Graphical Construction Glossary >> Tools. >> Hand Tools >> Wing Compass

Compass

A drawing instrument used for drawing circles and arcs.

Wing Compass

A compass, often large, for scribing arcs and circles, with an arced wing that helps to steady the legs in use, and with a locking screw on the arc to hold the legs firmly in position.

A couple of sets of bronze compasses and a set square. Ancient Greek tools that are still being copied and used with little change today. These ones are on display in the Science Museum in London.

This large wrought iron compass could quite easily be a few hundred years old. Photographed at the 12Th century Cressing Temple Barns in Essex, UK. (The timber wall plate behind is about 10" x 10" and the vertical 8" x 8").
Despite it's age this wing-compass will still do the work it was built for. It will scribe a circle about 4ft diameter.
It can of course be used for other things than scribing arcs. It can be used for stepping off a series of equal spaces very quickly. It can by trial and error be used for dividing a line or arc into any number of equal parts. Anything larger than that then it is time to use a beam compass or trammel. The link here goes to a page that expands on the usefulness of these tools.

A modern wing compass from Rockler.

The main thing that makes the compass above better than standard ones is the fact that the leg that moves under the curved bar can be locked firmly in position. Thus helping to retain the setting over many uses. A quick check now and again, is basic good practice with any tool like this, but with tools like this they rarely need adjustment.

If you live in the US and you like the look of it find out more on the Rockler site page.

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