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5mW DX

Lawlhi

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Well, I was planning to buy the green 5mw from dealextreme. But I have some concerns. I've done some research and have found that this particular laser has the possibility of being overpowered. I am not too concerned about that but I guess you could say I have IR-phobia. I've read that it can emit up to 30mW of IR and often does not ship with a filter.
It would be my first green laser and I was wondering if I should spend my money on it. If I were to put a IR filter in after how safe would it be to use?

TL:DR Im afraid of the IR emmited by the 5mW green laser from
dx. Should I buy it?
 





jfp999

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5mw laser is dangerous with or without ir in it. And usually the ir will be spread out in a cone like shape. 5mw is the max the eye can handle with your eye reflex.
EDIT: Most people don't add ir filters at 5mw.
 

Lawlhi

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I'm not sure you understand. The particular laser from dealextreme has been shown to be quite underrated (overpowered), and I'm not sure if it would be worth me buying due to it's unsafe nature (IR).
So could I get some feedback and suggestions if I should buy it or not?
 
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You get what you pay for, I would buy it, but it is a laser, you need to be careful with them. As for the IR, if it scares you buy a better laser
 
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IR filters come in little square, err, squares. Unscrew the top, and stick it between the head and the module. I'm sure someone who's worked with a Newwish pen can help you with that one in detail.

However, there's no real threat with the IR. It doesn't collimate well, and as a result has significantly more divergence than the green beam. And if you did want to be hit by the IR you'd have to be pretty close to the green.

But the green beam shouldn't be so close to your face anyway.

If you're still extremely paranoid about IR and over-spec lasers, buy from a large company who tests their pointers, such as Laserglow or SKYLasers (both similar in terms of price on 5mW pointers). They are all IR filtered, too.

Here's a link to the Laserglow 5mW green pointer series. Well, their cheapest, anyway.

http://enthusiast.laserglow.com/GLY
 
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I dont think the top can be unscrewed with these. PM John_Lawson and ask him. He has taken apart quite a few of these. If its not unscrewable, you need to rap a piece of leather around the tip, and rock it back and forth till the tip pulls free.
 
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I dont think the top can be unscrewed with these. PM John_Lawson and ask him. He has taken apart quite a few of these. If its not unscrewable, you need to rap a piece of leather around the tip, and rock it back and forth till the tip pulls free.

Read a few reviews, most times it isn't possible to just 'unscrew' the top without damaging the module in some way.

It just may be easier to either buy a professional pointer than to attempt modifications.
 
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He didnt ask if he should buy a better laser. He ask if he can make the one he wants safer by putting an IR filter on it. And the answer is 'yes'. We are a DIY forum here. Plus a better laser may cost him 10X the DX price. So in reality he can buy 10 lasers to get it right. Buying a better laser is not always a better solution.
 
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Lawlhi

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Thank you for all of your help!
I'm still unsure about buying the laser, but at this point, I think my qualms are more about whether I'd actually use it.
I have a few questions. I understand that the IR is not collimated well which makes it weaker, but would that not mean and increase in the chance that I would be hit by it unknowingly?
As for the filter. Depending on the quality of the one I would get, how much IR would you often expect to lose?
 
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As long as you don't stare into the beam, you should be fine. The IR is much more loosely collimated, but still stays mostly where the green is.

If you want to check for IR, shine the pointer at something, and look at the spot with a camera that has an orange cellophane filter. It'll clearly show you the IR pattern.

An IR filter is an IR filter. You only need a cheapo $0.01 square of glass, and it'd be fine. There's not much IR, and an IR filter will cut out all of the IR and some of the green.

Do you know what you plan on using this laser pointer for?
 

Lawlhi

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I'm not too sure. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just something to entertain myself with (pointing, matches, popping baloons, night time...). Which is why I want to make sure it is safe and worth it at $10.10. Also because I know that it will likely come to over 15mW (from the stated 5mW).
 
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You aren't going to light matches or pop balloons with this laser, you'll need at least 100mW for that.

Anyway from what I have encountered with NewWish greenies like your True 5mW, if they are unfiltered, the design of the laser module in the pointer blocks most of the residual IR. The stuff that escapes stays pretty collimated with the green beam, which means you will have to take a direct hit in the eye from the green beam to get exposed to the IR. I would worry more about the green than the IR in this case. ;)
 




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