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Whats a good first laser?

J

jcalderaio

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Hi all,

Im new to these forums and lasers in general, and I want to buy my first burning laser. I suppose I shouldn't buy something too powerful (1 W + blue laser), even though I really want to. So the question is, whats a good first laser to buy that will be strong enough to keep me interested in this hobby, but weak enough that it wont be too dangerous in regards to my inexperience?
 





DJNY

DJNY

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I went this way:

1mW 650nm with star caps with 13 years - 5mW 532nm with 21 years - 200mW 532nm with 22 years - 1000mW 445nm with 23 years - 2000mW with 24 years

Since I purchased my 5mW 532nm, I´m actively in the hobby. Read a lot about laser safety and other useful things when it comes to handling with lasers.

The most stunning thing was to see 5mW 532nm the first time without seeing a 532nm in reality or even vids before.
 
J

jcalderaio

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DJNY- what did you mean in regard to years? Years old? or years active in the hobby?

And another BIG question... In regard to safety goggle, I will of course buy them, but... is it dangerous to even be around a laser without goggles? Like will it hurt my eyes looking indirectly at a laser while it is being pointed at the sky? Or is it only dangerous to look directly at it?
 
DrSid

DrSid

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Looking at the beam pointed to sky - safe up to many watts.
Looking at the dot - depends on distance. Classifications says 500mW and more, ie class 4 laser = not safe to look at dot. Pointing at white objects, or looking at the dot from close (like when burning) makes it more dangerous.
Direct beam hit is not safe from around 5mW. But then there is gray zone of specular reflection. Beam reflected of mirror will loose almost no energy, and it wont loose focus. Beam reflected of different glossy materials will loose both focus and energy .. question is how much.
Goggles are must when burning. Other than that there are to prevent accidents, and they do happen.
 
Blord

Blord

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I would go for a red laser first. The color is great. There are a lot choices from there on.
Like green or 405nm "black light"
 
J

jcalderaio

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Ok, thanks guys. I saw the sticky of the picture of the guy with eye damage in the "safety" part of the forums, and that really scared the crap out of me! lol. I almost ran away and never came back. I will definitely start with a red 5 mW laser. Thanks.
 
DJNY

DJNY

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Jcalderiaio, how old are you? Anyone with half a brain can start with a 5mW 532nm. 5mW 650nm won´t amaze you unless you never saw a laser in reality. Just be careful, and nothing dangerous is going to happen.
 
J

jcalderaio

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I am 26 years old and pretty intelligent. The safety issues do scare me though, just need to be careful. I've had weak red pointers in the past and they did not impress me, so I think I am going to go with a 5 mW 532nm. I want to give it to my Dad for his birthday gift, but use it at the same time. Thats one of the reasons safety concerned me, because he probably wont be using it with goggles. Is a 5 mw 532nm safe to use for presentations and such? Also, I could use a link to buy one (5 mw 532).
 
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