First laser build, looking for ideas

hello everyone, im new here and would like to say hello.
im soon going to be starting my first laser DIY.
im excited
but first i would like to get some ideas on what to build.

I liked how kipkay did his flashlight hack, but also learned he is not the best one for laser guides and it may not work because he does not have a driver
(i read on here that a good driver would be a lm317). i like things in a flashlight/pen shape.

Im looking to build something with 300mw+. CAN BE INFRARED,
i found some TO-18 500mw IR diodes online. if i do build an IR laser i would most likely build a second visible laser.
dont worry im smart enough to get IR protective glasses before even assembling the device.

i looked around the forums and found styropyro's green laser guide. which might i add was very well done and i liked it alot. though it stated it was a 200mw laser module.

being new to this, :bowdown: im just looking for what the expert builders would suggest i build as my first laser.
mainly wanting to light matches/ignite firework fuses.

any ideas? links would help, and not that i want to be spoonfeed but if the laser instructions could be detailed and including EXACTLY what i need, just dont want to be on a wild hunt for a missing part.

Thanks to all who give time to read/reply to this, all of you are a great help.

(BTW if im in the wrong section please redirect me where to put my thread)

maybe build a ddl driver with a LPC diode or a 16x, u can buy from hightechdealz.com

I have successfully built 5 lasers from scratch ( extracted diode from sled etc...) I recommend the MXDL build with the phr803T blue ray diode already pressed into a module. I have purchased almost all my stuff from hightechdealz.com The MXDL build is an easy build. if you buy a heat sink for this build they are threaded) it must be screwed in and wires get twisted in doing so. The way I avoided this problem was by taking the heat sink off of an old computer, put my laser host on the computer heat sink, used a pencil and traced around it so as to have an approximate size and shape, then I used a dremel tool with a metal shaping bit and cut away the excess metal until it fit inside the host leaving ''1/8 to overlap the top , then drilled a hole in center for the module. drilled two small holes from the outside edge about 10 and 2 o'clock toward the center (for screws to hold module). (countersink these screw holes so screws don't stick out. I then put the module in the heat sink hooked up my driver set current, hooked up wires etc.. placed heat sink in MXDL host and used the very top part of host (lens retainer) screwed it on, it holds the heat sink perfectly without twisting any wires. it takes some time but it is cheaper and easier to assemble. worked really well for me.. good luck!

you might hear this a few times here on LPF "Pics or it never hapened".
care to share??
cheers

blu-ray thats all i have to say.

alright thanks everyone, before i get started ive decided to do a little more research.
i first started with the dvd burner and went to the local recycling center and jacked there throw own CPU's and torn into them for the diode. sadly none of the four computers i picked up had a dvd burner in them

so for now im just going to try styro pyros tutorial.
ive ordered all the parts.

thanks to all.