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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

super easy for you i'm sure but laser in wooden dowel...

C

creating4life

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Okay so nerdy as this sounds I am dressing up as a Hogwarts student and I basically am making a wand for comic con except I want to make it with a laser and possibly a bright white LED all in one that of course I could turn off and on with a button on the wand. I already took apart(by took it apart i mean cut it out of its shell) a cheap 99 cent laser pointer to see how it works and its small enough to fit in the 1/2"x 36" oak dowel I have (which i am going to cut down in length of course) I also don't have much money.
The problem I am having is:

A)the button on this or any other cheap laser pointer is really close in proximity to diode(?-forgive me if this is wrong I have only recently started researching this) and that won't work because the wand will be from my elbow to the tip of my middle finger.

B) once i took it apart i most likely shorted the tiny board because i can't get it to work once hooking it back up to the batteries.

C)would any of this catch the dowel on fire cuz i really don't want my pleated skirt going up in smoke its expensive lol ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED! :thanks:
ps i know i can just buy a wand that lights up and stuff but its for a bet and I want to win! My free drinks:beer: wouldn't hurt either.:shhh:
 





lasersbee

lasersbee

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You can easily remove the Push Buttons switch on the $0.99
Laser's PCB and extend it with wires...

The power of a $0.99 Laser is so low that there is no danger
of burning anything besides your eyes if you shine it in your
face...

If your Laser no longer works with 3V to 4.5V (2 to 3 standard
batteries of ant size) then you will need to invest another $0.99.
The edge of the PCB opposite the spring has a raw Laser die that
is easily damaged when touched...

BTW... welcome to the Forum...


Jerry
 
C

creating4life

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thank you for the welcome and the help!
okay so the parts are all soldered together so in order to remove the buttons i would have to either destroy or unsolder it in order to attach a longer wire. I don't however have a soldering tool nor do i know what sort of wire to use to extend it. I did manage to save the original button from my first cheap laser pointer it still has its four prongs intact but it was a little worn from the cutting of the soldering around it, would that short out as well? Sorry if i sound naive the most i have ever done is make a motion sensor and that was out of a kit. This forum and youtube are really my only sources of info and as i am doing more research all this sounds more and more interesting not just the lasers but also all these mods i've found for everyday objects very awesome. Still I am a little unsure of what i am doing.:undecided:
 
Flaminpyro

Flaminpyro

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it really sounds like you are going to need help with this as I don't think your going to be able to do this with out some soldering.
can you go to a community college or something and get the parts soldered together once you have them all.
 
HaloBlu

HaloBlu

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Welcome.
creating4life said:
Okay so nerdy as this sounds I am dressing up as a Hogwarts student and I basically am making a wand for comic con
Click to expand...
Sounds fun IMO. Nerdy isn't always bad.

Perhaps the short or damage would be visible with a pic of the board. Most ultra cheap lasers have few parts.
How much time do you have till the con? Which con btw? :D
Depending on your time, budget & resources there is a few option you could consider. Solder is really best but you could hack something together if need be. Search conductive wire glue, I understand it not always so good but it may help.
Do you have something secure to hold the batteries? They are little button cell batteries yes? You could fix the button on the board to stay on, solder bridge the button connection or superglue it while holding it clicked down. Then wire your second button to the spring on the board & the batteries.
You can use any kind of wire you can locate.
creating4life said:
I did manage to save the original button from my first cheap laser pointer it still has its four prongs intact but it was a little worn from the cutting of the soldering around it, would that short out as well?
Click to expand...
It might be just fine if the solder was cut without bending & prying enough to damage its mechanism inside.
 
Last edited:
lasersbee

lasersbee

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creating4life said:
thank you for the welcome and the help!
okay so the parts are all soldered together so in order to remove the buttons i would have to either destroy or unsolder it in order to attach a longer wire. I don't however have a soldering tool nor do i know what sort of wire to use to extend it. I did manage to save the original button from my first cheap laser pointer it still has its four prongs intact but it was a little worn from the cutting of the soldering around it, would that short out as well? Sorry if i sound naive the most i have ever done is make a motion sensor and that was out of a kit. This forum and youtube are really my only sources of info and as i am doing more research all this sounds more and more interesting not just the lasers but also all these mods i've found for everyday objects very awesome. Still I am a little unsure of what i am doing.:undecided:
Click to expand...

If I wanted to modify or fix a car... I would certainly get some
appropriate tools before I started... or I'd pay someone to do
it for me... or I'd forget the project... :whistle:

Not much I could do with a pair of scissors and a stick...


Jerry
 
C

creating4life

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If I wanted to modify or fix a car... I would certainly get some
appropriate tools before I started... or I'd pay someone to do
it for me... or I'd forget the project...Not much I could do with a pair of scissors and a stick...
Click to expand...
you've been helpful but if u want start being condescending then I would rather get my info elsewhere. I never said I was opposed to getting a soldering iron perhaps you could suggest a good starter one?
Perhaps the short or damage would be visible with a pic of the board. Most ultra cheap lasers have few parts.
How much time do you have till the con? Which con btw?
Depending on your time, budget & resources there is a few option you could consider. Solder is really best but you could hack something together if need be. Search conductive wire glue, I understand it not always so good but it may help.
Do you have something secure to hold the batteries? They are little button cell batteries yes? You could fix the button on the board to stay on, solder bridge the button connection or superglue it while holding it clicked down. Then wire your second button to the spring on the board & the batteries.
You can use any kind of wire you can locate.
...
It might be just fine if the solder was cut without bending & prying enough to damage its mechanism inside.
Click to expand...
thank you so much for the information I have a little over a month and it's the comiccon in San Diego in July I'm so excited ... Ya the button should be fine then :) the batteries I figured would be put inside a PVC pipe the slighty bigger to be covered with wood putty to connect it with the dowel it will be the handle. I will def look into the glue just in case.
 
lasersbee

lasersbee

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Nothing condescending there at all.... it is common sense..

You are trying to accomplish something that requires
specific basic tools.... (Soldering Iron.... Solder... Flux...)
to attach wires and modify a printed circuit board...

Without those you are just pushing a rope...


Jerry
 
Last edited:
JLSE

JLSE

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lasersbee said:
Without those you are just pushing a rope...


Jerry
Click to expand...


macgyver-erectile-dysfunction.jpg
 
ShortyInCanada

ShortyInCanada

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Just my two cents, if it's worth even that now...
Don't forget that usually the metal casing of those cheap laser pointers is part of the electrical circuit for the batteries.
Cut it away and you need to re-establish the connection somehow.

I would get a new cheapy laser pointer,
drill out a hollow in the "wand" that makes for a tight fit,(when you squeeze it inside it will keep the push button switch pressed for you.)
take the end off the pointer (that covers the battery access),
cut a piece of tape that covers the end of the batteries, (make sure that they aren't able to touch the outside case)
put a piece of small diametre 2 conductor (speaker type would be good) wire on the batteries under the tape,
ensure the other wire is connected to the case,
then with the other end of the 2 conductor wire connected to a switch of your choosing.(You could even get away with just twisting the wires to the terminals of a swicth if you need to.)

Check all connections to make sure they are working and press it inside your "wand."
Make sure that the friction of pressing it in doesn't loosen any connections.

If you aren't too rough with it you just might pull it off without needing to solder anything.
-But it sure would make it all a -expletive- of a lot easier.
 
C

creating4life

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ShortyInCanada said:
Just my two cents, if it's worth even that now...
Don't forget that usually the metal casing of those cheap laser pointers is part of the electrical circuit for the batteries.
Cut it away and you need to re-establish the connection somehow.

I would get a new cheapy laser pointer,
drill out a hollow in the "wand" that makes for a tight fit,(when you squeeze it inside it will keep the push button switch pressed for you.)
take the end off the pointer (that covers the battery access),
cut a piece of tape that covers the end of the batteries, (make sure that they aren't able to touch the outside case)
put a piece of small diametre 2 conductor (speaker type would be good) wire on the batteries under the tape,
ensure the other wire is connected to the case,
then with the other end of the 2 conductor wire connected to a switch of your choosing.(You could even get away with just twisting the wires to the terminals of a swicth if you need to.)

Check all connections to make sure they are working and press it inside your "wand."
Make sure that the friction of pressing it in doesn't loosen any connections.

If you aren't too rough with it you just might pull it off without needing to solder anything.
-But it sure would make it all a -expletive- of a lot easier.
Click to expand...

thank you soooo much that worked perfectly!!! this thread has been so helpful :thanks: I did buy a soldering iron btw for my next project cuz well i saw all the other things i could mod and want to try it. Now all thats left is my costume again thanks everyone :)
 
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