Treat Lasers As You Would A Firearm

As I've been going through a lot of posts, I've been freaked by the number of times I've read users damaging their eyes. Why not just use common sense and look for potential reflective risks before pressing the button? When I'm target shooting with a handgun, I know damn sure what's behind the target and how the bullet is going to deflect when it passes through the target.
Lasers are amazing devices but they do come with risks that can easily be avoided. When popping balloons or trying to burn tape, put something non reflective behind your experiment. Look around your room for potential "mirrors." If we screw up our collective vision, we won't even be able to find our way to the bathroom let alone build a laser.

I agree with your point, but not with the title.  By stating it like this, you are saying that they could fall under the same guidlines as firearms, with the same bunch of radiacal tree hugging hippie freaks that are against them.  I know you did not say that specifically - and to be honest, I do not even own a firearm, but I am not against them, or for gun control either.  Lasers should be treated with the respect that is due any potentially dangerous item - but if everyone starts saying to treat them like firearms, then some big government clown is going to snatch up that idea and run with it - soon there wil be NOWHERE to buy a laser without paying a HUGE subsidy or a "lawsuit tax" on the item prior to recieving it.  Now, do not take this the wrong way - I am not bashing you, or your safety precautions - I am only saying that if everyone treated lasers as LASERS they would be fine.  There is no real need in my mind to have to treat them like something they are not - although they could fall into that category - then again so can a LOT of things.  

G !

Yes, you're probably right about the title Greg. Maybe it was overkill. It could be misinterpreted. We Laser enthusiasts do NOT want that but I do stand by my eye safety concerns as I was taught by teachers, engineering associates, etc. and feel they are quite valid.
There are a great bunch of smart people on this forum whom I felt would benefit from my post. I'm not trying to preach, I'm just concerned about my fellow "laser geeks."

I have NO doubt that your intentions are honorable, AND I agree with your concerns...I get a cold wave pass over me whenever I see a new thread pop up asking, "Can I use a spray painted piece of tinfoil to conceal my eyes to protect them from a 16 gigaWatt UV laser ?" Okay, maybe not THAT severe ! But you get the idea

G !

And dont forget that if some politition takes that to the next level, we'll have to keep our lasers in safes and cant leave them out.

I think the closest anogy to this is a bb-gun, you can blind yourself and otehr with it, but you cant really do much damage, which is how most lasers are. It would take you YEARS to kill somone with a laser and even if they're retarded they'd move long before you burned a hole through them with your 150mw greenie (lol)

SenKat said:

I have NO doubt that your intentions are honorable, AND I agree with your concerns...I get a cold wave pass over me whenever I see a new thread pop up asking, "Can I use a spray painted piece of tinfoil to conceal my eyes to protect them from a 16 gigaWatt UV laser ?" Okay, maybe not THAT severe ! But you get the idea

G !

Click to expand...

HA!!!! That's it exactly Greg. But, that's why this forum exists. To learn.
Speaking of learning. It would be VERY NICE (hint, hint) if someone would post another start to finish vid for our new Dorcy mini/SenKat diode laser project for we folks that have not yet built one of these before. I realize there's a plethora of great info here but a project specific guide would be appreciated!

Photongeek...that is one project I have time set aside for this weekend....a complete start to finish guide that wil assist all that are too nervous, or have not read enogh ;-)

G !

Plus that, I wanna post it on metacafe, and blow that other guy's video out of the water ! LOL

SenKat said:

Photongeek...that is one project I have time set aside for this weekend....a complete start to finish guide that wil assist all that are too nervous, or have not read enogh ;-)

G !

Plus that, I wanna post it on metacafe, and blow that other guy's video out of the water ! LOL

Click to expand...

Outstanding! I hope you make some money from the metacafe posting. I wonder how many of those MiniMag lasers are already dead due to direct to battery connection???

hmmm....MOST, if not all of them ! LOL Poor guys...diodes do NOT deserve that kind of death !

G !