Hello from Minnesota

Global warming hit here in North Iowa too. :-(
Hey -- There's lots of LPF folks in the Midwest! Welcome.
HMike

Hemlock_Mike said:

Global warming hit here in North Iowa too. :-(
Hey -- There's lots of LPF folks in the Midwest! Welcome.
HMike

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My aunt lives in Iowa. This weather is crazy as well.

Welcome!

And I keep wondering why the same thing is happening to Mars, Venus and Pluto.
The ice caps have been melting on Mars for a while.
Some say it's just orbital changes of most of the planets.
I personally think it's strange that multiple planets including our own are all just randomly warming up close to the same time.

usedwolverine56 said:

No problem, I personally think you shouldn't start HUGE like that. Even with my 80mw 520nm it is still dangerous. Starting with 1w is exetreme. Just one reflection into your safety glasses from ebay could give you eye damage. Get these if you are doing 1w Eagle Pair® 190-540nm Standard Laser Safety Goggles

If you don't want to do 1w than here are some of my suggestions.
15mw green. Over-spec (around 25mw-37mw) and really bright.Green Laser Pointers : Dragon Lasers
Laser Glow 5mw "Anser" bright but not enough for burning tricks.Laserglow Technologies

Take a look around dragon lasers and tell us what you think you're going to do.:thanks:

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Thank you very much for the suggestions, especially the safety glasses. I was looking at several threads, and found varying, slightly confusing info concerning the standard 'cheapies' vs. more specific. I have a pair of cheapies on the way, but will be purchasing the "Eagle Pair®" you linked for me. BTW, any chance someone has a 'Discount Code'? Never hurts to ask...

Also, I do understand about starting huge, and safety issues. I admit to not being a knowledgeable laser junky just yet, but am well versed on all manners of personal safety in regards to them. As mentioned, I have been around lasers since the 90's with firearms and in my manufacturing (past life as it went away) career. I have had at least 3 red lasers (670, 650, 635nm) with mounts for both pistols and rifles. I have used them extensively through the years, (fiddling for fun mostly) but the last couple years they have been mounted on a couple different weapons, but that's it. Only a couple guns left, and a couple red lasers.

I am also a trained and certified firearms range officer, so safety with anything you could 'accidentally or negligently' point at yourself or others, including lasers, I take very seriously. So yeah, no real experience with powerful lasers, but handled and shot more low and high powered pistols and rifles in 40 years than I can remember, but just know I have.. After a while it all blurs... lol

Lastly, I am also a bit of a flashaholic and have about a dozen or so nicer flash/tacticool lights topping out at 1150 lumens. Again I know this does not make me a qualified high power laser handler, but just explaining I not a noob to other 'safety hazards' that can do a lot more than blind you..

I'll definitely learn from you guys, and be careful, but I have to have at least one 'huge' one, just because I have to. I have to admit, I'm nervous about it, but that's a good thing for my being cautious and double checking everything before and during any use.

Never point at anything you don't intend to shoot, burn or destroy at all!

P.S. OMG the weather turned ugly the last few days.. 8 inches of snow, with 12 inch plus drifts, all on glare ice.. Temps now in the teens and single digits, brrr.

UW, you were right about the snow hitting here, just a day or two later.

Well at least my mountain dog is enjoying it. Having to walk him at least once a day is forcing me to acclimatize to it whether I want to or not.