So looking to acquire or replace a Milwaukee flexible shaft borescope---good quality but its physically too big to fit into most automotive applications. I've seen these from $20 for the Chinese-made USB connectable types to the Snap On variety, huge price ranges there.

Anyone using or recommend a good quality and reasonably price tool for this job? Anything under $200 would be great, it wouldn't see a lot of use, would be handled and treated well. (Hmm---that's the same promise I made to the girlfriend............ )

TIA

 

I have the Rigid CA-25. Decent image quality and it gets into most areas I need it to. Under $125.

 

Thanks for the recommendation but sadly that has about the same size head as my Milwaukee. The rather large sheath between the view screen and camera end makes poking these in and out of engine areas a bit more work than I like.

We'll keep looking---have seen a few on Amazon and/or eBay that are USB connected to a laptop, less than $50 typically. I might try one just to see if they're worthwhile or worthless.

 

i have a usb type. it is ok. the main beef with it is the head is rather non directional, so you rarely get a picture that is not upside down or sideways.

 

I'm still looking---found a few on Amazon that are possibilities----its a crap shoot as to image quality, size of camera head etc etc.

 

I got along with this one. https://www.grizzly.com/products/Gri...-System/T23857

 

Price is right on that one sadly the head is larger than I'd prefer---thanks for that link though.

So I'm still looking---my old faithful Milwaukee seeing end has become clouded, most likely something I've done to damage the plastic lens or end---costs too much to replace it IMO.

Here's another I've considered:


For whatever reason the less expensive versions always seem to come with cables that are too long for working around vehicles---I don't need to look 10' deep into something.

I've watched a few YouTube videos about the Teslong brand---seems to be fairly solid stuff for the cost. Looking at their site a newer model NTS500 is almost too good to pass by.

Another offering that IS too cheap and sounds good on paper is this one:
One more---very interesting too: This one's diameter is a bit larger than I prefer but could be very useful for larger openings.

And just one more:

 

I have this one by Dewalt https://www.dewalt.com/products/powe...n-kit/dct412s1
Its pretty good has a removable screen with good picture quality and a SD card slot. Plus the battery fits my Mac cordless tools.

 

I greatly appreciate the heads up but I don't care for DeWalt tools at all, more of a Milwaukee power tool user and huge fan.

I like that the newer 'scopes or cameras come with SD slots or at least a micro-USB output port allowing connection to a laptop or other viewing/recording device. That along with the smaller diameter imager head makes these sorts of tools easier to use for almost anyone these days.

Thanks again LongBed!

 

Just one more possible contender---this one might be THE one!

It has a 5.5mm head diameter, comes with a 1 meter or 3 meter cable---to my mind the 3' version would fit most of my needs and then some: Anykit NTS500

it also looks pretty much like the brand sold as Teslong but I'm not sure that even matters---just seems highly coincidental to all.

 

Those cheap ones are not bad, for the price I would

 

I finally have a pending order for the one shown in my post #10. This outfit has a tremendous miscommunication issue due the language difference---its taken me three different tries to simply place one order. They've canceled two previous orders because they needed more information that wasn't clear or asked on their ordering website. They seem to be trying to sell almost exclusively through Amazon---not a bad plan given their location etc---but since I wanted something "custom" it had to come directly from them. (I wanted the 3' cable, Amazon stocks only their 9" model.)

The problem I express to them was each time they canceled an order PayPal will still withdraw the money from my account---they didn't seem to understand how me having over $700 USD out-of-pocket was an issue. Sure the money was eventually returned to my account but even so I advised them to get better organized and be a bit more patient if more information is needed to fulfill an order.

So as of this moment I'm waiting---not only for delivery but what new pitfalls I might encounter with these guys. Oh how I wish I could simply take what's readily available and not "need" something customized.

And when this arrives and I can test some results I'll be glad to share them here.