Bright flash on goggles means beam hit eye correct?

I just tried burning black plastic for the second time with my 324mw 660nm laser. Im not an idiot so i was wearing my EP goggles.

As it was melting i got a few flashes(like camera flash going off but not quite as bright) as the beam bounced off melting plastic surface a few times as i was burning a darth vader plastic toy.

Were those bright flashes because the laser beam was bouncing off the melting plastic into my eye? I was looking directly at the melting plastic with laser focused to much less than 1mm pinpoint from about 6" away.

Im happy i have good goggles now, no damage is visible on goggles btw.

I also learned that good focus is critical when melting/burning, im loving my external lens spring.

EDITED TO ADD: sorry for the super newb question

This is common when burning plastic, it can create a reflective surface as plastic melts.

Alan

Pi R Squared said:

This is common when burning plastic, it can create a reflective surface as plastic melts.

Alan

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that makes sense, guess it would be good idea to wear goggles while burning any material.

One more thing I never see mentioned here that is important, don't stand too close when burning plastic, its safer to put the laser in a tripod and step back a few feet, and make sure there is some ventilation. Some common plastics when burning will give off hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and some things like PVC pipe, plastic-based carpet, vinyl tile, will create even more toxic vapors and you can't count on your sense of smell. So everyone be careful.

Alan

Pi R Squared said:

One more thing I never see mentioned here that is important, don't stand too close when burning plastic, its safer to put the laser in a tripod and step back a few feet, and make sure there is some ventilation. Some common plastics when burning will give off hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and some things like PVC pipe, plastic-based carpet, vinyl tile, will create even more toxic vapors and you can't count on your sense of smell. So everyone be careful.

Alan

Click to expand...

Good point, I had a fan on and the window open.

I was burning credit cards the other day and the place stunk, makes you realise how nasty plastic is in its non hardened forms.

As for the laser hitting the goggles thing, that's why I upgraded my EP to a certified pair. I had a flash from my 445 and while I knew nothing had been damaged it wasn't pleasant. With good certified goggles the flashes are much less pronounced.

Credit cards are toxic and stink in more ways than one, my advice is to stay away from them and only use debit/prepaid cards.

Alan

This is exactly the reason I always recommend a pair of glasses for burning.

I find diffraction grating reflective, a lot of times I'll set it up with glasses on to see where it's coming back.