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Author Topic:   Mineral Spirits for Filling Compass Bowl

SJH posted 07-12-2009 05:00 PM ET (US)
The diaphragm in my Ritchie compass leaked. Believe it or not, I replaced it with a flat piece of rubber, that I cut to size. Left it in the sun for a day and it looks like it works, not leaks.
I now need to put more fluid in the compass. I see on the Ritchie web site, it says they filled them (before 2001) with odorless mineral spirts.
Is this the same stuff, used as a paint thinner?
Is odorless mineral spirits, generally available, and if so, where?
thanks
Stan
TransAm posted 07-12-2009 06:02 PM ET (US)
Home Depot sells odorless mineral spirits.
R T M posted 07-12-2009 08:03 PM ET (US)
I`ve heard of usng gin or vodka. its cheaper than using oderless mineral spirits.
rich/Binkie
KillerWhaler62 posted 07-12-2009 10:36 PM ET (US)
Have you seen the price of Grey Goose !
You can use a drinking straw as a pipette to fill the compass and get that last little bubble out. Don't worry about a pin head size bubble it will vanish in a few days..
Bulldog posted 07-12-2009 11:18 PM ET (US)
Stan, call Ritchie and ask them, they are nice people. I think mineral spirits is different then mineral oil, which is what I though they used. I sent mine in last year for a rebuild because of the leaking of fluid, lasted 22 years so I thought lets get her gone over.--Jack
Chuck Tribolet posted 07-12-2009 11:31 PM ET (US)
If it turns out it's mineral oil you need, you can get that
at the drug store.
Mineral spirits is in the paint department of any decent
HW store.
Do let us know what the answer is.

Chuck
deepwater posted 07-13-2009 03:17 AM ET (US)
Mineral spirits is flammable and also a solvent ,,Mineral oil is neither,, It is also thicker and provides not only a dampening effect on the dial but will not freeze
pzimmer posted 07-13-2009 09:50 AM ET (US)
I just rebuilt my Compass and filled it with Light Mineral Oil. It is thicker than the original mineral spirits, but it does dampen the card much more. Still accurate, no problems.
Capt. Pete Zimmer
4whaler posted 07-13-2009 05:45 PM ET (US)
Just did three Ritchie's. Used premium light mineral oil from paint store, but not medical, its too thick. One trick is to put it into freezer so that its super cold when you put in in the compass body using a syringe without needle. Let the bubbles flow to fill port and add keep adding until it backs up. When the oil warms up it will help drive out bubbles and expand to fill up any space left.
Blackduck posted 07-28-2010 05:24 PM ET (US)
I know this is an old thread, but I feel it is worth noting that odorless mineral spirits is what Ritchie used as a fluid, not mineral oil.
BobL posted 07-29-2010 09:57 PM ET (US)
Compass fluid is available at marine stores and is very inexpensive.
Tom W Clark posted 07-29-2010 10:05 PM ET (US)
Odorless Mineral Spirits is readily available at most hardware stores and paint stores.
Mineral Oil is good for wooden butcherblock countertops and cutting boards in your kitchen; it does not go rancid.

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Author	Topic: Mineral Spirits for Filling Compass Bowl
SJH	posted 07-12-2009 05:00 PM ET (US) The diaphragm in my Ritchie compass leaked. Believe it or not, I replaced it with a flat piece of rubber, that I cut to size. Left it in the sun for a day and it looks like it works, not leaks. I now need to put more fluid in the compass. I see on the Ritchie web site, it says they filled them (before 2001) with odorless mineral spirts. Is this the same stuff, used as a paint thinner? Is odorless mineral spirits, generally available, and if so, where? thanks Stan
TransAm	posted 07-12-2009 06:02 PM ET (US) Home Depot sells odorless mineral spirits.
R T M	posted 07-12-2009 08:03 PM ET (US) I`ve heard of usng gin or vodka. its cheaper than using oderless mineral spirits. rich/Binkie
KillerWhaler62	posted 07-12-2009 10:36 PM ET (US) Have you seen the price of Grey Goose ! You can use a drinking straw as a pipette to fill the compass and get that last little bubble out. Don't worry about a pin head size bubble it will vanish in a few days..
Bulldog	posted 07-12-2009 11:18 PM ET (US) Stan, call Ritchie and ask them, they are nice people. I think mineral spirits is different then mineral oil, which is what I though they used. I sent mine in last year for a rebuild because of the leaking of fluid, lasted 22 years so I thought lets get her gone over.--Jack
Chuck Tribolet	posted 07-12-2009 11:31 PM ET (US) If it turns out it's mineral oil you need, you can get that at the drug store. Mineral spirits is in the paint department of any decent HW store. Do let us know what the answer is. Chuck
deepwater	posted 07-13-2009 03:17 AM ET (US) Mineral spirits is flammable and also a solvent ,,Mineral oil is neither,, It is also thicker and provides not only a dampening effect on the dial but will not freeze
pzimmer	posted 07-13-2009 09:50 AM ET (US) I just rebuilt my Compass and filled it with Light Mineral Oil. It is thicker than the original mineral spirits, but it does dampen the card much more. Still accurate, no problems. Capt. Pete Zimmer
4whaler	posted 07-13-2009 05:45 PM ET (US) Just did three Ritchie's. Used premium light mineral oil from paint store, but not medical, its too thick. One trick is to put it into freezer so that its super cold when you put in in the compass body using a syringe without needle. Let the bubbles flow to fill port and add keep adding until it backs up. When the oil warms up it will help drive out bubbles and expand to fill up any space left.
Blackduck	posted 07-28-2010 05:24 PM ET (US) I know this is an old thread, but I feel it is worth noting that odorless mineral spirits is what Ritchie used as a fluid, not mineral oil.
BobL	posted 07-29-2010 09:57 PM ET (US) Compass fluid is available at marine stores and is very inexpensive.
Tom W Clark	posted 07-29-2010 10:05 PM ET (US) Odorless Mineral Spirits is readily available at most hardware stores and paint stores. Mineral Oil is good for wooden butcherblock countertops and cutting boards in your kitchen; it does not go rancid.