Using Your Borescope: Best Practices and Precautions
Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) is becoming an essential part of quality control, maintenance, and troubleshooting across industries. At first, professionals—especially those new to visual inspection—may be unsure if specialized training is required to use a borescope.
The good news? For most applications, it’s not. Unless you’re working in aviation or environments that require certifications like Confined Space or Lockout/Tagout training, borescopes are intuitive to use. That said, proper care and handling will protect your investment and ensure consistent performance.
Choosing the Right Probe
Start by selecting the correct probe diameter and length for your inspection. Bigger isn’t always better—a longer probe can be more cumbersome and is only necessary if your inspection path requires it.
Handle with Care
Your borescope’s insertion tube is a precision instrument. Avoid excessive bending or force. Articulating scopes contain internal cable guides that can be damaged if misused. And remember: your borescope is not a cleaning tool—never use it to push out debris or foreign objects.
Built for Portability—Not Abuse
Most Hawkeye video borescopes are lightweight, compact, and easy to carry to the job site. Some models include a carry strap or mounting options for hands-free use. While designed to withstand drops of up to 30 inches, we don’t recommend putting that to the test.
Our probes are water-, oil-, and dust-resistant (IP-rated), giving you flexibility in various environments—but they’re not intended for prolonged submersion.
Watch the Temperature
Avoid inserting your scope into high-heat areas unless your model includes an integrated temperature sensor. If the inspection surface is too hot to touch, it’s too hot for the scope.
Know Your Environment
Working in hazardous, explosive, or high-voltage areas? Don’t assume your borescope is safe to use there. Always consult your user manual. When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is: If you wouldn’t stick your finger there, don’t insert your borescope.
Whatever You Call It—Treat It Right
Whether you refer to it as a borescope, videoscope, fiberscope, or inspection camera, it’s a specialized tool. With proper care, your Hawkeye borescope won’t just help you see better—it will save time, reduce errors, and keep your operation running smoothly.