You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72538
Interesting suggestion. I'll do whatever the majority wants on this. Thanks!
I'd like to hear more about lasers from you guys. There are tons of them out there, but I have no idea which to choose and how to get them into the US? haha
ive got a 1.2 watt blue laser myself. burns thru things nicely.
So where do you get a 1.2 watt blue laser?
I'm not allowed to have one- so NO!
build yourself with a host, driver, diode and heatsink , or purchase a pre-built one from a modder on LPF (cheapest to build yourself)
lasers are very much similar to flashlights
I have zero interest in lasers.
From what I have seen here with regards to purchasing and usage, that's a definite no. Lasers are a totally different ball game.
Not allowed to have them here, if you try to order from overseas customs keeps them and you lose your money.
Don't care either way. Can't legally own one except the very weak ones anyhow...
i have one laser question - which UV laser to get, under $30, that won't get taken by customs and uses AAA or AA. After that, no interest in lasers.
looks like tmart and gadgettown only sell <5mw lasers now. what happened to all the inflated >50mW lasers.
I think a laser section would be great.
Lasers are interesting, but beware that they are very dangerous also. Not to mention that there are prejudicial laws against them and users of lasers. For example, if you are outside at night and accidentally hit a driver with a laser beam, and they crash, you get merciless treatment from the law. You will be in jail. It's almost not worth it, you have to be extremely careful. Also, check over some of the safety issues and pictures posted by laser users who have permanently damaged their vision by getting hit with a laser beam in the eye, even if for only a split second. I mean, to each their own, but beware the enormous safety and legal issues on a personal level. I have a few <5mw class IIIa green lasers, just be informed if you are new to lasers. They really hammer people if lasers are involved in any mishap.
Which you certainly deserve in that case.
mfm, maybe so, but this goes to show that even the most careful people will make mistakes, and what started as only innocent fun, turns into jail and no understanding. For instance, you can mistakenly point the laser no where near a car, but if it hits a reflective surface, the laser beam will bounce with little to no loss of intensity. You may have 'thought' you were being responsible and careful, but a laser beam is very tricky to control sometimes.....but the Law will not care.
Check ebay... a lot of options...
Shouldn't it be more of a "how many people are interested in having a laser section" type of vote? If you aren't interested in going into that sub-forum, just don't go there (I'm not sure why there is a "no" vote).
If there are 600 people that are interested by voting "yes" and 601 people vote "no", why should the people that are interested in having a section for lasers be at the mercy of people that aren't interested in visiting that section of the forum (those that voted "no")?
I agree with most of you, power lasers are cheap and also freaking cool but very dangerous if used by not wise ppl that consider lasers in the way that I have objectified... compared the lithium batteries are rounded scissors;
just pro hobbyist or professional should use, better leave them to specialized forums.
You can legally own them in the U.S.
Federal rules for those owning or using lasers in the U.S.
In the U.S., it is legal under federal law to own a laser of any power. But often people talk about “illegal laser pointers”. This is somewhat confusing shorthand meaning that the manufacturer or seller illegally called a laser above 5 milliwatts a “pointer”, or illegally promoted it for pointing purposes.
Manufacturing and selling is illegal, not possession or safe use
Under federal law, it is perfectly legal to sell any laser above 5 mW as long as the laser complies with FDA/CDRH laser product requirements for labels, safety features, quality control, etc. AND as long as the laser is not promoted as a “laser pointer” or for pointing purposes.
If a laser over 5 mW is called a “pointer” or is sold for pointing purposes, the person doing the illegal action is the manufacturer or seller. If the consumer (end user) has a mislabeled or non-compliant laser, it is legal for them to possess it. We are unaware of any cases where a non-compliant consumer laser has been taken from its owner simply for being mislabeled or because it did not have the safety features of its class.
From: http://laserpointersafety.com/rules-general/rules-US-consumers/rules-US-consumers.html