Updated at: 25-09-2021 - By: Lucas

A compass is a very useful tool for finding your way in an unknown place. A magnetic north or south is a great point of reference and it will always guide you to the right direction.

Using a compass is a simple and easy way to find out where you are and where you need to go. If you are lost, all you have to do is to look at the map and then you can easily find your location.

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Magnetic Compasses

Magnetic Compass

A magnetic compass is a handy little tool for anyone who enjoys camping or hiking. It’s a simple tool that you can use to find north, south, east and west. You simply point the compass in the direction you want to go and the needle will point to the north. The red arrow points to the north; the yellow arrow points to the east; the green arrow points to the west; and the blue arrow points to the south.

You can use a magnetic compass to help you navigate your way around town too. Just hold the compass close to the metal parts of the steering wheel and the dashboard of your car and watch the needle swing around as you turn the wheel. When the needle stops pointing to the north, you’re on the straight and narrow.

Base Plate Compass

A base plate compass is a great tool for anyone who works with a group of people on a regular basis. It is basically a small metal plate with a magnet attached to one side. The other side has a circle with notches cut around the edge. 

You simply line up the notch on the circle with the north, south, east or west pole of the magnet on your work surface. Then, you simply rotate the base plate until the notch is lined up with the direction you want to go.

This makes it easy to communicate directions to someone who is confused or is following along while you are talking about what you are doing. This is especially helpful if you are giving instructions to a group of people who are working on a project together. 

A person can hold the base plate compass in his hand and simply line up the direction he wants to go. Then, he can simply rotate the base plate until the direction he wants to go is lined up with the direction shown on the compass.

Thumb Compass

Thumb Compass

A thumb compass is a simple tool that is very helpful when you are trying to locate an exact point on your body. It is a little metal or plastic device that fits into the palm of your hand. It has a short thin needle that points to the 12 o’clock position on your hand. This type of tool is used for locating the exact center of an object such as the nipple of a breast or the belly button of a person.

It can also be used for finding the center of your hand which is located at the base of your thumb. You can use this tool to help you learn to draw hands and other simple shapes. It will also come in handy if you are learning to shoot pool or play other types of handball games. Thumb compasses are inexpensive and they are easy to find at any department store.

Solid State Compass

A solid state compass is a great little gadget to help you orient yourself when you are lost. It is basically a small compass with a LCD screen on the face of the compass instead of a needle. The needle is still there and it points in the direction you are facing, but the LCD screen shows you the direction you are facing relative to true north.

This compass will also show you what direction you are facing in relation to magnetic north. This is especially helpful if you are a hunter or an outdoorsman who relies on a compass to get him from point A to point B. You can also use this compass to determine which way the wind is blowing or which way the Earth’s magnetic field is pointing.

Non-magnetic Compasses

A non-magnetic compass is a great tool for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. A compass will help you find your way no matter what kind of terrain you’re in. It’s easy to use and it’s always with you.

You don’t have to worry about losing your original packaging or having to search for a battery or any other type of power supply. A compass doesn’t need any type of maintenance and it will work just as good year after year.

GPS Compass

GPS Compass

A GPS compass is a great little tool for any traveler. It allows you to keep track of your location and helps you get back on course if you do happen to wander off. It also has a very useful feature for hunters. If you are a hunter or know someone who is, then you need to get one of these for your gear.

What it does is, it gives you an arrow that points to the north. This means that if you are lost, or just need to find your way back to the road, you can use this little gadget to point you in the right direction. It works with all types of GPS devices.

Baseplate Compass

A baseplate compass is a great tool for any handyman or do-it-yourselfer. This tool is especially useful for laying out flat surfaces like wood or concrete. It is an essential tool for carpenters, masons, and anyone else who works with or on these types of materials.

This is a small compass with a steel frame, a black finish and a white face. It has an opening in the center of the face that allows you to attach a straightedge guide. The baseplate compass also has a folding handle that is made from durable plastic. 

This tool is very lightweight and easy to carry around. You can use it to lay out flat surfaces or as a general compass. It is a must-have tool for any handyman or do-it-yourselfer.

Card Compass

Card Compass

A card compass is a small, inexpensive little tool that can be used to help you locate the exact center of a circle. You can use it to lay out a circle or square on a surface like a table or floor. After that, you can use the card compass to find the exact center of the shape.

You can then use that exact point as a reference to draw or layout a concentric circle or square around the original center point. This makes it easy to lay out a pattern for something like a flower or a sunburst. Card compasses are very handy little tools. They’re easy to find at any store that carries a good supply of housewares. You can get one for a couple of bucks at most any store.

Thumb Compass

A thumb compass is a small, flat metal tool with a straight edge and a curved edge. It is used to draw circles and squares and sometimes other geometric shapes. The curved edge is used to mark off the radius of a circle. A straight edge is used to make a fixed point for a line of measurement. The point where the two edges meet is the center of the circle.

A good way to remember how to use a thumb compass is to imagine you are holding it between your thumb and forefinger with the curved edge resting against the side of your hand. Your thumb is on the end of the straight edge and your forefinger is on the end of the curved edge. This is the starting position. 

Now, simply move your thumb back and forth along the straight edge until the circle is complete. Then, move your thumb up or down along the curved edge until a line is drawn. You can mark off squares or rectangles in the same way.

Lensatic Compass

Lensatic Compass

A lensatic compass is a great little tool for the handyman or do-it-yourselfer. It’s basically a small compass with a magnifying glass attached to the top. This allows you to easily see the needle point to direction without having to turn the entire compass around to find north. You just hold the compass directly over what you are trying to locate and the needle will point to the north.

This is a must-have gadget for any man who enjoys doing things himself. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket or toolbox, but it has a powerful enough magnet to be able to find north even if the metal object around which you are using the compass is ferrous (iron-based).

Prismatic Compass

A prismatic compass is very similar to a standard magnetic compass, except that it has an additional dial at the bottom of the compass that displays the declination. This tells you how much the needle is off from true north. The declination can range from 0 to plus or minus 30 degrees.

If you are a serious outdoor enthusiast or hunter, then you should definitely have one of these handy. It will save your life! A lot of people don’t realize that even though they are living in a “compass-friendly” part of the country, you cannot always assume that the magnetic north of your vehicle or other compass is aligned with true north.

Gyrocompass

Gyrocompass

A gyrocompass is an electronic compass which uses a spinning gyroscopic sensor instead of a magnetic north sensor. This eliminates the need for a mechanical needle which can break or freeze up.

A gyrocompass is accurate to within a few degrees even when the vehicle it is mounted in is moving. It has very low power requirements and can be powered by either a battery or an AC/DC adapter. It comes in two varieties, digital and analog. The digital type has a small LCD display showing the direction in degrees. The analog type has a rotating compass rose which indicates direction in a conventional way.

FAQS

What Is the Most Accurate Compass?

The best compass for accuracy is a compass that is kept away from magnetic fields, which can deflect or change the compass readings. 

To do this, simply keep your compass away from any metal objects in your vehicle, such as fender brackets, license plates, hubcaps, etc. Also, when you are using a handheld compass (not a car compass), make sure it is not near a large magnet.

How Much Does a Good Compass Cost?

Compass prices range from less than $10 to well over $100. You should look around at compass prices because you can find some good deals at some good compass sites.

What Is the Best Compass?

The best compass you can buy for yourself is one that fits your budget and your needs. You should choose a compass that fits your budget and your needs. It does not matter what other people say about the best compass because different people have different needs and different budgets.

Who invented the points of a compass and when?

In the 10th century, the Chinese invented a compass powered by a magnetic needle floating in a pool of water. The compass pointed north. This was a primitive form of a compass.

Conclusion

A compass is a great tool for finding north. It is very important for a person who wants to go to a different country. Without the right kind of compass, it will be almost impossible for a person to reach his/her destination.

So, make sure you know how to use a compass and how to interpret the different symbols on it. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be able to use a compass with ease.