Under water scope

Prospecting Australia

Help Support Prospecting Australia:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Beagleboy

Beagleboy

Milan
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Messages
1,069
Reaction score
556
Location
Melbourne
I have finally finished my scope today. The last thing was the plexiglass that just arrived today from ebay (3mm A4 size for $7.99). On the picture below is my son with the Dremel cutting the plexiglass. It had to fit between the pipe and the drain fitting exactly. He did a great job. Just put a bead of silicon where the glass goes and than you can push the pipe on top of the glass.
I did not glue it in case I ever need to change the glass.

1380098470_rsz_1img_4162.jpg


I used PVC pipe that was an off cut from my crevice pump and PVC drain fitting from Bunnings for about $5.00. The inside was sprayed with matt black paint I bought at a trash & treasure market for $2.99 and the handle for $1.00. Cost to build this was minimal, very easy and it looks like a bought one.

1380098958_rsz_img_4165.jpg


1380099000_rsz_img_4166.jpg
 
The gold will never see you coming for it, looks great, can I ask why you went with a black interior? I would have thought white or PVC grey would have been better to get the light under the water.

Good luck looking at gold in its hiding holes.

Cheers, Tone
 
TenOunce Tone said:
The gold will never see you coming for it, looks great, can I ask why you went with a black interior? I would have thought white or PVC grey would have been better to get the light under the water.

Good luck looking at gold in its hiding holes.

Cheers, Tone
Click to expand...

I have looked at few different ones on the net and they recommended to paint it black on the inside.
 
Great job. I've seen this a few times over the net and was wondering when someone on the forum would actually start a thread about it. I've seen it in action and it almost as good as being under the water yourself. Hmmm, time for a trip to Bunnings in the morning I think :) May your ventures be fruitful and as Wal&Liz say ... may the gold shine brightly in your scope.
 
Well done Beagle.
I made one too but not as flash as the ones in this thread.

Just some PVC pipe & a piece of perspex glued to one end.
Once the glue dried I used an angle grinder to cut off the excess perspex & then the bench grinder to round it & smooth off the edges.

They work great hey ;)
 
TenOunce Tone said:
....can I ask why you went with a black interior? I would have thought white or PVC grey would have been better to get the light under the water.
Click to expand...

Lighter coloured interiors can cause reflections on the lower glass that can obscure what you are attempting to look at. Matt/Flat black is ideal.
 
Marked said:
TenOunce Tone said:
....can I ask why you went with a black interior? I would have thought white or PVC grey would have been better to get the light under the water.
Click to expand...

Lighter coloured interiors can cause reflections on the lower glass that can obscure what you are attempting to look at. Matt/Flat black is ideal.
Click to expand...

That is excactly what I have used. Matt black. You just have to give it few coats to make it not run.
 
This is a great idea. Might have to knock one up next time im in the shed messing around.
Thanks for the info and pics so at least i can pretend I know what im doing when I attempt building one.
 
Nice job, looks professionally done! Just out of curiosity, in what circumstances do you use it in and what would you be looking for? I'll have to see what I got laying in the shed and make one up myself!

Cheers.
 
Largely useful for working underwater crevices/looking for natural gathering places underwater. Some of the best sluices and riffles are those made by nature itself.
 
hahahahaa I love that idea Wal, God, that was funny lol.

I've finally finished mine, it's a long bugger, 1M in length, I've used silicon to hold the perspex window in place but I've only push-fitted the flaring end, this is so that I can remove it for cleaning purposes as the unit is so long. Reason for the length is to save my back lol, hopefully I can see all the way down without glasses :D
 
Question, would this work or is anyone using this as under water scope? (2.4 LCD Video Inspection Camera Pipe Borescope Endoscope waterproof TV output) can add 3M extention, comes with 1M

1382674281_642198629_tp.jpg
 
gavfromoz said:
hahahahaa I love that idea Wal, God, that was funny lol.

I've finally finished mine, it's a long bugger, 1M in length, I've used silicon to hold the perspex window in place but I've only push-fitted the flaring end, this is so that I can remove it for cleaning purposes as the unit is so long. Reason for the length is to save my back lol, hopefully I can see all the way down without glasses :D
Click to expand...

All that is required for these to work is to sit a couple of inches into the water (unless you are building the magnifying version) as the biggest barrier to being able to see into moving water is the varied reflection/refraction of the turbulent surface. If you aren't standing in the middle of rapids, you may even get away with using a scuba/snorkeling mask to do the job.

Having said that, a long version may be of use in an overly bright and glare-y environment...
 

Similar threads

Moneybox
Some days I should stay in bed.
2
Replies
24
Views
3K
Moneybox
Moneybox
Greenhornet_au
Has one of my wishes finally come true....
Replies
4
Views
1K
Jaros
Jaros
J
Bell siphon pump for a sluice
Replies
5
Views
3K
junkdog
junkdog
BHM14
Wafting for easier gold
Replies
9
Views
3K
BHM14
BHM14
Deepseeker
Sandy Shafts
2
Replies
31
Views
11K
Deepseeker
Deepseeker

Latest posts

Top