For those that have a high powered 405 and 445 which do you Prefer

mod101 · Nov 21, 2010

I considering starting a build with either a 445nm or a 405nm. I curious if anyone thought either color was subjectively cooler than the other.
I also realize that 445s can be driven higher so that may also be a factor, thanks for the help

JaiNobeZ · Nov 21, 2010

Wondering about the same thing. Mine probably won't be built for a while, but yeah. Still wondering.

445 vs 405?

IsaacT · Nov 21, 2010

I haven't ever had a *high* powered 405, only ~100mW or so, but my main problem with 405 is the way the eye has a hard time focusing on it...at more than about 10 feet, the dot turns into what looks to me like a blurry many dotted thing, simply because it is so low on the visible spectrum. Also, 405 is not very visible(beam wise) at all, and I really like my beams. Now, I haven't had a 445 yet(just need to get my host :undecided

but I figured I would atleast give my opinion on the 405.

Hope that helps!
Isaac

Gryphon · Nov 21, 2010

Same here, my 405nm hovers around the 100mW mark, however from a stand point of color, i really like the 405. The dot can be a bit difficult to focus at a distance cause it "looks" blurry, but i just like the color way too much to care.

SpyderFire · Nov 21, 2010

I have a 405 @ ~ 860mw and a 445 @ 1.5W , For visibility and burning the 445 is good. the 405 is a killer at burning overall with a greater range of things it can burn.

Preference? both , you cant have only one, you need one of each.

laser_freak · Nov 21, 2010

It depends what you want to do with them. In terms of the 'cool' factor, most people haven't seen violet or blue-violet lasers and will be impressed by both. However 445nm is obviously much more visible, especially since most people have a hard time focusing their eyes on 405nm. If all you want to do is burn from long distances than go with a high power 405nm as it has superior beam specs at around the same power. You should also take price into consideration. In the past high power 405nm have been very expensive, but the price has come down to around $60 in the recent GBs. This is very comparable to the price of most 445nm diodes.

You should also remember that 405nm fluoresce objects much better than 445nm. It's cool when to have a violet laser that all of the sudden turns bright blue (more green than 445nm) when you point it at paper).

Personally I like to look at the beam of my lasers, not burn stuff with my lasers so I would choose 445nm.

JaiNobeZ · Nov 21, 2010

That helps me. Sorry if i'm threadjacking, but i think me and the OP have the same thing in mind. I already have had some 405s, 50mW max though. I was wondering what the advantages of each were in comparison with eachother. Price, power, burning ability per mW, beam quality, ability to flouresce stuff, how long it lasts, visibility, etc. is what it comes down to.
SpyderFire are you saying an 850mW 405 is better at burning than a 445 at 1.5W? Wow... didn't see that coming. And laser_freak, how powerful do the $60 diodes go comfortably? Am i right in thinking 600mW? That'd be what i'd be comparing the 445s with.

SpyderFire · Nov 21, 2010

Well the beam profile of the 12x 405 helps and the 405nm wavelength seems to be absorbed easier by most materials. for example , a slug goes crazy with the 445, but starts crackling instantly with the 405 nm :eg:

Flaminpyro · Nov 21, 2010

It would realy depend on what you want to use the laser for while the 445 can
be run at highter levels pound for pound the 405 is a better burner if you are
supplying the same amount of power to both.
The 405 can do it in a smaller dot size that is ROUND so it's power density is
greater than the 445. the 445 can however eat 3 to 4 times the current so
can produce more output.
the 445 can be seen with our eyes better so it makes a better light saber

the 405 can burn much smaller holes in things

It's realy a matter of what you want in a laser :tinfoil:

laser_freak · Nov 21, 2010

JaiNobeZ said:
...
And laser_freak, how powerful do the $60 diodes go comfortably? Am i right in thinking 600mW? That'd be what i'd be comparing the 445s with.

The $60 diodes I was talking about are from the 12x burner drives: sf-bw512l I think there's still a GB going on, but if not they are usually available from other places and members.

600mW would be fine from these diodes. I think some people have even pushed theirs to 900-1000mW, but I'm not sure.

00Giorge · Nov 22, 2010

I have a 445 that is around 700mw and a couple of low powered 405s but I want to build a high power 405. So I would say I prefer both it just depends on what I am in the mood for.

mod101 · Nov 22, 2010

JaiNobeZ said:
Sorry if i'm threadjacking, but i think me and the OP have the same thing in

haha threadjacking is fine, as i think were both getting good info out of this.

Thanks to everyone who respond, now i just gotta decide which one i want to make

chipdouglas · Nov 22, 2010

also note that because of the 405's nice round beam, you can burn over a way longer distance. people with 8x's can ignite matches over 30-40feet. i have a 1600ma 445 and cant pop a balloon at 10feet. LoL.

next to consider. how important is a super bright beam to you? I can easily see my 120mw 405 but it is not even close to my 445.

michael.

LtKernelPanic · Nov 24, 2010

As others have said it depends on what you're aiming for. If you're going for the "holy crap!" factor nothing available today will beat a 1+W 445. I have a 1.2W 445 and when I show people video of it their usual reaction is "Holy crap it's a light saber!" Currently my most powerful 405 is only a 65x running at about 100-110mw (my LPM should be here end of this week or first of next week). It burns pretty nice but not like my 445. I'd like to build 12x 405 but working in retail means not much time to tinker with lasers until after Christmas.

IsaacT · Nov 24, 2010

LtKernelPanic said:
As others have said it depends on what you're aiming for. If you're going for the "holy crap!" factor nothing available today will beat a 1+W 445. I have a 1.2W 445 and when I show people video of it their usual reaction is "Holy crap it's a light saber!" Currently my most powerful 405 is only a 65x running at about 100-110mw (my LPM should be here end of this week or first of next week). It burns pretty nice but not like my 445. I'd like to build 12x 405 but working in retail means not much time to tinker with lasers until after Christmas.

65x?! Holy crap batman!!!:crackup:

daguin · Nov 24, 2010

You really NEED both :na:

405nm is my favorite for its cool wavelength and fluorescence.

Peace,
dave

For those that have a high powered 405 and 445 which do you Prefer

mod101

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JaiNobeZ

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IsaacT

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Gryphon

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SpyderFire

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laser_freak

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JaiNobeZ

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SpyderFire

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Flaminpyro

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laser_freak

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00Giorge

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mod101

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chipdouglas

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LtKernelPanic

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IsaacT

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daguin

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