Spyder III Arctic by Wicked Lasers

So on youtube you can find dozens of videos who bought this 3.5w laser, lighting matches almost instantly, burning through cd cases eventually, popping balloons from meters away and burning through electrical tape in seconds.

I got one myself and while it definitely is bright as fuck and I can shine it on buildings half a mile away on my balcony, it doesn't burn for shit. It literally can't set toilet paper on fire. Anyone know what the deal with that is? I know about finding the 'infinity point', but when I turn my focusing lens it stays exactly the same size until it comes off.

I see 4 possibilities based on the OP's description. #2 and #4 being the most likely.


(1) The lens is turned around backwards.

(2) The lens is not turning and he is only unscrewing the thumbwheel/end cap.

(3) He was aiming at buildings and flashed himself in the face and cant really see what the heck he is doing anyway.

(4) We are entertaining a troll.

Yep, probably one of those four possibilities, and also, as the OP mentioned, burning CD cases (black), electrical tape (black), balloons (usually a dark color), is one thing, and then trying to burn the TP (white) is another; it's much harder to burn a very light colored or white object than a black, or dark colored one.

He was talking about burning seen in YT videos, his won't burn but is bright as HECK so it could even be a cracked diode window.

WAIT, that's wrong, because he said it would project a spot on buildings 1/2 a mile away ( NOT REALLY A GOOD IDEA ) not these days and not if there are windows or substantial lens flair.

So really I expect he has a 1w diode with a ( poor ) infinity focus and he is only unscrewing the cap, the lens is stuck at a ( poor ) infinity focus and it's really a 1w that cant burn well without being zoomed in.

-OR-

TROLL

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BTW : It is my informed opinion that wl products are crap and the company sucks poop through a straw. :toilet:

RedCowboy said:

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BTW : It is my informed opinion that wl products are crap and the company sucks poop through a straw. :toilet:

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Next time Red tells is exactly how you feel. :crackup:

Hi ,
Red said it all if you can fix the focus issue then get it LPM’ed by someone to see if you were ripped off on the output sideRich

Oh and be a little more suttle with the adjectives

RedCowboy said:

I see 4 possibilities based on the OP's description. #2 and #4 being the most likely.


(1) The lens is turned around backwards.

(2) The lens is not turning and he is only unscrewing the thumbwheel/end cap.

(3) He was aiming at buildings and flashed himself in the face and cant really see what the heck he is doing anyway.

(4) We are entertaining a troll.

Click to expand...

:crackup: sorry but I almost fell out of my chair when I read your post.

BowtieGuy said:

Yep, probably one of those four possibilities, and also, as the OP mentioned, burning CD cases (black), electrical tape (black), balloons (usually a dark color), is one thing, and then trying to burn the TP (white) is another; it's much harder to burn a very light colored or white object than a black, or dark colored one.

Click to expand...

You wouldn’t believe the crazy stuff I’ve heard, I deliver stuff to a hospital and the kitchen supervisor is a cool black lady, she knows about my laser hobby and I told her that lasers burn much better if the objects are dark colors or black and they don’t burn well if they’re white. I swear to you her exact words were “WHAT!, you tellin me Lasers are Racist!?” :crackup:

Funny stuff, Richie!
You'll have to tell her .....no, they're not racist at all, it's just the opposite, they're simply more attracted to black people! :crackup:

What a strange thread. I was just about to leave without posting, but then it is easier to go on the record that this is not what we expect from a person's very first post here. Many are very cordial and introduce themselves, giving some information about their lives and only then ask a question in a manner that makes us want to help. This is not one of those.

I don't think the OP has replied, only made the 1st post, and yes his language and demeanor came across as a bit uncouth, perhaps he's a troll or an irate WL customer, I think everyone was just having fun while giving the benefit of doubt awaiting a reply from the OP.

Ok, so I was going to reply personally to a few people but it seems these forums are a lot more active than I anticipated.

First of all, apologies if I came off as having a rude and aggressive demeanour, I had no intention of coming off as a troll, I just really wasn't expecting the thread to get any responses because let's be real, the website design at the header mostly looks worse than my project for first year in computer science, the template I use for my own personal website but haven't updated since then because it was focused on the game StarCraft II which is now mainly dead.

Yes, I may have seemed a little angry in my post but that was mainly because I'd just paid a rather significant price for the laser. I'm aware of WL's reputation but it was the same laser as used in said YT videos and I don't have much wisdom when it comes to lasers so I decided to just go with that one.

The reason for my delayed response was because I'm currently hospitalised for certain reasons and sleep for probably 14 hours a day, so between that and getting all my daily routines done, conversing with visitors and family, spending some time talking and playing games with friends online, I don't have much time left in the day and to be honest, it barely even occurred to me to check this thread because like I said, I wasn't expecting so much activity.

In terms of the lens cap, I think people are indeed correct that I'm just screwing it off instead of focusing the lens, but after messing around with it for ages, I simply couldn't find a way to focus it, the only option was screwing it on and off which is why I tried that instead, so if anyone with WL experience could assist me with that, I'd be grateful.

So again, apologies for coming off as hot-headed, I just simply wasn't expecting such a big audience. I would give some more info about myself, but I think I've already given people a book to read at this point as is.

Okay. I can understand being hospitalized and I will accept your apology. As far as the focus on your laser, you will need to post some photos of the problem and the lens assembly. Until then, you have gotten the best advice we can give without knowing more.

I'm currently in hospital getting a blood transfusion, but I'll get some pictures tomorrow, assuming nothing comes up and they actually discharge me, most times they end up finding more nonsense to deal with from the blood test results but fingers crossed. Although I'm not sure they'll be of much assistance.

And I'm aware lasers react more aggressively to darker colours, but I still would've thought something as flammable as a piece of tissue paper would give some kind of reaction, but it didn't even change temperature.

Again, I apologise to everyone for my previous behaviour, I'll post a little something about myself in the introduction forums tomorrow when I get the chance as currently I need to get some sleep.

Edit: Also, I'm well aware of the dangers of pointing the laser at random distances like that but I know about laser safety, I live on a high floor in a flat in Dublin (Looking right over the Guinness Brewery for those interested.) But yes, I have clear vision to point it at things like church roofs and empty office buildings etc. I'm positive that at no point did I put anyone in any danger.

My apology's as its not fun being hospitalized.

What generation Spyder do you have?

Does it have a battery symbol ( gen. one) or lightning bolt (gen. two) next to the leds?

Both should burn.

Also what mw's does it say on the yellow sticker? :thinking:


Edit; forgot to welcome you. Hope things work out in the hospital for you.