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Harbor Freight Tools Digital Inspection Camera as a Bore Scope
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Pilgrim
posted
I would love one of those fine Hawkeye borescopes, but the budget and wife don't care for the idea.

I received a coupon add from Harbor Freight Tools (HFT) the other evening and this CEN-TECH (I think that is HFT's house brand) inspection camera was on sale for $69.95.

The light and camera are on the end of a 36", flexible cable. The camera is 8.5 mm in diameter. 0.36 inch caliber is 9.14 mm. 0.45 cal is 11.4 mm. So, the camera can fit down any muzzleloader bore I have.

The LCD view screen is 2.4" and there is an output port to take the image to a large monitor.

The first unit was a dud. There was no image on the LCD screen. The second unit is working fine.

I have one of those $20, direct-from-China bore scopes that has to be plugged into a computer. The image is terrible and useless. The Centec, by contrast, it quite good. Looks like there is a little rust in a rifling groove in one of my flintlocks.

It comes with a 45 degree angled mirror, a pull hook and a retrieving magnet.

Without the coupon, it was listed at $89.95 or 99.95.

Thought it might be useful for some of you. And I don't work for Harbor Freight Tools.
Ron
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Golden, CO | Registered: 10 October 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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Thanks for sharing!


Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin
 
Posts: 2014 | Location: Oreegun Territory | Registered: 24 March 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Pilgrim
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Happy to do it!

The unit also is made in China, and I know that some folks have had problems with Harbor Freight quality, but this "borescope" seems to be up to the job.

Ron
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Golden, CO | Registered: 10 October 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of MountainRanger
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looks like it could be a handy item, although it might be hard to get the handle control unit steady on the end of a 42" or longer barrel... I have a small (like 3/4" long and maybe 5/16" diameter small) brass LED light that had a small hole at the end through which I tied a bit of string to just drop down the barrel. I use it all the time to check my cleaning but it's been several years and I haven't the slightest idea where I got it. Maybe Midway or Bud's Gun Shop (online store) or maybe even eBay. I also don't think I gave much more than $20 for it.


Sua Sponte
 
Posts: 460 | Location: SW Virginia (New River Valley) | Registered: 13 August 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Pilgrim
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MoountainRanger, there was no problem with steadiness putting it down a longrifle. The harder part was trying to get it to rotate while down the barrel.
Another problem is seeing what I didn't want to see: a little rust in some barrels. Not much, but enough to get my attention.
Ron
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Golden, CO | Registered: 10 October 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of MountainRanger
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Glad that outfit is working out for you Ron. I looked online and found what matches what I have... a Traditions brass bore light ($19.99). I've used it on both of my flintlocks and it works well too.


Sua Sponte
 
Posts: 460 | Location: SW Virginia (New River Valley) | Registered: 13 August 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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Mine works fine, though the camera unit is a bit large, so I can only look at musket barrels, but since muskets normally get trashed by reenactors, that's pretty good...and I can inspect the interior of musket bores for pitting and such.

LD


It's not what you know, it's what you can prove
 
Posts: 3843 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 10 November 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Pilgrim
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Loyalist Dave,
My understanding is that there was an earlier version with a larger diameter camera. This one has an 8.5 mm diameter and fits my 45 cal and should fit a .36 cal which is 9.14 mm.
Ron
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Golden, CO | Registered: 10 October 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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That's my typical karma....

LD


It's not what you know, it's what you can prove
 
Posts: 3843 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 10 November 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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Reenactors don't take care of their firearms?Someone needs to tell them that's not PC,or HC.... Razzer


Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin
 
Posts: 2014 | Location: Oreegun Territory | Registered: 24 March 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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By far...reenactors are not necessarily dedicated "living history" people...and I've seen some really crappy muskets!

LD


It's not what you know, it's what you can prove
 
Posts: 3843 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 10 November 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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