Hand Tools: Precision pencil compass

Reviewed by:
Scott Gibson, Contributing Editor

Renovating an old house invariably includes scribing cabinets and trim to uneven surfaces. The best tool for that is a pencil compass. One side is a metal point, the other a holder for a pencil.

Generals compass is one of the best tool bargains around -simple, inexpensive and reliable. Its spring-loaded arms adjust up to 4 in. apart, enough to scribe new work to even the most crooked ceiling or floor, and enough to draw a 8-in. diameter circle.

Metal construction resists corrosion. Widely available online or from hardware stores, it sold for about $6 in September 2004.