Heirloom Brass Compass

Made entirely from brass and steel, this layout tool is sure to be the perfect addition to any shop. If the thought of working with brass and steel seems a little intimidating, don’t worry. There’s really not a whole lot of difference from working with wood. The metals we selected for this project are easily machinable with common woodworking tools you probably already have in your shop. The brass can be cut on a band saw with a standard wood-cutting blade. A hacksaw works well to cut the steel. Files clean up the cut edges. The only real difference is that instead of using glue to hold parts together, you’ll use solder. If you’ve ever sweated a copper pipe fitting, you’ll find the process much the same.