How to Make Jack Sparrow's Compass

Jack Sparrow of the Disney film "Pirates of the Caribbean" possessed a marvelous compass--one that pointed to the mythical Isla de la Muerta and a hidden treasure. Certainly, you can't make a compass capable of performing that task. But, you can make a compass that looks similar to the one Jack Sparrow used--and you can trick the compass so that, like Sparrow's compass, it won't point north. With a light slight of hand, the compass will be geared to point whatever to direction you wish.

Things You'll Need

• Sheet of balsa wood
• X-Acto knife
• Glue
• Dark wood stain or paint
• Brush
• Small brass hinge
• Small flip-latch assembly
• Plain compass
• Magnet

Instructions

Making the Compass Box

1. Cut the balsa wood with the X-Acto knife into eight rectangles to form the bottom of your compass box. Four of the rectangles should be 2 1/4 inches long by 1 inch tall. The other four should be 1 by 1 inch (yes, squares).

2. Glue these eight sides together to form an octagon. Place the four rectangles, lengthwise to form the four edges of the box (the long sides). The 1-inch squares form the cut-off corners of your box. So, you will glue a square to the edge of a rectangle, then a rectangle to the edge of that square, etc., going around to form an octagonal box (an open box without a top or bottom, just yet). Let the glue dry.

3. Place the open box on the balsa wood and mark the octagonal shape. This will be the bottom of your box. Cut out the shape and trim to fit. Then, glue the base onto the open box.

4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 to form the lid. Again, you'll need eight rectangles. Cut four of them 2 1/4 inches long by 1/2 inch wide. Cut the four corner pieces to the dimensions of 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide. As you did in Step 2, glue the rectangles together along the 1/2-inch-wide edges to form an octagonal ring. Then using that, do as you did in Step 3 to cut out the top of your box lid, then glue it into place.

5. Stain or paint the bottom and lid of your compass box. Be sure to do the inside as well as the outside. Optionally, you can add darker streaks to give the box an aged-wood appearance.

6. Install the hinge to connect the top and bottom of your box along one of the long sides.

7. Install the flip-latch assembly along the opposite long sides of the box. Make sure the flip portion is assembled on the top/lid section and the catch on the bottom portion of the box. Line up these parts carefully.

Making a Compass that Doesn't Point North

1. Paint in old-world scrolling designs on the inside of the box, chiefly in the bottom corners to enhance the look of the inset compass (optional).

2. Glue in the plain compass assembly--this should be one of those child party favor sort of compasses with only the compass enclosed in metal and plastic but no other elaborate housing.

3. Store the magnet in the compass--so you won't lose it. Then, when using the compass, palm the loose magnet and move it underneath the box to cause the needle to spin. The needle will then point to wherever you leave the magnet, as that is the nearest magnetic source.

Tips & Warnings

• If the hinge or latch assembly seem to stress the balsa sides, double the thickness of the box (by adding another rectangle of the same dimension) inside the box. (Remember to stain the piece before inserting it.)