Compass storage question

I keep my compass in my pack with knives,hatchet etc.Been there for years and I haven't noticed any change in it.
 
I've carried one of the cheapest Silva's stuffed into the dash of various cars/trucks for years -still finds North just fine.
You have to remember that we're mostly using compasses to get our heads straighted out - we are not trying to navigate a featureless ocean in a ship or aircraft for thousands of miles.There are people who really had to know just how much deviation from true North they were dealing with with their particular compass - that's not us.
Buy a good compass from a co. like Silva and it'll keep telling the truth for many years.
 
audiopile said:
I've carried one of the cheapest Silva's stuffed into the dash of various cars/trucks for years -still finds North just fine.
You have to remember that we're mostly using compasses to get our heads straighted out - we are not trying to navigate a featureless ocean in a ship or aircraft for thousands of miles.There are people who really had to know just how much deviation from true North they were dealing with with their particular compass - that's not us.
Buy a good compass from a co. like Silva and it'll keep telling the truth for many years.
Click to expand...

When your compass is off 10 degrees, the difference a few miles out is significant. 4500+ feet after five miles. You should know how to adjust for declination (unless you intend to spend you entire life in an area with no declination - like Wisconsin). It's not hard. Here in NE Ohio, the compass needle is 5 degrees to the left (west) of true north. http://www.ussartf.org/compass_basics.htm

As for the OP's question, not that I've ever seen or seen documented. Lot's of horror stories around.
 
My newest mini PSK has my button compass close to my stainless wire and the wire saw. I noticed the reading was off while in the kit. Wondering if I pull it out 5 years from now if it will still be accurate. Thanks.
 
I'm fairly sure it will be OK, you just have to watch stuff like the Photon Freedom Micro that has the add-on mount that has tiny, but very powerful magnets on it for placing the light under the hood of a car, etc. You also have to be careful when storing them near another compass. I mean, I have a K&M Matchsafe, a Silva Zipper-pull Compass, a Brunton baseplate type and a couple others banging around and you don't want them next to each other really.
 
Storing a compass close to metal does not have a detrimental long term effect. Of course it will temporarily disrupt the reading, but will do no damage.

What you need to avoid is magnetic fields, such as motors, strong alternating current, etc. Set it on a working fan, and you are almost guaranteed to ruin it. Those types of things can actually demagnetize the magnetic, and cause you problems.

As far as pointing off and declination and all that, I have done some pretty detailed navigation where it does matter. With that said, merely "not getting lost" does not nearly require the same precision.

Just depends what your intentions are.

B
 
The spirit inside a Suunto I had changed from clear to green, I've no idea why except that extreme low temps may have done this.
 
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