Flexible inspection cameras

[K Frame]

Digging into the walls in my Mom's house is always a challenge because it is so damned difficult to identify what has gone where over the years.

I'm looking for a decent quality, relatively inexpensive, inspection camera with a flexible shaft, and adequate quality display. I don't need to read a book if I find one in the walls, I just need to know it's there.

Solar Eclipse makes several models that are from the $60 range and up. They seem to get decent reviews on Amazon.

Royobi makes one that is $99 that they sell through Home Depot. Lowes carries something similar from General Tools & Instruments...

I'm not going to need this often, but it's a nice tool to have when you do need it.

Any thoughs on what you have/have used?

[RoadKingLarry]

I've looked at the Ryobi one but don't really have a need. But if I was looking for one I think a small enough camera head to go into rifle bores and sparkplug holes would be a worthwhile consideration.

[K Frame]

I've looked at the Ryobi one but don't really have a need. But if I was looking for one I think a small enough camera head to go into rifle bores and sparkplug holes would be a worthwhile consideration.

I had the same thought... But once you start shrinking the camera and adjusting the focal point to make it really usable as a bore scope the price goes up DRAMATICALLY.

You can, however, get things like this that hook into your laptop or PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Inspection-Microscope-Endoscope-Borescope/dp/B007ROP3FO

But that's not what I want, I want one with a display right on it so I don't have to either carry a laptop around or run to the computer.

[onions!]

At home colonoscopy.Who knew?

If your insurance wont pay for it,do it yourself.
You could even organize Tupperware/colonoscopy/whiskey sampling parties.
Hmmm.

[Triphammer]

The Tupperware part of that bothers me.

[wmenorr67]

http://www.grainger.com/product/GENERAL-High-Performance-Video-Borescope-8D202?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/8D202_AS02?$smthumb$

We have one similar to if not this exact model here at work that we use from time to time to look into valve bodies and such.  Works quite well and you can take pictures or video and save to a SD card for play back on your puter.

[RevDisk]

Apologies, only ones I used were for aircraft inspection and were hideously expensive.
From what the rep said, price goes up if you want a longer reach or if you want higher end optics.

[K Frame]

"We have one similar to if not this exact model here at work..."

That's only about $1,100 more than I want to spend, and more than what I have to spend.

[lupinus]

"We have one similar to if not this exact model here at work..."

That's only about $1,100 more than I want to spend, and more than what I have to spend.

Better? http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-67979.html

[K Frame]

Getting there.

Given the choice between Bosch and Harbor Freight, though...

[lupinus]

Getting there.

Given the choice between Bosch and Harbor Freight, though...

And about 180 bucks  http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS91-1A-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Inspection/dp/B004W7J2DI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406306015&sr=8-1&keywords=bosch+borescope

[wmenorr67]

"We have one similar to if not this exact model here at work..."

That's only about $1,100 more than I want to spend, and more than what I have to spend.

Just giving you an idea as to where you could go with it.

[dogmush]

Getting there.

Given the choice between Bosch and Harbor Freight, though...

Honestly?  This is the kind of thing I would go with HF on.  Not a hard use tool.  They are both using generic COTS Chinese digital camera sensors and pcb's inside.  The Bosch is more expensive, has a proprietary battery you would need to run a charger for and is probably harder to return if it does break.

HF uses AA's and you can take it right back to the store and replace it if it goes tits up.  Not to mention you could almost buy 3 for what the Bosch costs.

Neither of those tools has what you'd call good optics.  Good optics in borescopes start at about $1000. As long as the HF camera is small enough to fit in the holes you want to stick it in, it'll most likely be fine.

[brimic]

As long as the HF camera is small enough to fit in the holes you want to stick it in, it'll most likely be fine.

That's what she said.

[Bigjake]

I have nothing of value to add,  but I do have one of these at work;

http://www.ohiopowertool.com/P-7193-ridgid-cs10-full-size-200-seesnake-digital-camera-system-complete.aspx?CAWELAID=120016460000010315&CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=CjwKEAjwgMieBRCB3bqB94e9lD4SJABW3sTNIv_V67pIYHvUbe_kl6czuYKvEIbdzP_Qivyg37blFRoCDKnw_wcB

Were you local,  I'd let you borrow it, fwiw.

[Boomhauer]

The harbor freight one is good. I have it and like it.

Reminds me I need to get one for work, too. Use the one at home too much to keep it at work.

[AmbulanceDriver]

What's the outer head diameter of the HF one?   I wonder if I could use it as a cheap bore/chamber inspection camera.

[K Frame]

Actually, dogmush, you make some very good points, ones that I'd not though about.

I'm thinking I should reconsider one of the HF cameras.


" Not to mention you could almost buy 3 for what the Bosch costs."

You're looking at the wrong camera at Home Depot.

The one I was looking at is this one...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Tek4-Digital-Inspection-Scope-RP4206/202223756

It's a Royobi, and is about the same price as the ones at Harbor Freight.

The issue with the Royobi, though, is it's got a 9mm head on it, which means that I'd need a hole pushing half an inch in the wall. The ones at Harbor Freight are just a tiny big smaller...

The really stupid thing is that for a lot of the cameras I'm finding they're not giving the diameter of the damned camera head. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

[lupinus]

The really stupid thing is that for a lot of the cameras I'm finding they're not giving the diameter of the damned camera head. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

....You hang out around here and that's the stupidest thing you've ever heard of?

[onions!]

....You hang out around here and that's the stupidest thing you've ever heard of?

No kidding.
"Home colonoscopy".Really?