Trammel Points

[Tim Brosnan]

I recently started reading and researching trammel points. Not sure why but I never really focused on them and have yet to use them on a project (that might change). There are a lot of them out there across a wide range of price. Starretts, Stanleys, others - some plain and some ornate. Any collectors on here? Any tips or purchasing advice? Thanks.

[Al Launier]

They are very easy to make & can be Googled for different designs.

[Rob Luter]

I use a beam compass I bought in college 35 years ago. It came with two trammel points and a lead holder, plus a two piece beam about 30" long. Similar to this one.

http://site.unbeatablesale.com/img2003/alv667.jpg

[Jim Koepke]

My recollection is owning two pairs of trammel points, neither of which is ever used.

One is a bit different and came in a drafting set for inking a friend gave me:

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The piece at the upper right has two clamps for choice of scribing instrument and the other for a pivot point.

My other set is out in the shop and made of aluminum.

For me it is easier to drill a hole for a pencil in a piece of scrap and then put a nail in the other end. Otherwise a string with a loop for the pencil works pretty good.

If it became imperative for me to draw multiple circles of different sizes all the time, then a pair of trammel points might be more useful.

jtk

[Bill Houghton]

Although I own three* sets of trammel points, I'm with Jim as you start out: drill a hole for a pencil in a stick, and drive in a nail. See how that works.

If you find yourself using trammel points a lot in your work, I'd think about the Starrett 59A heads or some copy (General Tools, for instance, made a copy. They no longer list it, but they must have been discontinued only recently because eBay is littered with "buy it now" new ones). They're a nice robust but simple design that accepts a pencil easily. On the Starretts and the General Tools models, the points on the rods are offset, so you can make fine adjustments by turning the rods in the clamps.
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*But hey, in my defense, two of the sets were free.

[mark kosse]

Funny you posted this today. I just bought a set of stanley no 4 points today, in the original box, for 15.00. The box was clean so I splurged. I also have a craftsman set in the box. I find use for them very seldom and when I do it's with the pencil installed. The craftsman required changing the point to the pencil and the pencil has to be short. The no 4's allow the pencil to be added next to the point and it can be full size. You can make your own but a nice set in the box is fun to have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-STANLEY-Trammel-Points-No-4TP-Boxed-/322356575376?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=thVCX98Lbzs64Xrn4V9RdPVgUH8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[Paul Sidener]

I have the Veritas trammel points. They are well made work well and are affordable.

[Phillip J Allen]

If you have a wood lathe and a few bits of copper pipe, thumb screws, nut and steel rod hanging around the shop have a go at making some trammel points like I did from crab apple wood. I got this idea from an issue of Work Magazine (https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store//store/blog/work). Unfortunately I cannot remember which number!
Phil
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[Eric Brown]

The first thing to determine if you will only have one set of trammels, is the type of points appropriate for your work. The common Stanley ones (and many others) have a solid point sticking out the bottom. Accuracy is based on you moving the trammel on the beam and the sharpness of the points. More advanced versions have points that are held perpendicular but adjust up and down. Many also have offset points allowing you to fine adjust by rotating the points in the holders. They also allow replacing a point with a standard pencil for drawing. The Eclipse 33 is one such example. Then you have trammels that have knob adjusted points. Many times these come in sets that include different points, like needle, pencil or ink. They usually take loose lead points about 2mm in diameter. One such example is the C.F. Pease 538 set manufactured in Germany.

Another consideration is the beam. Some are wood that are sized to the trammel and others use a metal rod. As trammels usually aren't used often, I prefer a set that can attach to any piece of wood that fits. I also like using pencil to mark before cutting. Scribing a line in the wrong place with a metal point requires more cleanup for a smooth finish. Following are pictures of the Eclipse 33 and the Pease 538 sets.

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