Lyman Bore Scope - Any Good ?
- Thread starter mrh1958
- Start date
R.G. Robinett
"That'll never work."
I have owned a Hawkeye over 20 years - bought a Lyman just to see for myself: it does well enough to observe how your cleaning routine is working - I rate it a, "good bang for the buck". A couple of o-rings to support and center the wand make a big difference. The pic facet isn't all bad either - not bad at all on a decent monitor, as compared to the monitor that comes as part of the kit. Biggest weakness is that it does not rotate . . . but you can figure that out!
Sorry, it appears that I can no longer post pics . . . nor, use the smilies. :-( RG
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josh shrum
New member
I own one, its meh. As stated previously, rotating it is a pain in the butt. I wish I had just saved the $ that I spent to put towards a Hawkeye.
Josh
Josh
R.G. Robinett
"That'll never work."
Josh, here's a link to some pics and text from a couple of years ago.
Josh, it appears that I can no longer use the attachments tools here, so, I have posted a link, where you may be able to see some pics and info I posted a couple of years ago, regarding the Lyman and Hawkeye borescopes: < http://forums.bench-talk.com/post/a-gizmo-worth-the-7846077?pid=1290243413 >
Wilbur, if you see this, what happened - the text box, upon entering the cursor, now turns blue, then, if I attempt to click in a 'smiley', turns white, but does not post the icon . . . same with pics - text box turns white, cursor disappears, and nothing else happens???
Josh, it appears that I can no longer use the attachments tools here, so, I have posted a link, where you may be able to see some pics and info I posted a couple of years ago, regarding the Lyman and Hawkeye borescopes: < http://forums.bench-talk.com/post/a-gizmo-worth-the-7846077?pid=1290243413 >
Wilbur, if you see this, what happened - the text box, upon entering the cursor, now turns blue, then, if I attempt to click in a 'smiley', turns white, but does not post the icon . . . same with pics - text box turns white, cursor disappears, and nothing else happens???
Andy Cross
New member
Something similar
For many years I used a zeiss endoscope system. I had to because things called borescopes like the hawk didn't exist. This device was and still is over the top for what I ask it to do. In the late '70's it was expensive because it was up gradeable. Because I simply couldn't afford to have it repaired if something happened to it I bought an innovative technologies borescope to take to the loading bench. I recently compared it with the lyman and my visual assessment is that they were very similar in the image quality. i.e. contrast and resolution. Long term reliability will be the determining factor.
For many years I used a zeiss endoscope system. I had to because things called borescopes like the hawk didn't exist. This device was and still is over the top for what I ask it to do. In the late '70's it was expensive because it was up gradeable. Because I simply couldn't afford to have it repaired if something happened to it I bought an innovative technologies borescope to take to the loading bench. I recently compared it with the lyman and my visual assessment is that they were very similar in the image quality. i.e. contrast and resolution. Long term reliability will be the determining factor.
It's OK
just like the guys are saying. What I use mine for is letting people see what their bbl looks like. The Hawkeye is to fragile (valuable) to let just anybody run it. The Lyman is great in that respect. You can see if the throat is shot out and stuff like that. But the Hawkeye is better in seeing how a fresh throat should look after reaming the chamber.
Richard
just like the guys are saying. What I use mine for is letting people see what their bbl looks like. The Hawkeye is to fragile (valuable) to let just anybody run it. The Lyman is great in that respect. You can see if the throat is shot out and stuff like that. But the Hawkeye is better in seeing how a fresh throat should look after reaming the chamber.
Richard
Earl Horgeshime
Member
Spend your money, take your chances
I bought one a year ago. I wanted to be able to take a look in the barrels before I took them out of the lathe. (I have to almost stand on my head to use my Hawkeye in the lathe) It was clear enough for my purposes but it only lasted two days and 1 use. The second use was when it failed. I called Lyman customer support and they wanted me to pay for shipping both ways.ways. I talked to the product manager at the shot show a few weeks later. He didn't seem to think that me paying for shipping was a big deal. I mentioned that it was only 2 days old and that if the shipping cost was no big deal, why didn't Lyman cover it? I was told that it was their policy for all retail products! I argued that the policy would be detrimental to repeat sales. He finally agreed to pay for the shipping from Lyman back to me. The thing is currently stored somewhere under a workbench. I'm not bitter, just a little smarter now.
Earl
I bought one a year ago. I wanted to be able to take a look in the barrels before I took them out of the lathe. (I have to almost stand on my head to use my Hawkeye in the lathe) It was clear enough for my purposes but it only lasted two days and 1 use. The second use was when it failed. I called Lyman customer support and they wanted me to pay for shipping both ways.ways. I talked to the product manager at the shot show a few weeks later. He didn't seem to think that me paying for shipping was a big deal. I mentioned that it was only 2 days old and that if the shipping cost was no big deal, why didn't Lyman cover it? I was told that it was their policy for all retail products! I argued that the policy would be detrimental to repeat sales. He finally agreed to pay for the shipping from Lyman back to me. The thing is currently stored somewhere under a workbench. I'm not bitter, just a little smarter now.
Earl
Cheap Chinese Borescope
Just an FYI
There is a cheap but functional digital fiber optic camera available on Amazon for $17 (Prime/delivered). The camera is 5.5mm in diameter (.217"), has a light, the cable is ~10 ft., and it can be used with an Android based phone or a PC/USB. (No monitor or screen included.) It's a low-end unit and does not compare to a Hawkeye, but for basic barrel inspection at a very low cost it's a deal. Search "digital fiber optic camera" or "USB Endoscope".
Just an FYI
There is a cheap but functional digital fiber optic camera available on Amazon for $17 (Prime/delivered). The camera is 5.5mm in diameter (.217"), has a light, the cable is ~10 ft., and it can be used with an Android based phone or a PC/USB. (No monitor or screen included.) It's a low-end unit and does not compare to a Hawkeye, but for basic barrel inspection at a very low cost it's a deal. Search "digital fiber optic camera" or "USB Endoscope".
Earl Horgeshime
Member
Another source
I got one of those from Bangood.com. I think it was about 12 bucks or so. No application was included with mine but It worked with an application called "Yet Another Web Cam." (free on the net) It is very flexible right up to the last 5/8 of an inch. It will indeed fit down a 6 mm barrel. The cord was about 10 ft long and has a control for light intensity at the computer end. I can see the chamber very well but looking down the barrel is not as good as I was expecting. Perhaps I should not have expected more from a 12 dollar item. Since I wanted it to use at the lathe, and the computer is at the other end of the shop, I chose not to use it. I was soon to find it's real value. My son broke off a sparkplug while changing them (Mechanically declined?) when he finally got the base of the plug out, the electrode was missing. We looked inside the cylinder and there it was! we Fished with magnets and some "adhesive on a wire." The scope verified that we had cleaned the junk out of the cylinder. I have also used it while fishing wires inside a wall. Neither of these uses was the reason that I bought the thing but are the best reason that I can think of to keep it.
Earl
I got one of those from Bangood.com. I think it was about 12 bucks or so. No application was included with mine but It worked with an application called "Yet Another Web Cam." (free on the net) It is very flexible right up to the last 5/8 of an inch. It will indeed fit down a 6 mm barrel. The cord was about 10 ft long and has a control for light intensity at the computer end. I can see the chamber very well but looking down the barrel is not as good as I was expecting. Perhaps I should not have expected more from a 12 dollar item. Since I wanted it to use at the lathe, and the computer is at the other end of the shop, I chose not to use it. I was soon to find it's real value. My son broke off a sparkplug while changing them (Mechanically declined?) when he finally got the base of the plug out, the electrode was missing. We looked inside the cylinder and there it was! we Fished with magnets and some "adhesive on a wire." The scope verified that we had cleaned the junk out of the cylinder. I have also used it while fishing wires inside a wall. Neither of these uses was the reason that I bought the thing but are the best reason that I can think of to keep it.
Earl
Hawkeye uses polished and doped glass rods instead of older equipment that used a whole series of lenses held inside the tube at very critical distances.
By doping the rod the speed of light in the material is altered allowing it to act as a lens.
It is no longer a uniform glass rod.
It allowed the price to drop from the many thousands range to the less than $1,000 range for a Hawkeye.
For lower resolution there are also games that can be played using a bundle of optical fibers.
The resolution is limited by the diameter of the fibers used to build the bundle.
By doping the rod the speed of light in the material is altered allowing it to act as a lens.
It is no longer a uniform glass rod.
It allowed the price to drop from the many thousands range to the less than $1,000 range for a Hawkeye.
For lower resolution there are also games that can be played using a bundle of optical fibers.
The resolution is limited by the diameter of the fibers used to build the bundle.
dmort
Active member
Is an Endoscope what they stuck up my butt for a colonoscopy ?
YEP !!
And which instrument would you prefer the doctor to use-
A $5000 endoscope that is of optical/surgical quality
OR
A $10 - $200 Chinese piece of CHIT
My adjustable focus Gradient Lens Slimline Bore Scope w/ 90 degree adjustable focus eyepiece adapter has served me well for the past 25+ years.
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dmort
Active member
but very old school.
no screen/not photo.
much easier to talk with people when you
can show them a pic.
no screen/not photo.
much easier to talk with people when you
can show them a pic.
It is very simple to attach a camera of whatever quality you want to a Hawkeye.