended that you test the fluid to see if it is odorless mineral spirits or Isopropyl Alcohol.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2005 : 22:08:47

I did that once using mineral spirits. Be careful. The fluid I used damped the compass too much. I wound up sending it out. It wasn't very expensive as I recall, but that was many moons ago.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2005 : 08:56:55

Ridding my compass' bubble was one of the least favorite things I've done in a lifetime

Yes mineral oil was the fluid used and getting SOME of it in the compass was cute. Nothing more exasperating than trying to tame an oil soaked orb with oil soaked hands that have a modicum of essential tremmor complicating things

. Putting the compass in a large ZIP LOCK bag filled some with oil helped the project along.

The new compass wasn't that expensive

Val on Calista # 3936

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2005 : 14:15:35

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

ronrryan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 22:06:58

Regarding toothpaste as a polisher, many (many!) years ago we used to polish the reflectors on auto headlites in the dark (literally) ages before "sealed beam" headlites. Some folks used toothpaste, I have in the past used (gasp) cigar ashes, made into a paste. Gives some of you an excuse to buy another corona corona, fair winds...just returned from an Alaska cruise on Sun Princess, whilst up looking at Glacier Bay, there was a guy in a catalina 30 or a bit bigger right up at the end with the cruise ship, eyebal;ling the glacier, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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