Totally new to this

Hi!
Today I just took out a laser from a DVD burner, and I thought it could be cool to build a "laserburner" from it. But I don't know a shit about it. Thought I could make the classic flashlight replacement laser thing. But now I wonder:
Do I need safety googles for this? Or is it okay to just don't use it to close to the eyes?
And can u connect it straight into dubble AA's without burning the diode?

Please answer soon

// Simon

Re: Totally knew to this

yes to the safety goggles....
dont connect it straight to batteries, it will kill it, you need a driver
(oh, and you spelled "knew" wrong, it new... )
i am sure you can find all of the info you need here, just look around

Okay.. this seems a bit more difficult than i thought...
What kind of googles do I need?

Re: Totally knew to this

Do I need safety googles for this? Or is it okay to just don't use it to close to the eyes?

Goggles are an extremely Good Idea. Your vision is priceless, and even stray reflections from high-powered diodes can cause permanent damage. Quality goggles can be purchased here and elsewhere not that expensively (I paid $47 shipped for red protection goggles), well worth the price. I initially, inthe very beginning, thought I wouldn't need them because I wouldn't do anything up close, but I was wrong, these things are BRIGHT. And when you're paying $50 or so for a whole laser anyway, the goggles are a worthwhile investment. Red diodes are 650nm light, so you need goggles to protect for this wavelength.

And can u connect it straight into dubble AA's without burning the diode?

This is an extremely Bad Idea. Diodes are expensive, and protection/current control circuits are cheap. The AA batteries supply too much current for the diode to handle, and will burn it out. Certain videos online were either completely lucky or used half-dead batteries intentionally and still got mostly lucky. You'll be very sad if you just get a bright flash and then dim light from you expensive diode, so invest in a current limiting circuit. Many can be found for sale in the "Group Buys" and "Buy, Sell, and Trade" sections of the forum, and plans for making them, as well as troubleshooting, can be found in "Experiments and Modifications". A popular choice is DDL/Daedal driver, which utilizes an LM317 chip with resistors, a silicon diode, and a capacitor. It is simple and effective, so anyone can do it and it will work very well.

Good luck, and enjoy your lasing hobby.

I paid $12 for my 650nm 140mW Sony 16x DVD burner diode on ebay (2 for $24). If you go through the labor of extracting a diode from a functional DVD burner, you probably want to build your "cool burning laser pointer" as professional as possible so it will last, and give you satisfaction in relevance to the value of the poor DVD burner. (yes, use a driver!) If you don't give a crap about your diode and want to see how long it lasts under extreme unnecessary conditions, then go Kipkay with it, as I have.... http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1205047730


Goggles? Who really needs eye sight anyway? ;D If you plan on doing intense burning that requires focus (as a welder needs to see what they're welding), eye protection is a MUST. If you're smart and don't plan on shining the red 650nm laser at reflective surfaces, you might get away without, just provide safety goggles for everyone else in vision of the laser! - Just be VERY VERY cautious!

No offence, but because of the aptitude of your questions, I feel it's necessary for this: Don't be shining lasers in public, at vehicles, other people, pets and especially aircrafts. Did I miss anything?

P.S. Welcome, and good luck.

Just get a diode pre installed in an aixiz module from this site: (this should give you a good 150mW)
http://sales.stonetek.org/ldi.html
Get 650nm goggles from this site: (don't buy anything from this site, goggles are the only good product they make)
http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/Red_650nm_LaserShades-49-16.html
Make the laser by following the steps from this video:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1204859426

AND LASTLY, HAVE FUN BURNING THE $HIT OUT OF THINGS!!!!  ;D