buying a good blue laser.....?

Ok, been reading through countless threads, and been lurking around here for a while now. So, I got a couple questions that seem Newb-ish, but i really do have a hard time understanding.
I have been using green lasers for a while now, and feel its time to upgrade. So far, I have only used a 5mw from Feebay, that was definitely more powerful than others Ive seen used, but never got a chance to measure it. The problem with the laser was that it burned out after a few months of probably overuse.
So, now I am looking to buy 2 lasers and need advice.
1. Need a better, even more powerful green laser. Hoping you guys have some good recommendations that won't kill the wallet too bad. I am looking at handheld pointer type, but stronger than the 1-5mw ones that are everywhere on Fleebay. But id rather not go over 200 bucks. Any opinions welcome. I would rather stay off Ebay, but i don't want to buy a WL either, ya know. Just a good real powerful laser that also looks nice on the outside if possible, for my price range. And, I don't want to burn my eyes out either hitting a branch outside. Please however refrain from telling me I need a 1mw or something. I am a responsible adult, and have handled firearms all my life. I want a new toy, yes, but trust me I don't actually look at a laser as any sort of toy. Ok, thanks for listening to that disclaimer. Any good green complete nice looking lasers that cost more than 5 bucks but less than 200? Let me know please....

2. I now feel the need and comfortable enough to own a blue laser. But, couple questions about this one. Can I actually get a blue laser, either 445nm or 473(seems way more expensive in handheld pointer type unit), that the beam is visible to the naked eye at night, and without smoke? I won't be using this like a child, i do have experience with green ones and always take EXTRA precautions when using outside like star pointing and whatnot. And, if so, any good sites with affordable yet decent quality blue laser pointers that aren't over 2W?
There is another thread on the Orianth blue laser that looks nice. Is this visible you think without using smoke? I think its like rated at 1.6w if I remember seeing the link. I may be asking for the impossible, but if this one could be affordable too, that would be a dream. And, out of all the reading Ive been doing, it seems that you still need fog or smoke to see a blue beam at all? Or is t just that it needs to be dangerously powerful in order to see it? It seems that the info i have been reading is all over the place with that simple point. I am talking about the beam, of course. Thanks for any and all help. I don't want to spend over 200 if possible.
Again, I will be using these lasers mostly outside.

Im sick of reading now, I finally have the cash to buy a couple new "toys", but would rather stay on the affordable side of things for now. Thanks guys. I have been bit by the bug! I am in a rush, but will be back in a bit. Thanks again for your patience, and suggestions.

dave

Little breakdown needed here.....

Ok, been reading through countless threads, and been lurking around here for a while now. So, I got a couple questions that seem Newb-ish, but i really do have a hard time understanding.
And, it seems this is the best place to ask, so If im wrong Mods please move this.
I have been using green lasers for a while now, and feel its time to upgrade. So far, I have only used a 5mw from Feebay, that was definitely more powerful than others Ive seen used, but never got a chance to measure it. The problem with the laser was that it burned out after a few months of probably overuse.
So, now I am looking to buy 2 lasers and need advice.
1. Need a better, even more powerful green laser. Hoping you guys have some good recommendations that won't kill the wallet too bad. I am looking at handheld pointer type, but stronger than the 1-5mw ones that are everywhere on Fleebay. But id rather not go over 200 bucks. Any opinions welcome. I would rather stay off Ebay, but i don't want to buy a WL either, ya know. Just a good real powerful laser that also looks nice on the outside if possible, for my price range. And, I don't want to burn my eyes out either hitting a branch outside. Please however refrain from telling me I need a 1mw or something. I am a responsible adult, and have handled firearms all my life. I want a new toy, yes, but trust me I don't actually look at a laser as any sort of toy. Ok, thanks for listening to that disclaimer. Any good green complete nice looking lasers that cost more than 5 bucks but less than 200? Let me know please....

2. I now feel the need and comfortable enough to own a blue laser. But, couple questions about this one. Can I actually get a blue laser, either 445nm or 473(seems way more expensive in handheld pointer type unit), that the beam is visible to the naked eye at night, and without smoke? I won't be using this like a child, i do have experience with green ones and always take EXTRA precautions when using outside like star pointing and whatnot. And, if so, any good sites with affordable yet decent quality blue laser pointers that aren't over 2W?
There is another thread on the Orianth blue laser that looks nice. Is this visible you think without using smoke? I think its like rated at 1.6w if I remember seeing the link. I may be asking for the impossible, but if this one could be affordable too, that would be a dream. And, out of all the reading Ive been doing, it seems that you still need fog or smoke to see a blue beam at all? Or is t just that it needs to be dangerously powerful in order to see it? It seems that the info i have been reading is all over the place with that simple point. I am talking about the beam, of course. Thanks for any and all help. I don't want to spend over 200 if possible.
Again, I will be using these lasers mostly outside.

Im sick of reading now, I finally have the cash to buy a couple new "toys", but would rather stay on the affordable side of things for now. Thanks guys. I have been bit by the bug! I am in a rush, but will be back in a bit. Thanks again for your patience, and suggestions.

dave

Re: Little breakdown needed here.....

As for the blue lasers you can find lots on the Buy / Sell and trade section here, They are all clearly visible at night and well within your budget. :beer:

When starpointing just triple check there is no air craft in the sky at that time. There are lots of issues and such regarding to that and you just gotta be careful.

Re: Little breakdown needed here.....

Defiantly get a blue from the forum you will not find one to even come close to the quality and the prices here are unbeatable. Good luck and welcome. We've all been bitten!

Re: Little breakdown needed here.....

For the green try a 100mw SFCG from TheJoker301. Its about $50, has an easily visible beam, and will be a good quality. (not to mention the excellent customer service). You can contact him through this forum, or buy from his site, Sci-Fi Lasers.

In the future, please don't start two threads with the exact same OP. We saw your question the first time and will answer it .

Thanks. (and welcome to the forum).

Hi Dave welcome first off just fill in your profile details mainly your location so we can start to answer your questions different countries have different regulations .....most are not good but some are even worse on getting them into your country. Like Australia ...

For a Green under $200? the Joker301 is your man. Check out his site Sci-fi lasers. For 50$ you could get a 100mw green. I got one and it was metered at 160mw!
For 445mn at night anything over one watt is defiantly visible to the naked eye without fog.
on the buy sell trade section apexproxy, blord, the joker301, and others all have 445mn under $200.
If you want you can check out my sales thread I also have a under 2watt and under $200 445mn on my sales thread here http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/501b-other-lasers-sale-85660.html (if you are in the usa).

Okay guys, just updated my profile(long island guy here), but have another silly question. I love those lasers that you guys recommended and definitely affordable.
BUT, now this may sound weird but, is there a reason why the lasers for sale like the 100mw green and the 1-2w blue, are in a flashlight host? I kind of like the smaller pen style pointer better but was hoping for a cool milled one that is not the size of a flashlight. Im guessing maybe there is probably good reason for this due to the power of these little things, but perhaps Im hoping for the moon for under 200 bucks. If anyone can explain this, it would help. Either way, thanks guys, looks like im buying me a couple early Christmas presents!!

Oh, and one more newb question. For the power, ex. 1w vs. 2w lasers, is there a big difference in the visible beam? IS the stronger one usually a lot brighter? Thanks again for any help, Im pretty excited about it all.

dave

The internals of lasers making this kind of power will not fit in a pen host. If you want a pen host with a visible beam it's doable but you will not get anything with a higher mw. The flashlight hosts are due to the fact that they are able to be disassembled and give enough room to handle the HEAT produced. If you want a pen host go to laserbtb . They have some pens putting out reasonable power that aren't expensive. If you don't want a flashlight host you don't want a custom laser. There are custom laser hosts that are milled but also have size to them to handle the size of the components and HEAT

The difference in power are mostly in the ability to burn. While the higher power the brighter, after getting to these high powers you will not be getting extremely bright with each step, but it will be brighter. The things just burn faster at higher power.

Mostly duty cycle and heat related. The bigger the host the more aluminum, copper, or even brass you can fit as a heat sink. A lot of host are aluminum for this very reason. a pen sized host wouldn't have much heat sinking. Meaning that it would get real hot real fast. Too much heat will shorten the life of the laser and even kill lasers outright if your not careful. For the 100mw green it's not so bad http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/optotronics-100mw-532mn-pen-pointer-indoor-beam-shots-no-fog-48202.html is an example. But the blue especially over 1 watt would get way too hot. Unless you only plan on turning on your laser for one second you're gonna need a bigger host. And the difference for beam at night between 1.5 watt and 3 watt is negligible IMO.

Re: Little breakdown needed here.....

Okay great thanks. Another weird question though. Why are the hosts so big? Do they not make these lasers in the pen style host? Perhaps not, as I only really see cheap ones that style, but really curious. Thanks again guys.

dave

Oh, I see. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for explaining. I definitely don't want to feel like I might burn it out if I keep it on for an extra few seconds. I am going to look at the guys you recommended. I was just picturing in my mind(day dreams, that is) this whole time that it was a pen like gadget, but now I see why they have to be a little beefier. Any recommendations on more slim line hosts and not so "flashlight shaped"..? I will look around. I may have to build one......lol. Not yet, I got some more learning to do first....
thanks again

dave

Re: Little breakdown needed here.....

I think I found my answer. It seems its because of the heat sinking. That makes sense. And, I appreciate all the help again. I have some more reading to do now....

btw, now i might need to build my own! This is really addicting, I don't know why i haven't gotten into it before now.

dave

Hey guys. OP here again. I live in NY. Can you guys recommend any good forum members that deal with the lasers recommended above? I see that Joker is not in the USA, so it might be a bit tricky to get something here I'm guessing. Thanks again.
If this post is in any way wrong of me, please mods remove it and let me know why. Thank you guys for all the help so far. I am slowly(ok, quickly) becoming obsessed.....


dave