Something new

Hey community,
Recently I thought up an idea for a host. Following the tradition of the men in my father's side of the family, I got a thing for woodworking. Back when I was young(er), I used to do a lot of pen turning, where you get a blank of some pretty wood or acrylic, drill out a hole and drop in some brass tubing, chuck er on the lathe, and shape/polish to your hearts desire. I dunno why it took so long, but it just occurred to me that this isn't all too different than host machining. Aside from the different material, of course. I haven't really seen this be done all too often here, & I can see why. Wood ain't the best choice of host material, what for its nasty thermal properties. So what do you guys reckon would be the most powerful diode/module I could stick into a nice maple burl host? 5mW 635? 50mW 520? 50mW 450? You guys think if I machined in a heatsink right in the core of the host and stuck the module in that, I could gain some thermal mass and maybe get 100-150mW of 520 or 450? Think the type of wood matters? Please discuss

Well if you did it right then the sky is the limit. It would just be interesting to wire it up if you had large sections of wood! Dont see why it wouldn be possible to put a 1watt 520 in a wood host given the right heatsinking. I say go for it!

Sweet! I just don't want the wood to act as a thermal blanket, yknow. Probably gonna use a copper heatsink and battery tube, which is great cause it's a great thermal conductor AND is pretty. I won't really be able to use air cooling that much if the heatsink is bored into the center of the wood, so thermal mass is gonna be my buddy I'd imagine.

well you could get creative with some inner fins to channel the heat away from the heatsink.. Start small and see where it gets you. It could come out very cool.

I sure hope so. Clearly wood isn't gonna give me as skookum of a host that aluminium would, so it'd be more of an art piece than anything. May be difficult for me, as for when it comes to machining and building I'm more bull than ballerina, hoping to change that

DeadEYeMo did one of these types of hosts. I think they're pretty cool. http://laserpointerforums.com/f72/now-something-completely-different-88015.html

Ah yeap, saw that when I did a little searching. Beauty of a host, 'cept I think mine will have less exposed metal.

For some reason this gave me the idea to shove a cheap 650 module in some random stick and call it my own custom host... probably wont be as beautiful as yours but hey i can't do everything. (Ignore this im tired)

joeybab3 said:

For some reason this gave me the idea to shove a cheap 650 module in some random stick and call it my own custom host... probably wont be as beautiful as yours but hey i can't do everything. (Ignore this im tired)

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Not gonna lie, I think it's a safe bet that your design and mine won't be too dissimilar...

You can do an aluminum heatsink and a wood handle. I can help you with the heatsink and the internal parts of the host than you can add the wood tube to the handle part.

Wood is not too good because it's not water "resistance" I think. It gets really soft after getting into water.

You plan on going swimming with it???

Did I read your sig. correctly, you're looking for people to donate to your PP acct. to help you buy a laser?

@gabe, I'm sure it will look great, I've also thought of this from time to time, some nice exotic woods in some complementary colors to accent your laser wavelength.
Good luck with it, and be sure and show us the results!

I actually have one of those kit pens that someone gave me. He makes a lot of them and gives them away. My wife has one too.
I've thought about making something like that but couldn't find a pen/pencil wide enough.
Good luck and Ehg can certainly help you out.

Yeah, i
What BTG said about your paypal lazerbeamk....
Think I sent 500 pennies

Weow, lotsa replies alluva sudden!
Ehg- thanks, I appreciate it. I'll need some help regarding the tail cap and battery tube. However, I think we have different plans in mine. I misspoke when I said I'd want to machine a heat sink in, I have something different in mind. I want as much wood as possible on the outside, I don't think I'll even want any exposed metal. I would want to bore a hole into the end of the host the same size and dimensions as the heatsink, and sink er in. Don't think I'll really need a custom heatsink, as I'm essentially building the host around the innards as opposed to the vice versa, yknow. For the tailcap and battery tube, I was thinking of using copper piping as the battery containerment deviceamajig, with the same diameter as the batteries I'll be using, whatever they may be. Then maybe I would use a tap to engrave some threads into the soft metal, as well as doing the same for the male end of the tailcap, the part that screws in and makes contact with the tube. Inside that tailcap section, I'd want to tap in some more threads so I can screw in and glue in a tailcap clicky (Replacement Tail Cap Switch). Drill out a section of turned wood and put the tailcap tube in there. Heh, maybe I'll turn my own wooden clicky cover, instead of silicone. I'm no rocket surgeon, so I apologize if it's hard to envision the plan I got going, I imagine it wouldn't help what with my deformed Canuck version of English. Please, tell me what can be changed and improved in my plan!

Laserbeamk- no biggie, I can put a wax coat on the outside to fight against... I dunno actually... Accidental wetting, I guess. Perspiration maybe? Hey, maybe yer nervous about what that cute girl is gonna say about your new laser. I won't judge.

Bowtie- haha I thought the same, I don't think I'll be bringin this laser into the bath with me in the first place. Thanks fer the encouragement! I think if done right, wood can look just as good or better than a well finished metal. You bet yer buttons I'll be bringing you guys along with me on my journey once this starts, failures and all!

Pete- thanks for the wishes! It'll be nice to get some help from a host expert . Having a shop and all the tools I foresee needing should really make things run smoother and quicker.

Thats a great idea to basicly put an awesome piece of wood and sleeve it around a simple copper pipe!!

10fenny said:

Thats a great idea to basicly put an awesome piece of wood and sleeve it around a simple copper pipe!!

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You betcha. A wooden condom, if you will.