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Please help! I am new to lasers. =)

F4RR3LL

F4RR3LL

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I have recently found a love of lasers, which has persuaded me to buy one. I want to get a decent laser to begin with. The problem is that I don't know where to start. Can anyone recommend a good company that is a bit on the cheap side? I have been looking at rayfoss, and a few other companies, but can't make up my mind. I think I want a 532nm 30-50mw to start. I don't want an overrated piece of junk (I'm trusting you guys, since i don't have access to a LPM). Also, if someone could explain the shipping to me, that would be great. I don't understand how I would get an above 5mw laser shipped to my house in California. I also need goggles. Any recommendations there? Thanks in advance for your help!
 





tsteele93

tsteele93

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F4RR3LL said:
I have recently found a love of lasers, which has persuaded me to buy one. I want to get a decent laser to begin with. The problem is that I don't know where to start. Can anyone recommend a good company that is a bit on the cheap side? I have been looking at rayfoss, and a few other companies, but can't make up my mind. I think I want a 532nm 30-50mw to start. I don't want an overrated piece of junk (I'm trusting you guys, since i don't have access to a LPM). Also, if someone could explain the shipping to me, that would be great. I don't understand how I would get an above 5mw laser shipped to my house in California. I also need goggles. Any recommendations there? Thanks in advance for your help!
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Derek,

Do some reading here on the forum. It is hard to answer all of your questions in one shot, but many of your questions can be answered by reading the sticky posts at the top of the forum.

:)
 
F4RR3LL

F4RR3LL

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Thank you tsteele! I will try looking a little deeper in the forums. There is just so much information to take in! Haha. I am really aiming to make the right decisions when it comes to this new hobby. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
tsteele93

tsteele93

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Derek,

A decent company to start with is O-like. There are others, but I personally have experience with them. Also, check out the Buy Sell Trade forum here.

There is a very good deal on overspec greens from one of our members and no customs hassles and no waiting for shipment from China. You may also want to check Cajunlasers.com.

There are a lot of good sellers in the BST forum.
 
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BiggerDee

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Be very careful on the power that you start out with. You definitely don't want your fist laser to be the one that blinds you! No matter what you get, or where you get it from, buy a quality pair of safety glasses appropriate for the wavelength and power of your laser. I can't stress this enough, and you will see it time and time again here. Never get complacent or underestimate the power of any laser. There are many very smart folks on this board, heed their advice wisely and you will be able to enjoy your lasers for a lifetime. A healthy lifetime!
 
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TheReddish

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bah I played with pointer when they came out in the 80s, and worked on ah-64d neodymium lasers but my first real laser that I owned was a good old a140 diode powered one, when you see it burn into wood instantly like a hot soldiering iron, it gives ya a healthy respect for what it would do to you eyes, had I got a less powerful, I would have had less err fear.

Anyway have fun here, don't rush your first purchase. Hang out a week and see what you want, you will have more wisdom and will make a better purchase, you may even build your own. Good luck and don't worry about hitting your eye with a laser, just watch some burn videos on Youtube, now imagine that's you eyeball, you wont shine it in your eye, do get goggles asap, but you need to know what kinda laser you want so you can get the right goggles, if you do have an oops, count yourself lucky that we have 2 eyes and depth perception is over rated.
 
tsteele93

tsteele93

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BiggerDee said:
Be very careful on the power that you start out with. You definitely don't want your first laser to be the one that blinds you!
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Yeah, you should probably wait for your last laser to be the one that blinds you! :crackup:

TheReddish said:
Anyway have fun here, don't rush your first purchase. Hang out a week and see what you want, you will have more wisdom and will make a better purchase,
Click to expand...

Good advice, I can't tell you how much money I wasted buying the wrong lasers at first.

if you do have an oops, count yourself lucky that we have 2 eyes and depth perception is over rated.
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You are funny, I like how you think!
 
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F4RR3LL

F4RR3LL

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Thank you tsteele! I have looked at o-like, and am impressed with their prices and appearance of their lasers. And just like thereddish said, I am in no hurry to buy a laser. I am really studying up before my first purchase. It seems as though I'm leaning closer and closer to building my own. It sounds fun, not to mention a bit cheaper! :)
 
tsteele93

tsteele93

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Well, there are compromises in everything. If you want QUALITY then Optotronics, jetlasers and some of the better companies out there are the way to go. But you pay dearly! On the other hand, if you buy too cheap you pay dearly when you have to buy again. But if you find a good compromise you can find a good laser that doesn't cost too much and lasts for pretty good long time.
 
F4RR3LL

F4RR3LL

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I mainly just want a strong beam. Not necessarily a burning laser. 50mw can't burn much anyway. I will probably use it for astronomical purposes, and fun.
 
tsteele93

tsteele93

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F4RR3LL said:
I mainly just want a strong beam. Not necessarily a burning laser. 50mw can't burn much anyway. I will probably use it for astronomical purposes, and fun.
Click to expand...

You should be able to easily find a nice 50mW green then. Check Swim's overspec green pointer thread for something like that if you want it fast.
 
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