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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

How to make your way overspec $5 pen focusable + new bonus section added

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We'll keep looking. I might start trying some of these china diodes on ebay too :thinking:

~ LB
 





ARG

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FkNnREx.jpg


My test subjects :eg:
 

Pman

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:) :) :)
Put them on the rack and make them talk!

Let me/us know where you guys a re buying from and the results. I just bought 2 sets from BBQbuy at Amazon and they are on their way but now you suddenly can't get them anymore.
Checked the link for my previous buy from them with seller QQ-Tech (the ones with star caps that I just made focusable) and that is now gone as well.

I sent a message to "21buyinhere" about how they are now selling cheap ones and the message I got back that I need to respond to is

hello,dear friend.
i am so sorry to hear that,thanks for your recomendation.
but all of them are the same,i just shipped them to my us warehouse first from china.
would you pls send some pics to show the problems?
don't worry,if it is really different one,i can resend from China next time.
and i can refund some money as a compensation.
as a old customer,i am really wish to enter a good business relationship with you.
i am really sorry for any inconvenience.
looking forward to hear from you asap.i will be day off tomorrow due to the weekend,
i will reply once i come back.
have a nice weekend.


- 21buyinhere

So, going to explain the issues and take pics and see what happens. Not interested in the pens if I can't make them focusable.
I'll post the results of my actions.
 

ARG

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Tested them all out, half are dead. As to be expected. I got them for free though.

Going to see if I can fix them up and get them lasing again for the fun of it.
 
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"He's dead Jim"

_________________________________________-

Wow weird, my 405 pen just got super hot!!! No idea. Took the bats out. That was strange.

Noticed the button is way out of alignment. still, shouldn't of gotten that hot even left on. Guess it's time to break this puppy open...

_________________________________________

Well she still lases just fine. Very interesting Pman. case positive with a plastic sleeve to isolate the head and a wire to make contact with the host. No glue. just some foam, just pushed the whole thing out once I took the cap off with some pliers.

405_01_by_stonekaiju-d68g8wf.jpg


No focus, threaded head though...

405_03_by_stonekaiju-d68g93f.jpg


Looks like there was some glue between the sleeve and diode, but it just comes off without any effort.

405_02_by_stonekaiju-d68g9br.jpg


Should be ripe for putting in a host. Don't know how I'll fit it in that light I showed you, but I guess its time to open her up too :)

~ LB
 
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Pman

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Yeah, that's the ones that "21buyinhere" is sending instead of the better ones.
Sent this message last night to him

Dear 21buyinhere,

The first thing I noticed is that the front caps on the 532nm (green) are now plastic instead of metal. The front label is different. The caps on the 405 and 650 (purple and red) are different also in form and size of the aperture (hole). Upon further inspection, the modules used inside are much cheaper and no longer have the adjustable lens (2 small holes), The brass module no longer touches the host on the inside but there’s a cheap plastic spacer around it which means that the laser will not be able to get rid of the heat it generates well and you are going to have WAY more failures. The average outputs have significantly dropped (tested with an extremely accurate Ophir laser output meter) and the 532nm are less stable than they were. I could count on the outputs being very close from one batch to the next of the 405nm (purple/violette) and 650nm (red). The old (better) ones also had a brass spring rather than silver looking one. The pocket clip is slightly different (the star has changed position slightly). The front cap color is also slightly different.

I have taken pictures to compare the old and new. My geuss is that you are either switched manufacturer or the manufacturer is trying to get away with selling you cheaper units. Your sales are going to drop in a big way once people start to see and test the difference unless this is quickly corrected.

(In the pictures, the yellow label is one that I put on)

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/p1010334zo.jpg

Awaiting your response,

Pete


Got this message back this morning

hello,dear friend.
i am so sorry for that,maybe it comes from different producer.
i will attention it next time,i will send the same lasers to you.
in order to express my sincerity and apogize,i would like to refund $3 as a compensation,
or you return it back to my us warehouse,then i resend from china,ok?
which way you like better?
waiting for your early reply.
thanks a lot.

- 21buyinhere

Nice that he responded so quick but if I am reading that right, he is actually just offering $3 back or I can send them to California and he will resend them from China.

Certainly not going to waste my time and $ sending any of them back and don't see the point in getting $3 back when I bought 2 sets for < $30.

Think I'm going to offer to repurchase them for what he thinks is a fair price and he can ship them from China and I will retest them.

Anyways, glad you get the point of messing with these Arg... it's fun on the cheap:)
 
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Interesting response. Well hopefully the China ones will be like the originals. I've been going through pages and pages of the same pens on ebay, kind of funny, especially when I see the cost of bulk diodes on there too. been in wholesale a long time so its interesting for me ;)

I'll still have fun with it. will see if I can sand down the driver to fit in the Stylus or make something interesting for it :thinking:

Thanks for the update Pman :beer:

~ LB
 

Pman

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You can always remove the plastic spacer and just put a piece (or multiple pieces) of shrink tube over the brass to isolate it. I have that exact same one sitting here that I allready removed the plastic from:)

Should cover the lens (but don't let anything touch it) or keep using canned air to blow off anything that might get on the lens. I use canned air over a compressor because it is drier than an air compressor so no moisture on it. Mistakenly ruined a lens by blowing on it from the Nitrogen tank I had in the truck that had a hose attached with a slight amount of refrigerant oil in it (wasn't pretty afterwards). Just don't want to physically touch it!
 
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Thanks for the help and advice Pman :beer: I'll put a little tape over the lens, before I sand or do anything. I was actually happy the diode just came out as easily as it did and I didn't have to take a Dremel to the host to extract the diode.

~ LB
 
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I have destroyed one of the laser pens already, but I learnt something :). Cant find the right pen to cut it so i can use it as a bridge, ill come up with something :)
 
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where would be the best and cheapest place to get these pen lasers ? i often show off my high powered lasers at firework displays or parks and people always want to buy it from me, i often buy several of these cheap lasers to have on hand to sell at a profit to random people who want one to generate laser funds, i well even buy in bulk, hopefully i can get some greenies for 3 to 6 each , they dont have to be focus able or even exactly on spec, most people want to use them outside
(i always explain laser safety and laws and only sell if i feel the person is responsible enought)
 
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Pman

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Hopefully that measn that you werre able to save the pen host or at least some parts for something else. Save those parts!!!

Trying to find a new reliable source for the pens now. If you are looking for decent quality overspec 532nm then just get them from Fasttech and use code BLF for 5% off. Works for anything no matter how cheap. Their <$6 dollar pens are great and have been tested. If you want a more surprising kick then get the single AAA pens. Unfortunately those only come in white although you can certainly find a way to change the color like someone I know has done;)
 
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Yes Pman! The host is perfect, except for a tiny nick by the cap. The single AAA Fasttech is next on my list once payday rolls around, I have spent all my moneys save for $20 to get me through the month :whistle:

Got the Stylus apart btw :)

Have a few more deliveries I'm waiting on though. Like Christmas every week :D

Thanks for the discount code :beer:

Must resist :rolleyes:

~ LB
 

Pman

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Got it apart? Did you actually get the head off? I was too afraid I would mark it up and couldn't see a seam anywhere so I was just carefully drilled out all the "stuff".

Haven't messed with my second one yet. Haven't given up on thoughts of a 405 with extension. By the way, if you pop out the tail cap on a pen you just got, there's a clear tube inside where the battery goes:)

Also, if you need some really inexpensive glow stuff, I've used Gloaway glow-in-the-dark gel (it's a glue)made by Plaid and found at Walmart I think. Have used it many a time in the end of a cap for a nice afterglow. Have a bunch of powders but they don't seem to work any better.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/17300148?...1=g&wl2=&wl3=17445912670&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
http://www.amazon.com/Plaid-Enterprises-Away-Acrylic-Paint/dp/B007VEOJ5A
 
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The Host is one piece. I actually got a long nail and a hammer. I put the head on a leather glove and just pounded it out. There is actually a fairly involved driver assembly right behind the reflector. Upon reflection a metal rod with some cushion might've saved it but there is a strong glue holding the lens on there. I had to do something similar for the Keymate. Streamlight makes some quality lights. Yep, plastic sleeve and a little o-ring in there.

I was really worried about scratching or deforming the host but they're pretty tough.

Thanks for the heads up on the GITD. I was actually wondering about sourcing that. I might try sanding the driver on that 405 to get it into the Stylus. I have a tap & die set I never use so I might try to match the thread on the LD and see about attaching the extension that way, might be nice, but I still kinda wanna match the host dia. debating :thinking:

~ LB
 




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