It will just be for fun no real purpose. I am asking this here because I know many people who are into list also like lasers.
I’m looking for the most powerful (probably green) laser than takes 18650s for $40 or there a bouts. Less will work if it is powerful. I would like to be able to do some of the cool things like pop balloons and burn stuff. I have a green pen laser but it is not powerful enough to burn anything.
I have a "200mw" green laser coming from the wallbuys sale. I think it runs off 18650s, but it wasn't specified. Other than that no experience with lasers. ;)
I know, I saw you snapped one up. I was going to buy one from that sale but I was worried it would get confiscated by customs and mess with the rest of my order. I tried to make a separate order for one but time ran out on that deal for me.
When you get it, let us know how it compares to other green lasers. Specifically, what if anything will it burn.
Can a 200mw laser burn stuff?
Scaru, I was just reading the notes. Important info!
Please remove the battery when not in use , put the child is not easy to get a place ! lol!!
I think so. I know it is extremely dangerous and can cause blindness so I'm gonna be extra careful.
Ok, I will refrain from pointing my laser into my ear...
Yes please do, especially when there so many other fun orifices that you can fry. J)
http://lazerer.com/ is where I brought all 3 of my non-homemade lasers. They will measure your laser before they ship it out and guarantee the power if you want.
I have a 50mW 532nm green, a 200mW 650nm red and a 1000mW 445nm blue.
I often find myself using the green even though it is the lowest power (50mW is a little weak for burning things though), the red just isn’t that visible to the eye even though it can burn stuff pretty well, and the blue is just so dangerous it’s almost not fun to play with, it is by far the most impressive though, it will also burn anything, like… anything.
The 50mW green is about half as visible as the 1000mW blue in air. The green lasers are all DPSS lasers as well so they have a really nice thin beam with great divergence, the big powerful blues (445’s) are all multi-mode diodes so they need a nice glass lens just to get the beam to not be a train wreck, beam will still be fat though.
I hope to have a 500mW+ green in the future, I can’t imagine what they must look like in real life. This thing would be absolutely sick.
I’m also looking for a laser. Probably green. How powerful can I get before it becomes dangerous. I would like to be able to play with pets and show it off a little.
Even a 5mw green one is dangerous...
Before I came here, I am also Flomotion on laserpointerforums and photonlexicon. I have a WL 1 watt 445nm, a 400mw 405nm, a 250mw 650nm, and a 450mw 532nm. They will mess you up, unless you have eye protection. Any reflection directly back into your eyes can immediately burn holes in your retina. My greenie will go straight up for over 100 miles. Even a 50mw can temporary blind a pilot on a direct hit. It is a federal offense to shine a laser at any aircraft, and as the green ones can go for miles, it is possible to hit aircraft and not be aware of it. If you want lasers, go here:
Wear Eye Protection, or go blind…really…
With remaining eye…do not look into laser. Reflections can easily cause damage as well.
Yeah, get safety glasses with the appropriate lenses for whatever wavelength laser you’re working with. Yes, that may mean you need several pairs. And you’ll need them for whomever else is standing around.
Cheap 5mW lasers are dazzling to the eye, but I suspect most of them do not have the optics to generate irradiance high enough to cause permanent damage. Remember that it is not just the output power that is a factor, it is also how much area that power is spread over. You can have a very powerful laser, but if the beam is diffuse, you won’t cook anything.
If you want the numbers, this is an excellent primer on the subject:
http://spie.org/Documents/Publications/00%20STEP%20Module%2002.pdf
All of these are pretty nice for around $40:
http://www.lazerpoint.com/sc-green-laser-pointers?minPrice=38&maxPrice=45&submit=GO&categoryId=009002&submit=GO%2CGO&sortby=pricedesc&pagesize=20&viewmode=grid
I have this one:
http://www.lazerpoint.com/p-ultrafire-200mw-1000m-532nm-green-laser-pointer-pen-set-black_2077569
It says 18650 but after they mod the flashlight body, it only will accept a 16340 or 18350.
I would like to second Lazerer. I bought my purple 100mW(~$45) from there and it is great.
Chances are that you aren’t going to be able to burn anything if you can’t focus the beam.
Also, for everyone in the US (unless things have changed) in order to legally purchase/own/import/whatever, anything over 5mW needs to have a safety lockout key.
EDIT
Forgot to add that my laser runs on either 1x16340 or 1x18650.
As in the above post, I am a laser convert to flashlights. I have been in lasers for many years, built and bought many. I would like to recommend http://o-like.com/ because, like Chinese lumens, many sellers lie about the true mw power. Example, you order a 200 mw green, and it is actually about 30 mw. So you learn the hard way. o-like tests the units before sale, and there are aways overspec. Example if you order a 400 mw 405nm, it could be 450 to 480 mw. So, just believe me, after many errors, before learning about o-like, Suzie at o-like will treat you right, and the laser will be overspec…
+1 Lazerez. All custom lasers and a super nice fella!
If someones looking for a 532nm that LPM's at +830mW shoot me a PM....I may have a 250mW 532nm as well
I was going to PM you about the 250mW, but I can’t afford to lose any body parts to the wife lol. :bigsmile:
+1 
I was tempted to get one during the Wallbuys sale but I’ve used lasers in lab settings and decided the idea of using a > 5 mW laser essentially as a toy frightens me.
If I ever met someone carrying such a strong laser, I'd immediately smack them in the face.