Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]

Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]

£162.00
£162.00
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Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]
  • Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]
Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]

Maker’s Cabinet Iris [Brass Drawing Compass]

The Iris is a solid brass drawing compass from Maker’s Cabinet in London — it draws circles from 3mm to 70mm using a camera aperture mechanism rather than a needle and pivot arm, which means no hole in the paper and continuous adjustment to any diameter within that range. It comes with a walnut centring tool that doubles as a display stand.
Ink Type
  • Origin: Designed in the UK by Maker’s Cabinet
  • Body: Solid brass, 103mm diameter, knurled grip
  • Leaves: Corrosion-resistant stainless spring steel
  • Circle range: Ø3–70mm, continuously adjustable
  • Scale: Laser-etched metric measurement gauge for repeatable circles
  • Includes: Walnut centring tool and base
  • Italian leather sheath available separately
£162.00
£162.00
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

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Shipping

Packaging: 

We know art supplies are fragile. All professional pair and boards are shipped in reinforced rigid flat mailers. No tubes, no folds, no crushed corners. 


Order Processing Times: 

Orders are processed within 1–2 business days - we always aim to dispatch all “in-Stock’ items within 24 hours..

Note: Orders placed after 2 PM GMT on Fridays will be processed the following Monday.

Domestic Shipping (UK):

Standard (2–4 days): £3.50 (Free for The Illustrator & Studio Master tiers).

Priority (1–2 days): £4.50 (Free for Studio Master tier)

International Shipping: 

We ship globally. Costs are calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. Please note that customers are responsible for any local customs duties or taxes.

Order Tracking: 

You will receive a tracking link via email the moment your tools leave our studio. 
Returns

30-Day Change of Mind: 

We offer a 30-day return window (exceeding the UK legal minimum of 14 days). Items must be unused, in original packaging, and in "as-new" condition.

Faulty Goods: 

In the rare event of a defect, you are entitled to a full refund or replacement within 30 days. We will cover all return shipping costs for faulty items.

Defective Nibs: 

Occasionally, a pen may arrive dry or a nib maybe scratchy. Contact us within 7 days of purchase with a photo/video of the issue and we will send a replacement immediately.

Exclusions:

Due to the nature of the product, unless faulty we cannot accept returns on opened markers or used paper pads returned.

Digital Goods: 

The "Birthday Palette" and other digital downloads are non-refundable once accessed.


How to Start a Return: 

Email studio@inkwellartsupplies.com with your order number. We aim to process all refunds to the original payment method within 5–10 business days of receiving the item
The Nib Safety Net

"Gravity Happens. We’ve Got You Covered."

We know the heartbreak of a fountain pen hitting the floor. As a member of our Creative Rewards, you don't have to worry about the 'tines.' If the worst happens, just send us a photo and we'll send you a 50% discount for a fresh start.

"The Nib Safety Net" – Terms & Conditions

  • Eligibility: This benefit is exclusive to active members of the Creative Rewards program at the time of the accident.
  • Coverage: The 50% discount applies strictly to accidental damage (e.g., dropping the pen) that renders the nib unusable. It does not cover intentional damage, loss of the pen, theft, or normal wear and tear.
  • The Claim: To activate your discount, you must provide a clear photo of the damaged nib and your original order number to oops@yourstore.com.
  • Limitations: This discount is valid for a one-time replacement per pen purchased and applies only to the cost of the replacement nib unit. It cannot be combined with other promotional codes or used for full pen replacements.
  • Availability: We will provide the discount for the exact nib model where stock is available. If the model is discontinued, we will offer a 50% discount on a comparable alternative nib unit.

The drawing compass that replaces a mechanism unchanged since the 18th century

Every standard drawing compass since the 18th century works the same way: a needle punctures the paper at the centre point, and an arm swings a pencil around it. The needle hole is the price of the circle. The Iris removes it entirely by borrowing the mechanism from a camera aperture — twenty stainless spring steel leaves that spiral inward as you rotate the outer brass ring, contracting the opening from 70mm down to 3mm with a single continuous turn. The circle size reads off a laser-etched scale on the body. No needle. No paper damage. No recalibrating a fixed arm.

The Iris came from a Kickstarter campaign that hit its £25,000 goal in under 72 hours and closed at over £184,000 — a result that tells you something about how many people had been waiting for exactly this. Adam Savage featured it on Tested, and described watching the aperture mechanism open and close as one of those moments where a tool becomes something you want to understand before you use it. The body is machined from solid brass, 103mm in diameter, with a knurled grip around the circumference and corrosion-resistant stainless spring steel leaves inside. The walnut base grounds the Iris on a page as a centring tool and doubles as a desk display stand — which matters, because this is genuinely an object worth leaving out.

Honest Note:

These are precision hand-drawing tools, not general desk objects — they are most meaningful as a gift for someone who draws geometrically by hand. A digital designer with no manual drawing practice will get less from them than someone who regularly uses measured lines, angles, and circles. The Iris mechanism is smooth but rewards a steady hand — it produces clean circles when used with even, deliberate pressure.

Who is it For?

  • Illustrators, architects, product designers, and technical drawers who use circles regularly and have been working around the limitations of a conventional compass
  • Anyone who works at a desk with care about the tools on it — the Iris earns a permanent spot rather than going back in a drawer
  • A milestone gift for someone in a creative or technical profession whose drawing tools have never matched the quality of everything else they use

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS (FAQ)

Gifting it well:

the leather sheaths complete the bundle visually and are worth photographing alongside the tools even if sold separately. Strongest for milestone gifts for someone in architecture, product design, or technical illustration.

How is this different from a standard drawing compass?

A standard compass uses a needle that punctures the paper at the centre point. The Iris uses an aperture mechanism — no needle, no hole, no paper damage. You adjust the circle size by rotating the outer ring rather than repositioning a fixed arm, which is faster, more continuous, and produces the same diameter consistently every time once it’s set.

Can it draw concentric circles accurately?

es — the laser-etched scale means you can adjust to a specific diameter and return to it reliably. Drawing concentric circles at consistent intervals is one of the things the Iris does that a conventional compass does awkwardly.

Works perfectly with....