5mw lasers

When looking at other lasers I see some sites advertise a 5mw and claim they burn and light items. Is this possible or is this the way they must advertise to sell items. These lasers inparticular are green 532. Just wondering as I see a lot sometimes

If you're in the United States, the rule states that no one is allowed to buy and import lasers above >5mW (that is, Class 3B and Class 4).

To burn items, you need around 100mW and above, which is clearly >5mW.

From these two facts, there can be two outcomes:

1. Either they're falsely advertising, which in this case you shouldn't buy them since it is a scam, or

2. They are telling you that it's actually higher power, but under-declaring it by putting it as 5mW so that they can bypass the regulations and sell to the United States.

In order to know which is which, you'll probably have to research a bit more.

I am in the U.S. that makes a lot of sense. I have fun with my red 200mw and have others ordered.

Remember to use it responsibly! If the situation gets out of hand, the authorities will definitely start going down hard on people and this place is likely to be hit as well. :beer:
(Don't you wish you could just strangle those who point these things at aircraft....:yabbmad

If you go on Amazon and see lasers that claim to burn things, they usually run at about 50mW, even though they are advertised 5mW. 50mW is just enough to light colored matches and make black objects smoke when focused. Otherwise, they're best for just pointing.

I went through eBay the other night and found all of these sellers that sell these magical 5mW lasers that can pop balloons and burn tape and messaged them all(7 in total) and they all said they were 100mW.

No you can't or it isn't 5mW.

I used to have one of those cheap 30mW greens (who knows the real power) and the only thing it burned was a few pixels of a ccd when I shone the beam directly on it.