Compass air bubbles

[demographic]

Post up the makes and models of the compasses so we know what not to buy, and complain to the manufacturer, maybe get an induction damped Lensatic Cammenga that doesn't use fluid to damp its movement down or something?

Not tried them mind, just heard they are good.

 

[Mang]

I've got a small Recta compass with a bubble in but luckily it still works.

 

[Schwert]

Unless the bubble is huge, I doubt that it actually came into the compass from a leak....it more likely resulted from dissolved gas in the oil coming out of solution.

I find putting a compass in a warm place generally puts the bubble back into solution. Unfortunately anytime the compass gets cold or goes to high altitude the bubble can return.

My Brunton compass is completely unreliable at altitude (made by Silva). This is due to improper compass design where a small bubble prevents the compass card from turning. Small bubbles in my needle compasses do not interfer with the needle swing generally.

If I keep my Suunto or Silva compass in my shirt pocket as I go to altitude I almost never get a bubble as the fluid is warm.

I would try warming this in the sun or a water bath to force the bubble back into solution. It will likely not work if the bubble is very large though.

 

[therackals]

I spoke to Silva some time back. They use ordinary liquid paraffin oil to fill it. Drill very small hole on corner,I found it useful to file a tiny notch to help stop the drill skidding, top up and reseal with soldering iron. I used minute PCB drill and my mums spare insulin needle. A friend suggested cooling compass and oil in fridge before refill to account for normal camping conditions. Killed one recovered two.
Hayden

 

[Ogri the trog]

Customer support comments like those are not going to breed good feeling amongst the community in which their equipment is used, I'm supprised to hear them. Certainly wont put me off using cheaper compasses which I have found to be of equal ability.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[demographic]

Customer support comments like those are not going to breed good feeling amongst the community in which their equipment is used, I'm supprised to hear them. Certainly wont put me off using cheaper compasses which I have found to be of equal ability.

ATB

Ogri the trog

Exactly, assuming that its not caused by operator neglect they should be doing something to sort out these compasses and if the exact make and models are "Named and shamed" we might know what to avoid.

 

[crazyclimber]

Customer support comments like those are not going to breed good feeling amongst the community in which their equipment is used, I'm supprised to hear them. Certainly wont put me off using cheaper compasses which I have found to be of equal ability.

I agree about the customer service - not good at all. I would say though to be careful with some of the cheapie ones. I had one from Millets a few years back that was unbelievably sluggish turning and would stop 5 - 10 degrees before reaching North. A replacement one of the same type was identical. Pays to check them before use, especially if you're going to use them for critical nav.

Wayland - no advice I'm afraid. Never had a bubble... what do you do to them?!