First 405 looking for recommendation..

New to this forum been reading info (faqs, stickies, random threads) for about a week... I am interested in getting a 405nm for kicks (playing with glow in dark/ flourescense stuff) and to pop balloons and light matches... I choose 405 based on research that while its no the most visibly stunning in general it supposed to be the best bang for mw for burning AND because now days everyone has seen a red and a green but the purple/blueish of the 405 is still a rarity

So whats a decent 405 that wont break the bank (less then $80 if possible) and a pair or safety glasses to go with it?
I would attempt to build one myself using the tutorials and other info on this site but I have 0 experience with that type of thing and don't even own a soldering iron.

Thanks!

check this link out - Violet Laser Pointer lazerer.com is trusted on this forums and their lasers are usually up to spec, if not overspec

When I came onto the forums I had zero experience as well. I had never worked with any electronics, and never soldered. You can get cheap soldering irons just about anywhere, and all the supplies you need here through various sellers.
I would still suggest taking on making your own. It's a great feeling knowing that it was your labor that brought it all to life.
As for your price of less than $80....a 12x 405nm diode(with the punch your talking about) is $60 by it self....perhaps someone here may have one for sale though.
Good luck and welcome to LPF!:beer:

532 with Envy said:

When I came onto the forums I had zero experience as well. I had never worked with any electronics, and never soldered. You can get cheap soldering irons just about anywhere, and all the supplies you need here through various sellers.
I would still suggest taking on making your own. It's a great feeling knowing that it was your labor that brought it all to life.
As for your price of less than $80....a 12x 405nm diode(with the punch your talking about) is $60 by it self....perhaps someone here may have one for sale though.
Good luck and welcome to LPF!:beer:

Click to expand...

dtr sells them https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes

SerpantSlayer said:

check this link out - Violet Laser Pointer lazerer.com is trusted on this forums and their lasers are usually up to spec, if not overspec

Click to expand...

Would one of those 100mw ones from Lazerer be able to pop dark color balloons and light a sharpied match? I dont need it to do those things from 20 feet away either... just from like 3-4 feet would be fine with me.

they should be able to light even white balloons and matches. violet lasers are better absorbed into lighter colors that other colored lasers

Looks like I'll be ordering from Lazerer then...

Are the goggles that are also sold at Lazerer sufficient safety for using a 405nm?

Beginner Safety Goggles for 405nm / 445nm Laser

Edit **
Are the Lazerer lasers built with an IR Filter already or is that something I would need to consider modding/adding myself? I didn't see it mentioned on their website but I could have been blinded by all the lasery goodness

Edit 2x*
Read somewhere the blue ray lasers off sleds from BR Players/PS3 are not "ir pumped" does this mean the 405nm I'd be getting from Lazerer has no IR to worry about?

Reshals42 said:

Looks like I'll be ordering from Lazerer then...

Are the goggles that are also sold at Lazerer sufficient safety for using a 405nm?

Beginner Safety Goggles for 405nm / 445nm Laser

Edit **
Are the Lazerer lasers built with an IR Filter already or is that something I would need to consider modding/adding myself? I didn't see it mentioned on their website but I could have been blinded by all the lasery goodness

Edit 2x*
Read somewhere the blue ray lasers off sleds from BR Players/PS3 are not "ir pumped" does this mean the 405nm I'd be getting from Lazerer has no IR to worry about?

Click to expand...

Only 532nm (Green) laser hare IR. So you have nothing to worry about !