Rear click vs side clicky

I have not had a rear clicky laser yet and it just seems like I'd want the side button all the time. I'm having a hard time imagining how I would handle such a laser.

Do you mostly just turn it on and wave it around for a bit (that sounds dangerous but I don't mean wildly) then turn it off or mostly secure it someplace and have it's location fixed? Maybe duct tape them to ceiling fan blades? (kidding of course). I suppose you could hold them up kinda by your face and press with your thumb with the bottom or outside part of your hand facing out.

Maybe it is much more natural, but it just seems like it would be hard to maneuver something that can not be switched on and off at will like the pen and smaller pointers.

Maybe I would be happy with it idk, but I'm afraid to go that route (and missing some nice hosts as a result). Thanks

BodhiSci

BodhiSci said:

I have not had a rear clicky laser yet and it just seems like I'd want the side button all the time. I'm having a hard time imagining how I would handle such a laser.

Click to expand...

See this post for handling instructions:

danefex said:

Option 1 - dart tosser

Option 2 - the detonator

Option 3 - the taco holder

Option 4 - 2 handed charlie

Click to expand...

I'm a a 2 handed charlie

I like both side and tail and side clicky switches but I think side clicky switches are way better for single handed use.

I like rear clickys myself but mostly because i hold laser slightly infront of my face and look down the beam if you know what I mean, sometimes holding as high as I can above my head when trying to point in the sky parallel as possible with the ground I find rear clickys better too,
I think side clickys are good when pointing from waist height etc though,
take note that rear clickys are easy to navigate to switch, they are always at the rear for a quick turn off , but if you had spun or changed hands with side clicky it may take a second or two to find again if you dont keep a thumb/finger touching it,
Side MOMENTARY may be more suitable if you dont have an LED or GITD by a side clicky switch as with momentary you must keep your finger depressed for operation but then you have to remember to remove batterys for storage and handling as something may press button unintentionally

Great info. I think I will go on a walk tonight and do my best to simulate the rear clicky in those ways and see how it feels. Still seems a bit odd though.

Arg,

What host is that in your pics? It is nice, just about perfect size. I am looking for a good medium-small host (c6 size, one 18650 and maybe slightly bigger\extended). Basically, something I can take comfortably on long walks and not have it be obvious or too heavy. What battery does it use?

I went on that walk and simulated the rear clicking action. I think I could get used to it, not sure about it for my #1 laser but definately want some. The pictures helped out.

Glad you pointed out the dif between momentary and clicky RYD. I hadn't thought about that much except not wanting the rubber half bulb ones.

BodhiSci said:

Arg,

What host is that in your pics? It is nice, just about perfect size. I am looking for a good medium-small host (c6 size, one 18650 and maybe slightly bigger\extended). Basically, something I can take comfortably on long walks and not have it be obvious or too heavy. What battery does it use?

I went on that walk and simulated the rear clicking action. I think I could get used to it, not sure about it for my #1 laser but definately want some. The pictures helped out.

Glad you pointed out the dif between momentary and clicky RYD. I hadn't thought about that much except not wanting the rubber half bulb ones.

Click to expand...

If you like C6 size hosts, have a look into the 501b and 502b hosts also, they are a touch bigger, but they are quite common and a little easier to work with than C6, they dont have "pills" and use "p60" drop in's so basically it can be a flashlight one minute then you unscrew the bezel and insert laser module then its a laser! then back to a flashlight 1 min later if you want,
Just an idea anyway, Im not telling you what to do just helping you explore options

You could also go the gun type switch host such as the Playmates Classic Phaser toy that you can pick up on ebay of which Jayrob here makes a perfect custom heatsink & focus adapter (the focus adapter is optional, you can drill out the plastic emitter and use that if the laser isn't too high power) that are perfect for it and use one of DTR's modules in that as a possibility too!

It has a great feel and is easily aimed & controlled.

One of my 5 Classic Phasers (638nm 955mW):



Jayrob has a few excellent tutorials on how to build it too so you can see how to put it together easily. here is one of them:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/1-5-amp-445nm-phaser-build-62371.html

BodhiSci said:

Arg,

What host is that in your pics? It is nice, just about perfect size. I am looking for a good medium-small host (c6 size, one 18650 and maybe slightly bigger\extended). Basically, something I can take comfortably on long walks and not have it be obvious or too heavy. What battery does it use?

Click to expand...

Those are Danefex's pictures. I believe the laser in that photo is called a mini sabre.

RYDorDIE278 said:

If you like C6 size hosts, have a look into the 501b and 502b hosts also, they are a touch bigger, but they are quite common and a little easier to work with than C6, they dont have "pills" and use "p60" drop in's so basically it can be a flashlight one minute then you unscrew the bezel and insert laser module then its a laser! then back to a flashlight 1 min later if you want,
Just an idea anyway, Im not telling you what to do just helping you explore options

Click to expand...

Thanks, I actually like the look of the 501b better too. It looks like it has a bit more surface area on the flashlight head as well which is good for diffusing heat. That is now my preferred option if I don't go with custom. I really like the idea of it being not too extravagant for my first one and it kinda matching my 3 303 lasers... I really like the momentary side button though. Hard to say this second but better order soon as either could take awhile and I want to do it over break.

Shadowsix said:

You could also go the gun type switch host such as the Playmates Classic Phaser toy that you can pick up on ebay of which Jayrob here makes a perfect custom heatsink & focus adapter (the focus adapter is optional, you can drill out the plastic emitter and use that if the laser isn't too high power) that are perfect for it and use one of DTR's modules in that as a possibility too!

It has a great feel and is easily aimed & controlled.

One of my 5 Classic Phasers (638nm 955mW):



Jayrob has a few excellent tutorials on how to build it too so you can see how to put it together easily. here is one of them:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/1-5-amp-445nm-phaser-build-62371.html

Click to expand...

It is pretty sweet having a gun type one. I might do something like that someday. Fan of star trek myself.

Hmmm... The 501b's come in a variety of styles. I'm not sure if they would both work.

I'd like to do this one:

UltraFire 501B Cree XM-L T6 5-Mode 1000lm 18650 LED Flashlight-8.20 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com

but most are more similar to this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UltraFi...LM-1-Mode-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-/111215305166


They are both nice I just liked the extra surface area ridging on the first. Wish I could know if they are the same for lasr purposes.

RYDorDIE278 said:

If you like C6 size hosts, have a look into the 501b and 502b hosts also, they are a touch bigger, but they are quite common and a little easier to work with than C6, they dont have "pills" and use "p60" drop in's so basically it can be a flashlight one minute then you unscrew the bezel and insert laser module then its a laser! then back to a flashlight 1 min later if you want...

Click to expand...

Now Solarfore has a side clicky/P60 drop-in style host - the L2d.

The side clicky is a reverse clicky though - which is less desireable for a laser but some owners have replaced the reverse clicky with a forward clickey - looks like a pretty simple mod.

cncyana said:

Now Solarfore has a side clicky/P60 drop-in style host - the L2d.

The side clicky is a reverse clicky though - which is less desireable for a laser but some owners have replaced the reverse clicky with a forward clickey - looks like a pretty simple mod.

Click to expand...

Very nice! Yeah I could see that being a simple mod. I am thinking I'm going with custom now but I may be taking advantage of that with a blu ray diode soon enough