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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Possible to buy "almost complete" laser in USA?

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Feb 19, 2016
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I've been looking at the idea of buying a higher powered laser (between 1W and 2W) and I live in the USA where such items are apparently legal to own, but not to manufacturer or sell. So the only option is to either buy one overseas and hope it doesn't get seized by Customs, or build one myself.

I keep hearing it's much cheaper to build one, but since I've never even handled a soldering iron or built an electronic item before, I'm hesitant to do this. I've watched youtube video tutorials about it and end up baffled by the terminology and procedures. Many of them say to start out with a flashlight as a host, and the flashlight they base their laser on is a Surefire. That's hardly cheap! I already have plenty of other "budget" flashlights, so I hope something like one of them could be used.

Can manufacturers in the USA make laser parts that are almost, but not quite, the finished product? A laser pointer is basically a flashlight with a laser diode in it instead of an LED or light bulb. Couldn't a manufacturer make a laser pointer without the laser diode and sell it legally? Then a customer could simply buy the diode separately and drop it into the unit and be all set! Does anyone do that already? If not, then how about modular parts where all the electronics are already assembled, but separates the unit into 3 or 4 parts that can be purchased separately and then joined together?
 
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Read up on the buy sell and trade section.
You can find DIY kits, as well as complete lasers that will be shipped to the us.
Check out scifi lasers. It's about a month wait but you will receive a working laser. Just make sure you insert you battery correctly!
If you are skeptical about ordering a "flashlight" through customs then you can order the DIY kit from scifi and order your diode separately.
There are many other good sources out there.
Get your glasses and get to reading
 

Razako

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Generally speaking you can just buy a laser from a Chinese company and it will make it through customs 99% of the time. I've ordered dozens of class 3b lasers from overseas and never had a single one of the "flashlights" get confiscated.
 
Joined
Feb 19, 2016
Messages
194
Points
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Read up on the buy sell and trade section.
You can find DIY kits, as well as complete lasers that will be shipped to the us.
Check out scifi lasers. It's about a month wait but you will receive a working laser. Just make sure you insert you battery correctly!
If you are skeptical about ordering a "flashlight" through customs then you can order the DIY kit from scifi and order your diode separately.
There are many other good sources out there.
Get your glasses and get to reading

I've been doing quite a bit of reading, especially today. I'll consider using the buy sell trade section, but of course I'd rather deal with an actual company so I know who I'm really dealing with and have return policies if there's a problem. As for companies, I've been hearing quite a bit of grief about Sci Fi lasers. I originally took an interest in the 1.5--1.8W one they have for $100, but then started reading some horror stories about the company. That's what got me to thinking maybe I should stay in-country and get something that has "limited assembly required", if possible.

Are there any American companies that sell such DIY kits? I notice the one at Sci fi costs almost as much as the completed unit!
 
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Generally speaking you can just buy a laser from a Chinese company and it will make it through customs 99% of the time. I've ordered dozens of class 3b lasers from overseas and never had a single one of the "flashlights" get confiscated.

I've heard that most of them made it through. But I did read an account on this forum where someone lost his order to customs and it made me think twice about it. So I figured it might just be safer to deal in the USA if possible. Not to mention China gets a pretty bad rep when it comes to things that don't work very well. :p
 

Razako

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I've heard that most of them made it through. But I did read an account on this forum where someone lost his order to customs and it made me think twice about it. So I figured it might just be safer to deal in the USA if possible. Not to mention China gets a pretty bad rep when it comes to things that don't work very well. :p
Yeah the biggest issue with Chinese companies is probably when you get the laser and it doesn't work. Sending it back to get it fixed or replaced can be a massive hassle. Honestly though, I've only ever gotten one bad laser out of all the lasers that I've bought from china and it was a cheap $30 laser from dealxtreme. I just ate the loss and didn't bother sending it back.
 
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Scifi lasers seems to be the easiest. Smoothest and best layed out website or company if you'd like to say that. However most of these companies are individuals. Therefore the forum here is a great place to get in touch, or a direct email.
I personally ordered the 1.6w 445 from joker at sci fi lasers. About 6 weeks and I received it. First thing I did was put 7.4 volts in it backwards and fried the driver. Joker replaced my module, out of kindness. And I am still waiting for the replacement!
My personal experience with eitan was well, and I have no complaints.

If you want a high power laser inside he United States you're going to have to find one already here, or wait a while...
Just how it is anymore
 
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Joined
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Messages
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Scifi lasers seems to be the easiest. Smoothest and best layed out website or company if you'd like to say that. However most of these companies are individuals. Therefore the forum here is a great place to get in touch, or a direct email.
I personally ordered the 1.6w 445 from joker at sci fi lasers. About 6 weeks and I received it. First thing I did was put 7.4 volts in it backwards and fried the driver. Joker replaced my module, out of kindness. And I am still waiting for the replacement!
My personal experience with eitan was well, and I have no complaints.

If you want a high power laser inside he United States you're going to have to find one already here, or wait a while...
Just how it is anymore

Actually, it was Scifi lasers that I was about to order from before I did some reading here about members who ordered from that site and have been waiting for months for their order, or found that their order went to a wrong address, or had their order seized by Customs, etc. and it made me think twice about buying from overseas (the Scifi laser site also says it will not replace any item seized by Customs). I'm not specifically trying to talk against Scifi lasers, but it's just that I'm now more comfortable with the idea of ordering from a company in the United States. I know that would mean building my own or buying a kit. Are there US companies that sell partially built kits? Are there any you'd recommend?
 
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Encap

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Actually, it was Scifi lasers that I was about to order from before I did some reading here about members who ordered from that site and have been waiting for months for their order, or found that their order went to a wrong address, or had their order seized by Customs, etc. and it made me think twice about buying from overseas (the Scifi laser site also says it will not replace any item seized by Customs). I'm not specifically trying to talk against Scifi lasers, but it's just that I'm now more comfortable with the idea of ordering from a company in the United States. I know that would mean building my own or buying a kit. Are there US companies that sell partially built kits? Are there any you'd recommend?

No US company can sell complete kits ---- they can sell diodes and diode assemblies or host kits that contain everything but the diode but not both from the same business.

Survival Lasers USA sells host kits with everything but the diode Survival Laser USA Home

DTR also in USA sells diodes and drivers https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/

SciFi makes great low cost kits---- $69.99 for a 1W 445nm blue 501B DIY Complete Kit
 
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I was under understanding that scifi lasers would refund or send a replacement pack if seized.
I mean if you've read it on the site then I guess I am wrong. But I believe I asked joker myself before my purchase, and he confirmed that all would be well.
I had a pleasant buying experience. just took a while.
Joker sometimes is forgetful or an incorrect code might be sent out.
This is because these are not wide span companies, but more of a mom and pop in the garage type business.
I could be wrong however, but none the less.
Go ahead and order your laser from scifi. give it about a month
 

OVNI

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There are sellers here on LPF and on eBay that sell kits which require the skill of screwing a heat sink into a host. That's it. If you don't really care what the host looks like checkout eBay - those hosts are really just flashlights.

If you prefer a custom outstanding looking host for a few more $$$, checkout Eghemus here on LPF (he's in KY IIRC). He has posts w/pictures all over the place. Other members even post tributes to him. If you find a host you like that he has made before, he'll make you another one. Or, as some here have done, he'll make one to your specifications.
 
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Messages
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No US company can sell complete kits ---- they can sell diodes and diode assemblies or host kits that contain everything but the diode but not both from the same business.

Survival Lasers USA sells host kits with everything but the diode Survival Laser USA Home

DTR also in USA sells diodes and drivers https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/

SciFi makes great low cost kits---- $69.99 for a 1W 445nm blue 501B DIY Complete Kit

Ok, so let's see if I understand this correctly. I can go to Survivallasersusa and buy this: Survival Laser R Host Bundle - Components Only- No Diode and then go to DTR and buy this: https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/bdr-209-405nm-16x-diodes and then drop that diode into the host and I'm all done? Is that all I'd have to do (other than install batteries)?
 
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Messages
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I was under understanding that scifi lasers would refund or send a replacement pack if seized.
I mean if you've read it on the site then I guess I am wrong. But I believe I asked joker myself before my purchase, and he confirmed that all would be well.
I had a pleasant buying experience. just took a while.
Joker sometimes is forgetful or an incorrect code might be sent out.
This is because these are not wide span companies, but more of a mom and pop in the garage type business.
I could be wrong however, but none the less.
Go ahead and order your laser from scifi. give it about a month

If he tells me this is the case, then I'd go ahead and order from him. However, on his site under Shipping and Return Policies, it says the following: "We guarantee that if the laser will arrive broken , it will be replaced for free. However , in cases which customs \ post office workers have opened the package and used the item ( and broke it ) we will not replace the item." Shipping & Return Policies

I guess there's nothing here specifically about Customs seizures, so I guess that's something I'd have to get cleared up first.
 
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Send him a private message.
Actually email him. The forum should give you the option too

get it ordered up, and get to reading. On laser safety.
Here on the forums you can find tons of knowledge, I don't mean to nag you about it, but it's something to do while you wait and might keep you out of trouble.
Guy in Dallas was sentenced 15 for shining his laser at a heli purposefully just the other day, They got his ass:na:
 
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I pm'd you :)

I can guarantee shipping time if you do not want to wait. We got a better handling time today.

And yes , if the laser is being seized by customs a refund or a new laser will be given. That is my policy.

:beer:

Edit :

On the website. The FAQ is prrety old. I can update it if you want. Though my policy has changed a long ago. I guarantee delivery.

:)
 
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I pm'd you :)

I can guarantee shipping time if you do not want to wait. We got a better handling time today.

And yes , if the laser is being seized by customs a refund or a new laser will be given. That is my policy.

:beer:

Edit :

On the website. The FAQ is prrety old. I can update it if you want. Though my policy has changed a long ago. I guarantee delivery.

:)

I just pm'd you back! You may have just won me over! :yh:
 




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