How To Make A Compact Compass

Need to draw small circles? Too cheap to buy a compass? Make your own! Here's how.
Plan here:

[akilrl]

And again i found another woodworker podcast over seas to follow. I especially like your style. Greetings from the land of thousand lakes!

[erwinwoenckhaus]

I have not seen such a simple but -at the same time- useful device before, thanks for sharing!

Kind greetings from Chile.

[HickLif]

I saw this in your new router cabinet video and had to come find it. Very simple and easy project! You also look like you walked right out of the 80s in this video lol.

[synapse]

Pretty ingenious little device! You come up with great stuff John. Kudos!

[JohnHeisz]

Keen eye you have there. Thanks for watching.

[BobHerres]

Great Idea, I think I`d seen this before on your channel, but I saw you using it again on your 4 Post Adjustable Drill Press Puzzle. Thank you for sharing your all solid experience & creative imagination.

[CosmasBauer]

I have a nice steel compass in my shop but I don't really like it there because its much more effort to keep the lead sharp than it is to sharpen a pencil. Also it is tippy when drawing small circles. Good idea John, I'm going to give it a try!

[rickstdt]

Very good, I really enjoy the smaller scale projects you come up with

[JayBates]

Yes, to both questions in the description. Useful project.

[JohnHeisz]

Good idea! It does slip right into the pencil hole.

[daveramirez]

Very simple design that works great!! Perfect for my skill level. Love your ideas, keep them coming!!

Dave Ramirez
Pensacola, Florida

[vincent]

So John did it again !
Wonderful idea !
Thanks for sharing.

[JohnHeisz]

No, you can still do yours, and I'll be looking forward to see what you come up with.

[canusakommando]

John I do enjoy your gear. your stuff is functional and kool.
I'm a knife maker and I found your otf wood knife design simple. please take that as a compliment. Simple will beat fancy 9 of 10 times. please keep up with your designs.
Thank you
Sensei G.S.Gibbs

[jeremeyweeks]

Seen you use this enough times--going to make it. Thanks much!

[zobook]

I know that that can be "sacrilegious" he he he (is just an idea) but for some small projects or people w/o many tools that do some work on the weekends may find useful some cheap plastic compass that came with a hole to stick a pencil through. It may even allow you to use a white pencil on dark colored wood. If you like, there are more expensive (metal) ones.
I just found your channel, great videos John

[gaillong]

Very nice tool.  I had a bit of a time getting the nail to bend correctly the first time.  Thanks for the video.

[steinie]

Nice. I was working on a small compass, but you beat me to the punch.. Ha Ha. I like the fact that it lays flat.

[JohnHeisz]

The plans are on my website, just like it says in the description - there's a clickable link there. I also mentioned that in the video and put a clickable annotation in the video itself that takes you directly to the plans.
I don't know how I could be more helpful, other than showing up at your door with them.

[JohnHeisz]

Thanks. There's gotta be a few kids that like making stuff, but they seem to be few and far between.