The new Iris drawing compass features added grip and honed tolerances for ease of use.
One of the most beautiful mechanisms to have stood the test of time is here, in the palm of your hand. Enjoy using Iris to draw and measure single, concentric, or even shaded circles with its unique moving aperture. Iris is made with utmost care and consideration, featuring a solid brass body and carefully selected corrosion-resistant stainless spring steel leaves.
Find your Iris here today to explore new realms of creativity.
Shipping worldwide! Orders usually dispatched in 1-2 working days.
What does the scale measure?
The Iris has a metric scale to measure a circle's diameter. It will measure any circle between 3-70mm in diameter.
What is Iris made of?
Iris is made of solid machined brass and carefully selected stainless spring steel. The packaging is made of card and is 100% recyclable.
How resistant is Iris?
Iris is designed to last a lifetime and the brass will patina with time and use. The leaves are stainless steel and are resistant to corrosion.
Iris is made of stainless steel and polished Brass. Brass will naturally patina when used but this can be easily be cleaned off if you prefer the polished look.
To clean the rings of Iris we recommend being very careful because it can interfere with the tightly machined tolerances if done incorrectly.
Start by taking some Brasso wadding (or other brass cleaning agent), this can be purchased at most hardware stores, supermarkets, and online. Take a small piece of the webbing and in small circular motions wipe the brass ring. Try to not let any of the cleaning agent into the splits and joints of the Iris because this can attract dirt and grime. The wadding will change colour becoming black as it picks up oils and residues from the brass.
Once you have cleaned the brass take a soft cloth or tissue and slightly moisten it with some water and washing up liquid/soap. Then wipe off the residue from the Brasso in a similar motion and care to the Brasso webbing. Finally taking another soft cloth/tissue and dry any moisture on the top of the Iris.
By now your Iris should be back to its polished self and may have even removed some micro scratches.
Jean-Pierre D.
What a beautifully crafted and practical tool. I find myself wanting to create drawings just to have an excuse to use it!
Dennis S.
I purchased it as a gift for my brother and his partner. He's a woodworker/metalworker and she's a fabric artist and painter. I had to carefully open the box to try it myself and I loved it. Then I carefully resealed the box and delivered it, enjoying their wonder and joy..
Makers make.
Doers do.
Get this tool
and you will too.
Dennis
don w.
Was purchased for a friend. (artist and craftsman) He says it is awesome!
Janice C.
What can I say? It is never enough for me that something is functional - it has to be beautiful too. I had one of the first Irises, and now have the new scored version, from the super Cabinet Maker peeps. There really is no greater pleasure than using well made tools. I use it purely for doodling as I am retired. I have the pencil sharpener too, and no doubt will be tempted to buy more…
Abigail S.
Having a device to draw perfect circles at any size at my finger tips is a pleasure. The fact that is is such a beautiful tool makes it that much better.
Colin S.
a novel iconic circle machine with the heavy craftmanship of lost machined perfection of a Swiss watch of yore. it does need moist ridged fingers to work, however.
Roger M.
I’m a sucker for beautiful, elegant tools. So I bought this, though I really have no need for it. That was silly of me. I think I can restrain myself from buying more (useless to me) Makers tools, though I’d consider the folding ruled if it were available in (formerly) English units.
Carol w.
It truly is a beautiful addition to my workroom. I have found that I struggle to get the aperture to open but It closes smoothly for me, so who knows. It's cool to have anyway.
Hich
The Iris is my first purchase from makerscabinet. I think it’s gonna be a wonderful addiction. Found uses for my drawings beyond bd the intended use
Shelley M.
My husband is the grandson of a Scottish cabinet maker... son of an architect who started making fine furniture in retirement. These mechanical instruments are so well made, and one of a kind. My husband is inspired once again to create after receiving this gift from me
Chelsea A.
I’ve had a blast using the Iris. It’s a sturdy, easy to use tool for any artist. Worth every dollar!! I may buy a second in the near future so I can have one for the studio and one for out on the field.
Linda L.
I absolutely love your products,
beautifully made, and so elegant.
I own the pencil sharpener, ruler, and Iris, and am part of your kickstarter program for the pencil holder.
Thank you for such lovely tools.
Francisco M.
Their customer support is amazing! They helped me resolve my issue extremely quickly.
Odile K.
This is a beautifully crafted and well thought out drawing tool. It is dripping in quality in its materials and design, and is stunningly aesthetic.
Ronald B.
I've no idea why I ordered it except it's beautiful and satisfying. It sits on my desk and I love it. Well made.
Ron M.
I love drawing tools, I love brass, I love circles. What more could I ask for, The IRIS has it all.
David B.
I always get the same 2 reactions:
- Cool! What is that?
- How often do you need to draw a circle?
The need is a need for beautiful design and atheistic on my desktop. It looks so nice. It reminds me of Pink Floyd's Mr. Screen during concerts.
Emmaline K.
Beautifully made, well designed, gorgeous looking!
Sharon P.
Beautifully crafted and a work of art to display!
Edward W.
Absolutely beautiful piece of artwork! I bought this mainly for my desk display and love it!!
TAUNA S.
I was so anxious to share how wonderful this circle of love is, that I gave my review along with that of the pencil plane. I love both tools. They are beautiful while being precise tools for exacting jobs. This is the best tool ever for making precise circles. Very necessary if you want the eyes on a person's portrait to be the same size. And you do if you expect to be paid.
Noah S.
Very hardy piece of machinery. I love the weight and the solid brass. I was a bit surprised how stiff it was out of the box, but after working the joints back and forth for a bit, the iris shutter operated more smoothly. I intend to put it to good use and I am sure I will only love it more as I get used to the tool. My only compliant that it uses an inferior and obscure system of measurement called 'metric'... y'all should make one in inches!! I would definitely buy it. Now I just feel like a silly American not even considering that it may be metric, haha.
Ruslan K.
very inspiring tools, pleasant touch and joy of using them. i’m very choosey in selecting the things which convert my imagination into reality
Sally M.
Hardly ever shop via Instagram but so thrilled with my Iris. Beautiful product, carefully considered design, crafted to perfection, super-efficient to deal with, seductive packaging - these people are a rare breed !
Gwyneth E.
Quality! Ease! Beauty! Practical!
Jeffrey P.
Fantastic piece of engineering, solid and well built. There are no flat spots so perfect circle every time.
Margaret M.
Beautiful
Maxime F.
Perfect!
Cheryl M.
Beautiful piece, solid and precisely made. I gave it to my son, who was very pleased, and instantly recognized it from an Adam Savage video.
Laura C.
This is really well made but I am having a little trouble as it is a bit stiff to open and close. I think it will loosen up as I use it but it is sticky and I would like there to be something I can hook a fingernail into to open it up. Any suggestions welcome. When I set it flat on the table I cannot get it to open but I have made it work by catching a nail in the measuring marks and moving it that way. But it’s tricky.
Lon B.
I have thoroughly enjoyed having my Iris on my desk where I admire it every day. I also recently purchased a second one as a gift for a painter friend. He was quite thrilled with the fit and finish and is planning on using it in his work.
Anne M.
It is totally what I expected to get from the pictures of it.
It is a beautiful object and as a visual artist I expect it will be very useful.
Lovely addition to studio equipment.
Morven J.
Perfect gift for a perfect friend.
Richard A.
I purchased the Iris because it looked beautiful and elegant, without much thought about its utility. Since I’ve owned it over the last couple of months, I have used it in my shop six or eight times. It’s a versatile, infinitely adjustable circle template. A joy to use.
Christine M.
Beautifully machined, exactly what I wanted!!
Else T.
Merci.
Janet B.
Everything about the Iris is pure class! From the delivery, packaging to the Iris itself.
Beautifully produced, absolute quality in spades, so tactile, so wonderful to use! Pure magic!
Either as an object to use or just look at or feel, it's difficult to put in words just how pleased I am owning such an object - another masterpiece! Thankyou!
Keith N.
Great design and well made! Beautiful desk art when not being used for it's intended purpose. Very happy with it!
David V G.
I really enjoy fine precision instruments. The Iris is one of those tools that is a perfect example of that description. It is made with quality care and is precise in rendering a drawn circle to my exact needs. Thank you for making a superb device that will be a family heirloom I will be proud to pass on.
Adrian P.
Brilliant, a present for my father.
A lovely piece of engineering!
Michael P.
An excellent cube toy... I play with it a lot when I'm sitting at my desk in a Zoom meeting!
Fatema A.
It was an ideal gift for my artistic cousin
Rose L.
I haven’t had a chance to use the iris for drawing but I can see it would work well. It has a good weight with a tightness to the mechanism that assures its stability when drawing a circle.
It’s beautiful on its wooden stand in my art room. I just wish there were instructions on how to use measurement guide. I haven’t figured that out yet.
Rupert M.
The Iris is beautifully made and a joy to look at. I have used it for occasional doodling but think it just looks so good in its stand, it usually stays there. I think the movement has become smoother over time as the blades 'bed in' perhaps but either way, it's a stunning piece of kit!
Courtney J.
Works great and looks great! Really unique piece with thoughtful design.
Melvin N.
This is a beautiful instrument, something that I will pass on to one of my grandsons some day. Love it. As a retired engineer I could not ask for anything more. Good job.
Arabella C.
Beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Very useful.
Roger S.
This compass is a very nice device. In my profession I work with lasers and often use iris apertures in my light beam transport systems. The quality of your iris/compass far surpasses the quality of the devices I use.
John S.
Lovely bit of kit. Used it a few times and it’s a joy. Thank you.
Keith S.
I purchased both the pencil plane and the Iris for my daughter as a gift for her recently qualifying as an architect after studying for 12 years. I wax so happy when I saw them advertised on my Instagram feed as I knew they would be perfect for her. She is over the moon with the items and just wished she had them while studying as they would have made her work easier. She said the Iris is an amazing instrument and will use it and cherish it always. Kind regards Keith Smith
Jacob H.
Great quality product
Saqqara M.
I should not have waited two years to get this. It was two years that I could've had this beauty in my hands already. It's easily the most beautiful and functional tool I own. If you're waiting to bring this into you life; stop. Just get it. Adopt an angelic stargate today. We're in a plague, treat yourself.
Jeremy B.
The finest of fabrication. Very rigid and well built. The added walnut centering stand is incredible too. A++++ perfect for designing and layout. A must have tool.
Cindy M.
I have long desired my own, and after ordering it arrived very fast. It is a beautiful piece and well made. Mine is a little stiff however, any suggestions or should I just keep opening and closing it to loosen the mechanism. I just love it.
Steve B.
A friend, who is an architect, helped design our kitchen and I bought this as a thank you. He is delighted with his Iris, exactly what I’d hoped for.
Ben J.
Lovely well crafted product! The look and feel is superb and faultless. Couldn't be happier and completes the full set of products from Makers Cabinet. Looking forward to seeing what else they develop.
Clyde T.
Bought this after being fed an ad for it on IG and watching Adam Savage’s spot on review. It’s expertly crafted, well made and so pleasurable to use. It also looks stunning on my desk.
Alan M.
Just a fantastic piece kit, a bit fiddly till you get used to it, Once you pick the Iris up it is so tactile,
So the Iris looks great, feels great and great to use,
Scott F.
O
David A.
Such a beautiful tool to have. Everyone that sees it wants one!
Kate L.
I chose this as an anniversary gift for my boyfriend and it absolutely blew him away! It is made beautifully and looks wonderful on any desk.
Olivia H.
Beautiful piece of design and manufacture.
Dana C.
We bought another Iris for our son. He was thrilled to have gotten it for his birthday and plans to show it off in his office!
Deb J.
I love the way this works! It isn’t as easy to turn when you first receive, but after use, it gets much better. Beautiful design and love the stand and box it comes in.
Nicholas O.
I love my new products! Craftsmanship is excellent!
Dean C.
I have been a professional interior architect for the last 35 years and have had a lot of circular stencils , this has been revolutionary to me but not to the 40 CAD designers I employ . ! Love it one circle many diameters .
Louis T.
Veru nicely made but i wish it was a little smoother to twist. Maybe a little lubrication before it is assembled .
Andy B.
Nice quality
Rachel B.
Stunning quality: it really is beautiful.
Arrived quickly and well-packaged.
DAVID F.
It is a present for my son. I will send you pictures later.
Chuck K.
Beautifully packaged, exquisitely crafted. Took me a moment or two to figure out how to open and close the compass but otherwise this is a little piece of engineering perfection!!
Robin B.
A stunningly beautiful tactile drawing tool, fantastic!!
Marie G.
Absolutely beautiful plus being so functional!
Thank you!
Brian W.
Love it! I bought the Iris which is functional but I would equate remote as a piece of mechanical art work. So beautiful and functions smoothly.
Rohit J.
This circle template justifies its cost by being really smooth and compact. It has great finish and makes for a great showpiece when setup with the wooden stand that comes with the template.
James M.
Super well engineered ! Beautiful craftsmanship and so elegant ! The best compass I’ve ever seen
David C.
This is a wonderfully crafted device. I purchased 2, one for myself and one for a friend. Its elegant design and practical utility make this something that will become a cherished addition to a craft toolbox and heirloom.
David b.
As a world class builder this tool is just damn lovely!
Thank you!
Arthur J.
Absolutely one of the finest and well made products that I have purchased! The circle is perfect at all diameters. I’m just trying to think of more applications!!!!! Thanks. Thanks.
H Keith D.
Will be using very soon. Very well made, easy to adjust - a work of art as a tool.
Tamara M.
The Iris itself is masterfully created and beautiful! It exceeded my expectations. I did have delayed shipping but when I enquired the company immediately handled my concerns and I could not have been more pleased. Well done Makers Cabinet!!! An excellent product combined with excellent customer service, I would highly recommend this product and company.
Paula M.
Beautifully made. It sits on my desk and looks like a piece of art......and does function as it is meant to.
Shaun K.
The Iris compass is really nice! Sometimes I think it would be nice if there were more size options available, as I still go back to a traditional compass for larger diameter circles. Love the measurements but would also like to see metric and imperial included.
Tobias H.
Brilliant present for a crafter. they were in awe of How smooth and how well Made it was. It also arrived a lot quicker than expected. I wanted it for January so ordered it in December, it arrived in December. (Like the next week) Grand
Adam G.
I love it. I've shown it to everyone in work. Amazing bit of kit
Emma P.
We are so pleased with the iris. It is beautifully designed and made and a pleasure to handle and use.
Anthony H.
A present for my brother, he adores it and so do it, amazing bit of kit :)
Frank K.
It is the most beautiful tool I own.
I just keep it near so I can play with it.
Nicolas G.
While the product itself is pretty much flawless and feels amaaazing once it's finally in your hand, from the smart packaging to the superb wooden stand, I must advice post-Brexit some caution to my fellow EU lovers of ridiculously overengineered desk toys: Since January 2021, getting this beauty delivered takes close to one month (!) and costs (at least in Belgium, just across the Channel) almost 50 eur extra.
The great people at Makers Cabinet are obviously not to blame for any of this is, but it hurts nevertheless. So buyer beware, and happy concentric circles drawing to you all.
Jong-seok K.
good stuff
Dana C.
I bought my husband the Hovel for Christmas and he loved it! I then purchased the Iris for his birthday shortly after. He absolutely loves your products and is looking forward to the next product you have available!
Frederick I.
I must confess that I did purchase this as something of a curiosity more than from any particular need.
It arrived to the U.S. form the UK very quickly and the packaging is more than adequate to survive such a long trek.
The actual item itself is beautifully made - a true pleasure to behold. Nice to see that exquisite objects such as these can still be made.
It is remarkably simple and practical. I know my son who is currently studying high school mathematics loves using it rather than a run of the mill compass.
Love that there is no centre hole - just a nice clean circle
Simply a marvel !
Ritesh S.
Rarely is a tool so pleasurable that one uses it even though one doesn’t need too.. just doodling but loving it.
Raffi N.
I loved it, perfection in every sense. I use it for cutting paper gaskets for vintage cars
Gail V.
Beautiful tool--a piece of art in itself! Oh...and it works well, too!
Zubin S.
Absolutely incredible in every way! The build quality and ease of use are perfect. Amazing product.
Jason Z.
Very fine quality almost watch like precision!
James W.
I love the tool. Wasn’t made clear that it was made in China. The impression is that it is a UK made device. Somewhat misleading.
Also, would be nice to have a inch version.
Overall it is a great tool.
Susan F.
This is an incredible work of art. It is beautiful to look at and to hold. I bought it for my husband for Christmas (along with the pencil sharpener!) as he is a fine woodworker with about every tool known to man. He loves everything about this Iris except it is very hard to turn the dial to change the diameter of the opening. When he lays it down on drawing paper there is not enough "tooth" to grab hold and turn. Any suggestions?
Leo S.
It’s a really beautiful hand made piece that makes a perfect gift