AndyR

I've been wanting to buy a more powerful green laser for quite a while now, sadly I had to wait due to o-like and rayfoss being down for a few weeks.

Now that they are online I have my eye on the 100 mW focusable from rayfoss, and it looks like it fits my needs, nice beam at night, some (however small) burning power. Don't worry... I'm ordering safety goggles for burning also.

After some reading in the safety section I'm beginning to wonder if 100 mW is too strong for my purposes. Is it safe to shine this 100 mW laser around a room without safety goggles at surfaces around 10 feet away as long as I don't hit any reflective surfaces (mirrors, metal etc.) Would tile / white painted walls and windows be ok to shine at?
I'm very afraid I'll lose my vision due to some unforseen accident, and I'm thinking of just buying the 50 mW version.

So what do you think? 50 mW or 100 mW?
I need : visible beam at night (from all angles preferably), the ability to shine it around a fairly small room (not closet sized but not like a living room either).

I would like : ability to burn dark plastics, maybe pop balloons / light matches

And don't worry, I'm always extra cautious around anything even in the smallest degree of danger... and I know that lasers are not toys, they are dangerous!

photonaholic

My 50 mw units make my eyes itch after some extended indoor use unprotected.

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Byrnz93

If you want burning power, you will need at least 100mWs of green. It will also be very bright which will suit you're visibility purposes.
I would not be shining it around at walls just 10ft away without goggles myself; one stray reflection in you eye and you're blind.

If it was just visibility you were after, I would recommend 50mW: nice bright beam (although I found out a month ago that if I shine it as the sky, someone about >5m away would not be able to see the beam), bright dot, etc. But it has limited to no burning power.

Also, tiles are a no no for shining at without safety goggles as they ARE reflective.

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HaloBlu

When you really look around there may be alot of reflective surfaces in your room. Anything with a glossy surface could do it. Cell phone, door knob, DVD player front display, plastic bottle. The darker you have your room the more your eyes will be dilated which increases your exposure.

I would rather only use a lower power one indoors myself (without goggles). Eyes are just too valuable to risk. 100mW shining on non-reflective surfaces is too bright for my liking as well.

floridaguy5583

Good burning power, you will need the 100mw, and the 100mw also has GREAT visibility, and remember to always be cautious, Even if you get the 50mw you will need to be cautious, anything higher than 5mw is dangerous to your eyesight

Tech_Junkie

Your vast knowledge astounds me . LOL

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AndyR

So in terms of outdoor and indoor use (mostly to impress friends, family)
which would be better, a 50 mW or a 100 mW?

I really would like the 100 mW for obvious reasons, but not if I must take extra safety precautions over a 50 mW laser.
One application I would probably like to use my laser in is using it in a fairly dark living room to show off the beam to others that will also be in the room.

If I had a 100 mW laser should I take extra safety precautions to the 50 mW (other than the obvious no pointing at people, reflective objects)? What are they? Is pointing either power laser in a living room not advised at all (even if only at a white wall)?

Sorry for all the questions and in advance.

mfo

Better safe than sorry, get goggles. No matter how safe you are, accidents do and will happen.

photonaholic

Impress them with your strong sense of safety.

Most non laser fans are rather impressed by a common radio shack pointer, and it's far safer for "public impressing"

Even outside, exposure to the photons reflected back at you from the particles in the air will make your eyes uncomfortable after prolonged exposure.

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Thanks for reading my post.
Kind regards, Wayne
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Disclaimer: all posts made by me are based on my own opinion only,
That opinion is subject to change without notice."

Too much knowledge is dangerous, not enough is worse.
Adapted from Einstein quote.
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Raybo

This I did not know!

Tech_Junkie

Even a 20mW looks good in a dark room, and its bright. 100mW is really bright for indoors, plus reflections will be an issue. You might not get hit, but the more people you have in the room, the more chances of an accident. I'd start out with a 50mW, they are under $30. If you want more, then buy one later. You can even sell your 50mW to recoup some of the money. It would be the smarter thing to do.

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zaery

You can never be too safe when it comes to the possibility of losing irreplaceable body parts.

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AndyR

Don't worry, I already planned on getting safety goggles, and I think I'll choose buying a 50 mW green laser.

bp968

I wont shine my 50mW in the house at all usually. its outside only and on no reflective surfaces more then 50-75 meters away.

Call me paranoid but eyes can't (currently) be replaced.

mfo

Yeah they can. People donate their eyes upon death all of the time.

Tech_Junkie

Goggles are cheaper LOL.

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bp968

Right. They donate lenses and stuff not *retinas* lol

mfo

You should have been more specific with your statement. You said eyes can't be replaced, when its clearly not true as you yourself admit that lenses can be transplanted. Also, retinas are in the works.

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bp968

Sorry I wasn't specific enough when telling the guy to be safety concious with respect to his eyes. Never mind OP, just wave whatever laser around for fun.. You can get your eyes replaced. Obviously MFO knows everything about it. My dad's blind in one eye and my uncle is going blind and the docs told them its no big deal at all. Quick outpatient fix (*not*).

Dude your a prick.

mfo

Wow, clean the sand out of your vagina dude. It's not my fault your statement was vague. And btw, you used the wrong "your". You should have in fact used "you're".

bp968

Thanks. I appreciate the correction.

Asherz

I point my 150mW overspec module in doors without any safety goggles on, obviously I don't wave it around aimlessly, and if ever I'm burning I use safety goggles.

I have no problems what so ever, I keep pointed against a black surface just to look at the beam, if I do point it around I watch where I am pointing it and am careful.

As long as you employ common sense, you will be fine. Out door use is not a problem, And btw I really do not have a problem with light being reflected of "particles," either you have super sensitive eyes or you are over reacting a little Photonholic

Considering an INDIRECT reflection from a air glass interface back to your eyes (if you hit them) is only 4%, imagine the reflectivity off dust, way below 0.00001%.

I'm not trying to down play safety here, but it's nice to look at the beam every once in a while since that's what is so great about high powered lasers, just don't act like an idiot and where goggles when necessary.

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