200mW burning red lasers

I have been poking around forum threads, and currently it seems, that the best bang for the buck is 120$ or so Blue laser pointers, as Blue diodes pushing 1W are cheap(due to some projectors using them?)
It was my original idea. However, after seeing some videos of these 1W lasers (even actual 700mW or so), I think I will give it a pass for now.
Want a burning laser but want to start small.
I trawled through the links, and it seems most of the older "favorite" sites to buy cheap lasers are going downhill
I am a bit worried about buying 30$ laser from Aliexpress.
25$,30$,35$,40$ burning "200mW" red lasers all look the same from various sellers.

So I am wondering if I want something under 35$ including shipping for a red burning laser, am I being too optimistic? I think 150mW+ actual output should be good.

Can you guide me to a good laser?

Try the BST thread, you might find someone on there with a custom build, or why not try building one yourself ? Also have a look at the companies thread for a review on what companies are good or not

I bought one off our member TheJoker301 for 50$ it is overspec to 253mW
Here is the review
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/sfcr-200-660nm-red-laser-full-review-83114.html

Kookapeli said:

Try the BST thread, you might find someone on there with a custom build, or why not try building one yourself ? Also have a look at the companies thread for a review on what companies are good or not

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I guess I will try building a 1W blue when I am ready for those. I am hopeless with soldering, and whenever I have a solder gun in my hand, something in the house always gets holes

roulie007 said:

I bought one off our member TheJoker301 for 50$ it is overspec to 253mW
Here is the review
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/sfcr-200-660nm-red-laser-full-review-83114.html

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Thanks for the link. Its Out of stock. I am currently talking to blord. He makes nice 200mW lasers too!

just practice using normal LED's until your confident on doing it for real !!!

Been practicing with a DX geeenie (overspec, about 15mW or so)
So 200mw Cheap chinese stuff before I buy a high quality laser seems like a good idea. From trawling the forums, it appears cheap red diode lasers with 200mw claim are usually 150mW or so, or even 200mW+ if you are lucky.

has anyone ever bought from this seller, i know its an ebay laser so if often depends on luck if you get a good one R608 A 650nm Adjustable Focus Red Laser Pointer Laser Torch Astronomy Military | eBay

firelaser said:

has anyone ever bought from this seller, i know its an ebay laser so if often depends on luck if you get a good one R608 A 650nm Adjustable Focus Red Laser Pointer Laser Torch Astronomy Military | eBay

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This very laser is being sold on Aliexpress too for 27$, with battery and charger included.
Cheapest laser of this type costs 16$ without charger or battery.
From what I am told, these lasers can be 100mw to 250mw depending upon your luck. However, 100mw is enough for burning. What really scares me about Chinese sellers is reliability.
Only store which has very high rating on aliexpress is Oxlasers. However, they ship EMS only to India which adds 25$ to the cost. So buying a 25$ laser and then paying 25$ shipping does not make sense.

tsk1979 said:

This very laser is being sold on Aliexpress too for 27$, with battery and charger included.
Cheapest laser of this type costs 16$ without charger or battery.
From what I am told, these lasers can be 100mw to 250mw depending upon your luck. However, 100mw is enough for burning. What really scares me about Chinese sellers is reliability.
Only store which has very high rating on aliexpress is Oxlasers. However, they ship EMS only to India which adds 25$ to the cost. So buying a 25$ laser and then paying 25$ shipping does not make sense.

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ya i grabbed that one for a cheap one to sell to my friend who wants to light fireworks with it ,, and shipping never makes sense its just a scam when they charge that much,,,

also i asked and he said it was 200mw.. to bad i dont have a laser meter,,

here is a laser I bought from aliexpress it is a red laser no sticker or anything on it, it didnt even come in a box, it came with charger and battery though. It cost me only $23 and I lpm'ed it and its max is at 217mW, here is the link: Free shipping High power laser pen laser flashlight laser pen red 4 meters matches smoke-inLaser Pointers from Office & School Supplies on Aliexpress.com

and this is a picture of it
I might have been lucky but the item turned out as the seller had described it, I also talked to the seller via the aliexpress messenger to make sure the seller is aware I have a lpm and if he/she is going to send an underspec laser, might aswell cancel the order and I wont leave any negative feedback. But on the other hand this is the same seller that sent me a 500mW labelled green laser, I talked to him and said I wanted atleast 150-200mW and it turned out to be 11mW. After talking to the seller and showing him the laser power meter results a picture the seller offered me a refund or a replacement, and I agreed on a replacement for just the laser. since I had the box, the tips and the charger from the damaged one.

tsk1979 said:

This very laser is being sold on Aliexpress too for 27$, with battery and charger included.
Cheapest laser of this type costs 16$ without charger or battery.
From what I am told, these lasers can be 100mw to 250mw depending upon your luck. However, 100mw is enough for burning. What really scares me about Chinese sellers is reliability.
Only store which has very high rating on aliexpress is Oxlasers. However, they ship EMS only to India which adds 25$ to the cost. So buying a 25$ laser and then paying 25$ shipping does not make sense.

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yes, it costs $25 to ship to India via EMS, and $16 to the U.S., and $10 to Japan and Korea, to different countries the costs are different! and you know EMS is not Air Mail, its much faster then air mail. lots of sellers send with Air Mail free shipping, and it takes 30-60 days, cheap but a long delivery time! remember its international shipment, sometimes shipping costs are much more than the item's! its not Scam!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joker all the way. Won't have to worry about on spec

The vast majority of sd301,302,303,....or JD or just laser 301,302,303 series put out in 650 nm 250 to 280 mW really good value for 20 to 30 dollars.i have quite a few and haven't killed one and provided you don't have duty cycle of 5 mins on 10 seconds off are reliable. Joker 301 ( notice the name) sells similar lasers around same power. I never use my lasers for more than about 30 seconds just as insurance so i don't go killing them, just be bit careful, the eBay sellers of this range are usually prompt at geting them posted, maybe ive been lucky on eBay dealers ive only killed two lasers one during a LPM test and other just died. And the LPM one was a Chinese laser but it wasn't bought though an eBay seller.