Recomendations for a bore scope

[kodioneill]

I may purchase a bore scope anyone have experience with these?

[Ionizer]

We use a see-snake at work and it's OK.

Depends on what you are going to use it for. Perhaps a $30 miniature camera from ebay and a stick will work?

[john walker's workshop]

used medical equipment. sigmoidoscope (sp?). got one for free from a doctor customer. great optics and lighting.

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

used medical equipment. sigmoidoscope (sp?). got one for free from a doctor customer. great optics and lighting.

Where was that used before you got it ? I think I know butt don't want to say here.

[Joe Bob]

sigmoidoscope items - Get great deals on Business Industrial, Collectibles items on eBay.com!

[VMAX1]

This thread has a couple they are talking about.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/580086-metal-bits-oil-drain-screen.html

[brads911sc]

Will need more than the scope... also need the light source that the scope plugs into and the screen that you view it on. These sets are 60k-90k new... so not sure how economical this will really be... Can easily get an old scope for 100-1000 but without a light source/tower will be worthless... Light source will cost you 500-1000 used... Medical Grade screen another 300-500.. could easily spend 2-3k which is cheap on a unit that was 90k new... but for automotive use probably better to buy a scope that is not medical grade...

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

sigmoidoscope items - Get great deals on Business Industrial, Collectibles items on eBay.com!

[brads911sc]

Here is one that is less than $300 by SLI.

SLI ProVision PV480 48" Borescope Inspection Tool,

[911Gedward]

Try Flexbar Corp on Long Island. They are a very reliable company and the products are cost competitive.

Good Luck-

[sailchef]

There is one at harbor freight for 79.99 there was a link on another post yesterday. I'll try to find it.

Wireless Inspection Camera with 2.4" Color LCD Monitor

For that price I am going to pick one up just to have.

[AlfonsoR]

Possible downfalls of a cheaper scope such as the ones from harbor freight:
1. low resolution
2. too big to fit in a spark plug hole
3. no light
4. no articulation

I don't have any personal experience with these scopes, but you really need to think about what you're going to use it for and whether these will be able to do the job. The main purpose I would have for such a tool is to look into piston cylinders or maybe inside the engine case of a 911.

So you need something that has those features I mentioned above. If you get the scope in the cylinder but can't discern cross hatching because the resolution is too low, then what good is that? That also will mean you might not be able to see scratches in the wall.

If you have no light and try to improvise with a flash light, you are still going to get much more limited visual information as compared to a scope that has a built in lamp

an articulating tip lets you manuver in tight spaces and if in a cylinder, might be able to turn it so that you can get a look at the valves.

Hawkeye Borescope Flexible kits by Gradient Lens Corporation

Just a few things to think about.

[AlfonsoR]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

Where was that used before you got it ? I think I know butt don't want to say here.

I almost passed over this tongue-in cheek pun, butt I caught it.

[brads911sc]

I like that unit.. but its 6k. wow. any more reasonable priced units that come with good resolution, light source, etc?

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

Possible downfalls of a cheaper scope such as the ones from harbor freight:
1. low resolution
2. too big to fit in a spark plug hole
3. no light
4. no articulation

I don't have any personal experience with these scopes, but you really need to think about what you're going to use it for and whether these will be able to do the job. The main purpose I would have for such a tool is to look into piston cylinders or maybe inside the engine case of a 911.

So you need something that has those features I mentioned above. If you get the scope in the cylinder but can't discern cross hatching because the resolution is too low, then what good is that? That also will mean you might not be able to see scratches in the wall.

If you have no light and try to improvise with a flash light, you are still going to get much more limited visual information as compared to a scope that has a built in lamp

an articulating tip lets you manuver in tight spaces and if in a cylinder, might be able to turn it so that you can get a look at the valves.

Hawkeye Borescope Flexible kits by Gradient Lens Corporation

Just a few things to think about.

[brads911sc]

Here is one that is lighted. Reasonably priced.

http://www.pimall.com/nais/borescope.html

[Joe Bob]

If you got a laptop...USB Borescope. You'd have to measure the hole diameter and compare.

Cheap, but it's just the peripheral. $61 USD

300K Pixel USB Inspection Tube Snake Camera/Borescope [E44237] : BestOfferBuy.com, Buy DVD, Shop for PC accessories, Discount MP3 Players, Bargain Deal for Surveillance Equipment, Cheap R4 for NDS, X-sim Unlock

But then again how many times will ya use it? Probably best to rent or pay someone.

[sailchef]

Joe Bob, nice find. I like that one. Its got a light built in. Is 14mm small enough to fit thru a spark plug hole?

[Joe Bob]

I measured a platinum plug I had in the garage. The threaded part is 13.25mm. SO......doan think so. At least NOT that model.

[scottb]

There are a couple of sub-$200 units here that have 12 mm cameras. More expensive units, too.

borescope from Northern Tool + Equipment

And this one will fit into holes as small as 1/4" (and gets pretty good user reviews):

ProVision Fiber Optic Scope — 36in., Model# PV636 | Scopes | Northern Tool + Equipment

[Green 912]

I did some side by side comparisons with the Ridged seesnake and the HF unit. There is a marked difference between them. The Seesnake was far clearer and had better depth of field. The Ridged was far better than the sub $300 fiber optic scope as well.
Take care as there is more than one model and only the 9.5mm head will fit in a spark plug hole. There is a previous version that does not have the controls right under the screen and a larger head. This version was being sold off in home stores such as Home Depot a while back. I did not have as clear an image as the later unit with the 9.5mm head. You can add extensions in 6 foot increments up to 30 feet and there is provision for connection to a recorder or larger monitor. I added a white line from the head along the cable to the handle. This lets me keep up and right and left lined up. The camera is not self leveling and as you bend the cable it can get turned from level. The line lets me keep things lined up as I feed it into a wall or other long penetration.

Amazon.com: Ridgid 31123 SeeSnake Micro 9.5mm Inspection Camera: Home Improvement

[billybek]

I have one in my shop at work by Milwaukee. I don't think the head end is small enough to fit in a spark plug hole though.