I have been reading a little bit about endoscopes (not ready to do surgery at home just yet!). I understand when you use them for non-medical uses they are termed borescopes?

Anyway, remember as a kid my dad using a long telescopic small flexible mirror and also an improvised magnetic pick - small magnet secured to a long piece of stiff wire to pick-up lost fasteners (he would also use a blob of blu tack for non-magnetic bits and bobs). He was also adept at using a long screwdriver as a stethoscope to diagnose engine faults (he had five cars - all back-ups in case one broke down!!!).

Now, as a relatively fledgling mechanical DIYer I use my hands a lot in impossible to see nooks and crannies (sense of touch and arms with two elbows are certainly handy!). Technology has changed a lot, particularly since smart phones came along, and I notice more discussion around new smart phone USB or wi-fi borescopes. Does anyone have any experience with these and can recommend one that is decent enough to use on vehicles and around the house (plumbing jobs and peeking under locked doors!!!) and relatively inexpensive? Birthday coming up and might ask for one!

I bought this off ebay a couple of years ago. Works well, used it on the car to check for anti corrosion wax coverage in doors etc and down a stench pipe to find a broken joint.
Don't use a lot but invaluable when I do.
https://www.manomano.co.uk/p/wolf-eye-spy-inspection-video-scope-with-8gb-memory-card-6766099

Have a look on e-bay for endoscopes
Plenty of cheap USB . Phone camera options

Feathers McGraw said:

I bought this off ebay a couple of years ago. Works well, used it on the car to check for anti corrosion wax coverage in doors etc and down a stench pipe to find a broken joint.
Don't use a lot but invaluable when I do.
https://www.manomano.co.uk/p/wolf-eye-spy-inspection-video-scope-with-8gb-memory-card-6766099

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Got a similiar cheapy one I use at work, have to say been pretty good when it was needed.

lynall said:

Got a similiar cheapy one I use at work, have to say been pretty good when it was needed.

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Did try a cheap one to plug into a tablet and it did work but not as good to use when lying under a car. Plus it seemed to drain the battery very quickly.

Feathers McGraw said:

Did try a cheap one to plug into a tablet and it did work but not as good to use when lying under a car. Plus it seemed to drain the battery very quickly.

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I believe there are wifi borescope cameras that work with a smart phone. Just wondered if anyone had advice on one that is decent for DIY without costing an arm and a leg given only limited use.

Intestinalworm said:

I notice more discussion around new smart phone USB or wi-fi borescopes. Does anyone have any experience with these and can recommend one that is decent enough to use on vehicles and around the house (plumbing jobs and peeking under locked doors!!!) and relatively inexpensive? Birthday coming up and might ask for one!

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Yes I use one all the time. I have an old android phone which I use specifically for garage/workshop type stuff. I have a couple of bore-cameras, one has standard USB for use with a Windows computer or tablet, and another bore-camera with Micro-USB for use with my Galaxy 7 workshop phone. The phone must support the USB-OTG protocol, so I Phones aren't any use.

They are fantastic for viewing in to places which are absolutely impossible to see, and the footage can be recorded for more in depth analysis later on.

These bore-cameras are cheap (often under £10 from China), come in 6mm and 10mm sizes, so no need to wait until a birthday.

Feathers McGraw said:

Did try a cheap one to plug into a tablet and it did work but not as good to use when lying under a car. Plus it seemed to drain the battery very quickly.

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The one I have is a stand alone one like the one Feathers Mcgraw links to in his post above.