Interested in Argon Ion lasers?

Hey everybody,

I'm putting this thread out as a feeler for anyone who may currently be interested in buying some argon lasers. I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to trip over the damn things. (no MOM I'm not addicted I can quit any time I want)


Noob notice: Argon lasers are large and require large amounts of electrical power and produce subsequently large amounts of heat. These systems at one time cost a laboratory somewhere on the order of $10,000 or more. Mostly these have been removed from decommissioned laboratory equipment. These lasers use a large electrical current to excite argon gas as the lasing medium. The beam quality is far superior to diode lasers, and for multiline lasers, lase multiple colors a the same time in the same laser beam.

Here are some general stats:
Shipping to USA only (sorry, they're heavy and fragile)
Types available: two single lines, bunch of multilines (mainly box style), one Ar/Kr mixedgas

Pricing is as follows:
Argon 1: Multiline Box style, 35mW at 7.36A, 7 lines - $275 works with 120v supply only, includes fan
Argon 2: Multiline Box style, 43mW at 7.72A, 7 lines - $275 works with 120v supply only, includes fan
Argon 3: Multiline Box style, failed to start $125 works with 120v supply only, includes fan (was working previously but sat too long, will likely ignite with an oudin coil)
Argon 4: Single line box style, 488nm, not yet tested - $100 works with 120v and 240v supplies, no fan
Argon 5: Single line cylinder style, 488nm, low power not yet tested - $35 (works with 120v and 240v supplies), no fan
Argon 6: Multiline cylinder style, last metered at >160mW at 10A - $300 (works with 120v and 240v supplies), no fan
Argon 7: Lexel 95 system, water cooled 208v three phase, working PSU but dead tube, good mirrors, includes single line tuning prism (Local pickup in PA only) $150
Argon 8: HGM5 Tube only, gas intact but untested - $300
Argon/Krypton 1: Multiline box style, 5 lines and 10mW at 10A, 5580 hours on tube, no fan - $325 Lines: 676.4nm 647.1nm 568.2nm 488nm 476.2nm

120v power supply: $100 (JDSU 2101 and 2112)
240v power supply: $60 (JDSU 2114)
240v mixedgas supply: $60 (

240v cooling fans: $25
120v coooling fans $ask

If a couple people are interested, then it will be worth my time to fire them all up and do some burns to check power output, line count, compatible components, etc. Otherwise I'm not going to bother.

(This isn't even all of them :tinfoil: )



Why argon lasers?





Thanks for looking

Does the mixed gas require 220V?

Peace,
dave

Good luck with the sales , Just out of curiosity , is the ILT in the picture the Ar 5500 ?

daguin said:

Does the mixed gas require 220V?

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Yes, unfortunately. It's an Omnichrome (now Melles Griot) 643 which requires 240v.

That one I know the specs of as it was recently tweaked and given a good run. Output power is maybe a smidge over 10mW but she lases on 5 lines once she warms up (it's listed in my sig)

ionlaser555 said:

Good luck with the sales , Just out of curiosity , is the ILT in the picture the Ar 5500 ?

Click to expand...

The one in the picture is actually my 5500KR (not for sale) although it looks identical to the argon version.

I might be interested in the mixed gas or your krypton.

MarioMaster said:

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This pic appears to be a Lexel next to a Coherent. What model Lexel?

I could be interested in the high power single line with power supply and fan for 120 VAC. Can you give me the power output and the price for all plus shipping to Tacoma, WA?

if you have a multiline doing 200+mW polarized and with good beam specs, ping me.

MarioMaster said:

Hey everybody,

I'm putting this thread out as a feeler for anyone who may currently be interested in buying some argon lasers. I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to trip over the damn things. (no MOM I'm not addicted I can quit any time I want)


Noob notice: Argon lasers are large and require large amounts of electrical power and produce subsequently large amounts of heat. These systems at one time cost a laboratory somewhere on the order of $10,000 or more. Mostly these have been removed from decommissioned laboratory equipment. These lasers use a large electrical current to excite argon gas as the lasing medium. The beam quality is far superior to diode lasers, and for multiline lasers, lase multiple colors a the same time in the same laser beam.

Here are some general stats:
Shipping to USA only (sorry, they're heavy and fragile)
Types available: two single lines, bunch of multilines (mainly box style), one Ar/Kr mixedgas

Approximate pricing is as follows:
Low power single line: $35
High power single line: $100
Low power multi line $200
High power multi line: $300
Low power mixedgas multiline: $300
120v power supply: $100
240v power supply: $60

240v cooling fans: $25
120v coooling fans $ask

If a couple people are interested, then it will be worth my time to fire them all up and do some burns to check power output, line count, compatible components, etc. Otherwise I'm not going to bother.

(This isn't even all of them :tinfoil: )

Why argon lasers?

Thanks for looking

Click to expand...

DJZ said:

This pic appears to be a Lexel next to a Coherent. What model Lexel?

Click to expand...

I took that picture a few years back at selem - it's djmatt's lexel 88 iirc. No idea on the coherent.

paul1598419 said:

I could be interested in the high power single line with power supply and fan for 120 VAC. Can you give me the power output and the price for all plus shipping to Tacoma, WA?

Click to expand...

Will do, it's a box style 488 head with a longer than usual umbilical cable, manufactured in 2007

swamidog said:

if you have a multiline doing 200+mW polarized and with good beam specs, ping me.

Click to expand...

I have an HGM5 tube if you would be interested in that, not sure if that would qualify as good beam specs

MarioMaster said:

I have an HGM5 tube if you would be interested in that, not sure if that would qualify as good beam specs

Click to expand...

nope!

MarioMaster, great! PM me when you have the information. Also. what is the manufacturer and the model #? I have a box type with a longer than normal cord, so the power is important if I am going to purchase this one. Thanks.

paul1598419 said:

MarioMaster, great! PM me when you have the information. Also. what is the manufacturer and the model #? I have a box type with a longer than normal cord, so the power is important if I am going to purchase this one. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Most of the heads I have are JDSU / Uniphase

The higher powered single line is a 2211-20SLE which has the round and square plugs on the end of the cable (requires a 2112 PSU)

Hour meter is basically unreadable, my best guess is nearly maxed out at around 10,000 hours but this was likely at idle current as to the output exceeded 60mW last time it was tested in light mode.

MarioMaster, sounds very similar to the one I have. But, if the price is right and the output is still over 60mW I could still consider purchasing it from you. PM me when you know for sure. Thanks.

Bump, I plan on getting most of the lasers fired up and metered this weekend.

I'd be up for a high power single line

I might be able to run that high power single line off my power supply. It has the round canon plug on the power supply side and the rectangular three wire male to female plug going to the laser. It was designed to run the same 20mW 488nm laser as your > 60mW laser. So, if your high power single line uses that type power supply, it would probably work with mine.