Purple Laser Help

Zenick · Oct 7, 2011

I am rather new to lasers and i do not have a purple one but would very much like one. I would at least want to see the beam at night. I have a small budget and would like to know if you guys recommend a specific laser or website. Burning capabilities would be cool but aren't necessary .

Thanks

InfinitusEquitas · Oct 7, 2011

405nm Lasers aren't very visible unless dealing with relatively high powers.

IMO ~400mW is the minimum for having a visible purple beam.

What is your budget? Your best bet would be to go with a custom build. If you want something faster, you can order the laser from survivallasers.com.

Otherwise cheaper websites like lazerer.com, o-like.com and rayfoss.com are your best bet.

Please understand though that if you get a purple (405nm) laser that is powerful enough to produce a beam, you absolutely MUST get safety goggles.

On a low budget you're better off getting a green pointer, it will be cheaper and a lot safer for you.

Jimmymcjimthejim · Oct 8, 2011

I agree with everything that InfinitusEquitas said except for the 400mW part. At night, 50mW is enough to be distinguishable. Obviously this differs in different locations, but one of the more amazing properties of violet lasers is that the beam can easily be seen at night. In a pitch black room, even 5mW can been seen.

Zenick · Oct 8, 2011

Thankyou for your replies.

I would much rather buy a laser than build one right now since I have never built one before. I currently own a 5mw green laser that I can easily see the beam at night. I mostly just want to see the beam at night with this purple one. I do realize that our eyes are much more sensitive to green then purple light. I was looking at this laser
www.rayfoss.com
Do you think this would be sufficient to see the beam with at night?
I have a really low budget of about $100 max. Is there something else i should go with instead of this laser?

:thanks:

InfinitusEquitas · Oct 8, 2011

Jimmymcjimthejim said:
I agree with everything that InfinitusEquitas said except for the 400mW part. At night, 50mW is enough to be distinguishable. Obviously this differs in different locations, but one of the more amazing properties of violet lasers is that the beam can easily be seen at night. In a pitch black room, even 5mW can been seen.

5mW of 405nm is VERY dim... and as I'm sure you know the vast majority of cheapie 405nm pens are actually quite a bit more powerful, usually around 40mW or so.

In terms of visibility in the dark to me a ~130mW 405nm appears about as bright as maybe 5-10mW of green.

In absolute dark, 50mW might be distinguishable, but add in even a bit of ambient lighting and you're not going to see anything except the dot.

Generally I'm in rather light polluted areas though, so that may contribute to my viewpoint.

Idk, I had a 300mW 405nm... it didn't impress me at all.

My $0.02 on 405nm visibility.

Isoleucine · Oct 8, 2011

I have a PHR ~90mW set at 127mA. I can hardly see the beam... its about half as bright as a 5mW green, but thats probably subjective, since I once got a black eye... one of my eyes sees different tones of colors.

InfinitusEquitas · Oct 8, 2011

Isoleucine said:
I have a PHR ~90mW set at 127mA. I can hardly see the beam... its about half as bright as a 5mW green, but thats probably subjective, since I once got a black eye... one of my eyes sees different tones of colors.

Well, with 120mW... I would say it's about as bright as 5mW of green... so I think your perceptions are exactly right.

mpwn · Oct 8, 2011

yeh my phr doesnt even have a beam its around 80mw, and try ebay for real cheapy green pointers

Zenick · Oct 8, 2011

Thankyou all for your input. I am thinking about getting a green laser instead or a more powerful purple one. I saw some good prices on Laser Pointers - Green, Red, Blue Lasers at Laserpointerpro.com
Is this website too good to be true?
This is a rather difficult decision since I would like to have a purple laser with a nice visible beam. But if thats not possible unless I go rather high power and high price I guess I will go with a green or red laser since blue so expensive.

InfinitusEquitas · Oct 8, 2011

Use lazerer, o-like or rayfoss... laserpointerpro is a typical chinese drop shipper, buying from them is like playing the lottery.

Zenick · Oct 11, 2011

ok well I have decided to take your advice and I will buy a green laser. Are there any you would recommend under $80?

:thanks:

Isoleucine · Oct 11, 2011

If you are going to purchase a decent green laser, IMO, I suggest buying one of swimminsurfer256's overspec lasers. I personally own one. You can get it off of this forum... or you can go somewhere else like IE said. Your choice.

Synchros · Oct 11, 2011

I think the ability to see the beam is very much dependent on the person. You're getting so close to the UV that some people will have better response than others to that wavelength. My 20mW, now deceased, did produce a beam I could see in a dark room. I remember a banned member here saying the beam on his 405 was white. I know what he meant... mine almost looks white from the side only. I think the color becomes very indistinct just due to the wavelength. I was surprised at how strange 405 appears on anything but white paper! :yh:

405 will also give you the greatest burning punch per mW due to the low wavelength!!! :evil:

mfo · Oct 11, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
5mW of 405nm is VERY dim... and as I'm sure you know the vast majority of cheapie 405nm pens are actually quite a bit more powerful, usually around 40mW or so.

In terms of visibility in the dark to me a ~130mW 405nm appears about as bright as maybe 5-10mW of green.

In absolute dark, 50mW might be distinguishable, but add in even a bit of ambient lighting and you're not going to see anything except the dot.

Generally I'm in rather light polluted areas though, so that may contribute to my viewpoint.

Idk, I had a 300mW 405nm... it didn't impress me at all.

My $0.02 on 405nm visibility.

Gah, your eyes must be weird

I live right in NYC, and I can easily see the beam of my 80mW (Now retired and collecting dust) 405 pointer, even with the street lights present.

InfinitusEquitas · Oct 11, 2011

mfo said:
Gah, your eyes must be weird

I live right in NYC, and I can easily see the beam of my 80mW (Now retired and collecting dust) 405 pointer, even with the street lights present.

The ability to perceive 405nm definitely varies from person to person.

It's possible that I don't see 405nm as well as others, but at the same time I know I see it about the same as everyone I show it to.

80mW is not very visible at all imo... maybe with tons of dust in the air...

Lase · Oct 11, 2011

InfinitusEquitas said:
The ability to perceive 405nm definitely varies from person to person.

It's possible that I don't see 405nm as well as others, but at the same time I know I see it about the same as everyone I show it to.

80mW is not very visible at all imo... maybe with tons of dust in the air...

I agree with this. Due to my eyesight I can't pick up wavelengths under 500nm very well. I can't see the beam of a 300mW (LPM'd) 405 at all, I just see the dot pretty dim.

Also a reason I haven't bitten the bullet and bought a 445 yet. I know I'm going to be disappointed.

Lase

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