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View Full Version : A Finial for Mr. Starrett


Jim Koepke
03-31-2018, 2:06 PM
There must be something in people's DNA that makes them not only take things apart, but then lose the parts.

It seems most of the time a pair of dividers crosses my path if it had a finial at one time it is now missing.

The other day while hunting for odd hardware in a Wilco store a drawer of lamp hardware was discovered. One of the things was a knurled brass nut for the switch. It was marked as having a 4-36 thread (if my memory is working). To me it seemed it would be easy to re-tap this for a 4-40 fastener. So it was purchased and taken home to install on a recent find:

382798

It surely will not fool anyone into thinking it is the original, but it makes using the dividers a bit easier. Now to go back and pick up a couple more for some other dividers in need of a finial.

jtk
Mike Baker 2
03-31-2018, 6:14 PM
Hey, that works. I have a pair in need as well, but I just use em anyway.
Nice rehab!
Jim Koepke
03-31-2018, 6:17 PM
Hey, that works. I have a pair in need as well, but I just use em anyway.
Nice rehab!

Before finding the finial this pair had a cable connector standoff for the finial. A screw with a few nuts driven down on it will work.

It is amazing how much more convenient it is having the knurled piece on top when using a pair of dividers.

jtk
Mike Baker 2
03-31-2018, 6:30 PM
I picked up a Steadler compass/dividers at a local shop in great condition for I think $2(can't remember). It came with a pencil lead in one tip/the tips are interchangeable. It did not come with spare tips, but I used a nail of the right diameter and sharpened it to a sharp point. should work just as well.
Jim Koepke
03-31-2018, 7:49 PM
I picked up a Steadler compass/dividers at a local shop in great condition for I think $2(can't remember). It came with a pencil lead in one tip/the tips are interchangeable. It did not come with spare tips, but I used a nail of the right diameter and sharpened it to a sharp point. should work just as well.

Almost all of my drafting compasses/dividers have a pin that is the same diameter as a pencil lead to switch them back and forth.

One of my Starrett dividers has a pin as big as a pencil so it can be switched.

It seems the more my dividers get used the more uses are found for them.

jtk