Customer Reviews

SE Glow-in-the-Dark Brass Compass

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Sometimes cheaper priced products can work out! I ordered two of these as gifts based on the first review. The first thing I noticed was the needles seemed to drift aimlessly, certainly not north. When I removed them from the package and slightly wetted the top of the compass, they immediately pointed north, and have been ever since. The initial wandering was caused by a little residual static electricity, so don't panic if they don't seem to work while they're still packaged.

The luminous qualities are excellent, the outer luminous ring is bright enough to light up the compass rose at night. The needle is supposed to have a luminous dot on the north end of the needle. One had it, the other dot fell off the needle and floats around inside. For what I paid, I'm not even going to mention this to the seller. Here's a trick I've found over the years -- the phosphorous (the stuff that actually glows) gets more exited by short wavelength light than longer wavelength light. this means a cheap UV-LED microlight will really make these things glow very bright, and won't generate a lot of attention at night.

Also, these compasses are *liquid filled*, which gives a fairly steady reading. the compass actually rotates inside the brass housing, and with a little effort, can be pulled out. This might have some additional capabilities with this feature alone.

If they went one step further and used a card with luminous ordinal points instead of a plain steel needle, this would be a killer survival compass.

The brass case gives it slightly heavy feel, something I've associated with quality over the years.

Summary: a tad underpriced. Recommend buying a few extra in case the dot falls off.

This was purchased as an accessory to a steampunk costume being developed. While this compass is beautiful to view, if you're looking for a truly functional accessory, you may be disappointed. My chief concern about this compass is the pointer needle. The floating needle is prone to sticking against the compass base. Jolting or jarring the compass causes it to come loose but care must be given to let the needle settle without sticking further.

If you aren't looking for form with function, this is a beautiful compass. If you believe in the function and form being equal, find a better compass.

Very attractive and solidly built. Not something you'd use for wilderness survival, but adequate for general directions when traveling. Came with a California state mandated warning of carcinogens?? Maybe related to the glow-in-the-dark dial, I don't know. I don't plan to sleep with it under my pillow, anyway.

This compass couldn't find north if its life depended on it - let alone yours. I bought 3 as gifts - they have needles and look like compasses, but they point anywhere but north. In fact, none of them point in the same direction or, for that matter, the same direction twice.

How useful is a compass that doesn't point north? Not useful at all. I'm returning this puppy. I bought based on the good reviews. Not sure if I got a dud or the quality has gone down since the other reviewers posted.

This is a really nice, very attractive, substantial and well-made compass. In fact, I cannot find a more attractive compass anywhere for the price. However, there are a view things that buyers should be aware of.

First of all, the lens at top is plastic, a type of plastic that draws and retains static electricity. So, rubbing the compass can cause the needle to stick and/or go awry. Touching it with something that removes the static solves the problem quickly. But it is subject to inaccuracies because of this.

Also, because the lens is plastic, it will scratch if not handled with care. I wish this compass had come with a lid, case or pouch. I am going to have to look for one so that the instrument does not sustain damage, as I plan to carry it, from time to time, inside my purse.

Finally, the markings on the outer ring do not match up precisely with the markings on the inner ring, even when turned. And I do hope that the outer ring is supposed to turn because, if not, mine is loose. The compass is filled with mineral oil; and, if it leaks, users are instructed to discard the instrument.

Overall, I think this is a great buy. And, as mentioned before, it certainly is an attractive item. But it does have its shortcomings.

This compass can't find north to save its life. I've read several of the "5-star" reviews and decided to give this a shot. I bought this to use when traveling to replace a lost "free compass" I received from a convention. I tried "wetting the top" as one reviewer pointed out to remove "static electricity" but to no avail. My free compass worked infinitely better. This brass compass is now a faux-antique decoration sitting on top of my dresser. Save yourself some money and buy something that actually works.

I got one of these to give out as a prize during an orienteering event I'm having through geocaching.com. It really is a good looking little compass and will make someone happy. Not wanting to hand out junk I had read the reviews and saw the issue with static build up and the attendant inaccuracy issue. Sure enough, a drop of water rubbed on the face then whipped off puts the needle right back to North. I have to think its something to do with the plastic face rubbing against fabric or something. Whenever it starts to wander it comes right back if you do the water trick. A glass face would solve that, but the compass sure wouldn't be this reasonably priced! My actual field compass is much better, but then again, it cost around $80.00 instead of $8.00! I'm not sure what the folks writing the negative reviews were expecting for this price, but I'm happy with my purchase.

I ordered this recently and I was initially disappointed - the needle was at a weird diagonal angle (not parallel to the face of the compass) and I had to jiggle it quite a bit, and twist the dial extensively, to get it to move freely, and still have to be very particular about the angle I hold the compass at so the end of the needle doesn't get stuck on the face or the backing - it may be a latitude effect, I suppose, though I'm well into the temperate zone. Other than that I find it an excellent compass, and it seems to be less bulky and probably more durable than the one it replaced.

I also wish to repost the gist of my (corrected subsequent to further research) comment on Concerned Mom's review, to help ensure that prospective buyers see this: California Proposition 65 requires a warning label like the one she describes on products or areas that may expose people to either: 1) in the case of a chemical known to cause cancer in laboratory animals at SOME dose, an amount sufficient to increase a person's risk of cancer by 0.001% if exposed to that amount on a daily basis for seventy years, or 2) in the case of a chemical known to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm in laboratory animals at SOME dose, ONE THOUSANDTH of the absolute smallest amount of the chemical shown to cause "reproductive harm," ever, in humans or test animals. Additionally, since the proposition is enforced by lawsuits which tend to be expensive and difficult to defend against, and are a frequent point of attack for dirtbags confusing the civil court system with the lottery, most businesses in California will display such a warning anywhere it's conceivable that such exposure might occur, just in case. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. But I can read, and the text of Prop 65 is available on the web).

So, to be on the safe side, you probably don't want to buy a thousand of these and carry them in your pockets every day for the rest of your life. Especially if you're pregnant.

Reall cheap feeling despite being brass case. The whole front face is scratchtastic plastic with poorly printed numerals. This compass doesn't point to North worth a turd. It also does not glow in the dark for more than about a minute after being subject to an intense strobe light. Makes a great steam punk costume accessory but other than that, don't even think about depending on it.