HELLO! From Iowa

Hello all LPF members!!!
I am very new to this site and figured I should introduce myself :yh:
I first started my interest in lasers when my uncle (the one with all the cool gadgets) pulls out something he called a "star pointer" I honestly could not say I had a clue what exactly he was even talking about until he shined that puppy straight up into the air pointing at stars, me not knowing anything about lasers at this point, (other than 1mw red lasers) it absolutely blew my mind,:drool:
I knew that I had to get my hands on one, so right when I got home I searched one up on amazon and bought the first one I saw which was a 532nm 5mw laser pointer for around $12 then later on I further found out that there were lasers out there that could burn!!! Again this was another jaw dropper for me, so once again I got online and purchased a green 300mw laser that came with eye protection for around $50 I have had tons of fun with it but I can just barley burn a match and barley pop a balloon so now I am ready to step up my game again! I have been researching on LPF for a while now and just made an account my first build is going to be this build:
How to make a cheap 1000mW+ Blue Laser Pointer - YouTube
I have ordered all of the parts and they should be here in about 5 days
I can't wait! I will be posting pics on here and videos on youtube of the build I plan to make many other builds! can't wait to start my adventure fellow LPF members hope to meet some of you and get tips and answered questions on this site
THANKS AGAIN! For an awesome website!

Hey Nross,

Welcome to the fabulous forums of LPF!

-Alex

HEY! Thanks can't wait to build some amazing lasers!
:lasergun:

There's no one in Iowa working with lasers !!!
That's where the tall corn grows.... (another song)
HMike

Welcome Nrosslaser. I am sure you will learn much on this site. A 1W burner is a pretty big jump from what you have had in the past and I have a few reservations on how good your safety Glasses that came with your green are! You really need good glasses if you are going to "Burn" Plenty of links on here where you can get them. Be Safe!

Welcome to LPF... have fun and be safe!

Cheers,
Clayton

Welcome to LPF! Can't wait to see your first build...

Nice to see another Iowan!

Welcome to the forums! Enjoy your addiction to lasers and be safe!

Welcome aboard! Once you get your laser built, secure it somewhere safe and turn it on. Pass your safety glasses across the beam and see if any of the beam passes through. Keep the glasses moving slowly around so as not to burn them. If any of the beam passes through they are not suitable for your laser.

Lasers in Iowa ?? Where??
It's lonesome here.............
HMike

You better believe it!!! Just got all the parts for my first build

Howdy stranger. Welcome to LPF. Lets see that first build.

ABSOLUTLEY! Should be done by Tuesday

Why don't noobs post even roughly where they are at
in a state? Maybe shame comes into play.
HMike

Good, another Iowan- Welcome

I grew up in Cedar Rapids, but my wife says its WAY too cold there in the winter (I guess growing up in Corpus Christi skews your perspective)

This has been a BAD Algore winter and it's not over yet.
Last year I lost a couple trees to an 8" snowfall on May 2. :-(
We might get a couple months of warm weather this year too....
HMike