Advice for buying my first real laser!!

I'm not very crazy about the host, but I would enjoy something like this (third image) if it's not too much. As for the color, I chose green because I heard it is more visible than blue and the beam is thinner and better for burning, but if you can find a cheaper blue one with a higher heat output and a beam more visible, I would appreciate to know about it, but I am most comfortable sticking with green.

I know most people here will recommend Buy laser and Optics Online :: Dragon Lasers and JETLASERS.ORG as they are selling high quality laser, but they are a bit pricy too.

For a cheaper one you may look at ==LAZERER== Laser Pointer in Green, Red, Blue with Real Genius Granteed Power for Sale. I personally own a lazerer 1.5W blue laser and a few of my friend had good experience buying from them too.

Hibro said:

I know most people here will recommend Buy laser and Optics Online :: Dragon Lasers and JETLASERS.ORG as they are selling high quality laser, but they are a bit pricy too.

For a cheaper one you may look at ==LAZERER== Laser Pointer in Green, Red, Blue with Real Genius Granteed Power for Sale. I personally own a lazerer 1.5W blue laser and a few of my friend had good experience buying from them too.

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Lazerer used to be good in the past. Now, there have been tons of complaints of people not receiving their lasers, orders lost and even order never being processed. Lazerer is on the no-buy list now

-Alex

Dog im glad the eye thing is a "bit" settled but you really have to understand its a very serious topic here. Im sure you have read it before joining. Anyway I dont think you have mentioned what your budget is and that can make or break what you want. A 1W blue will burn well and have a descent beam in a lit room. 1W is a very powerful laser its not a joke. A 1W 445 blue compares to a 100mw 532 green in brightness. Unless you have im guessing 200mw burning in 532green you need it to focus well at a lower mw. Higher output greens are going to cost more so its a trade off. There are members here that build or just keep reading and you will get the idea on who the good companys are. Gozert a member here has an updated thread on a guide for begginers, lots of answers that you want.. I think a pointer is basicly a pen style laser or something of that style, a hand held is I believe usually a bigger laser with a bigger host and rechargable batterys and a portable is something you can use in your hand but you need to set up different. Im sure the vets will correct me on this. Just be safe.......I just read RedCowboys explanation on pointers and handhelds now im a bit confused!

Hap said:

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Lazerer used to be good in the past. Now, there have been tons of complaints of people not receiving their lasers, orders lost and even order never being processed. Lazerer is on the no-buy list now

-Alex

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Not the facts I experienced. I order from them recently (about 2 months ago). Transactions is smooth and fast. Some of my classmates order from them too without any problem. A guy called Max is very helpful.

Hibro wow cant believe you would buy from them, max is nothing but a complete moron he has ripped off many people here and ignored when lasers didnt arrive or when they had issues, sad u give money to crooks instead of the better companies that deserve support.. u are better off buying lasers from aliexpress or whatever because they sell more or less the same type of hosts but for higher price.

GSS said:

Anyway I dont think you have mentioned what your budget is and that can make or break what you want.

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It was in my original post, but I want something less than $200. I would prefer something green and, from what RedCowboy mentioned, I want a handheld. Some of the options I gave in my previous posts were what I am looking for, however, I don't see any product reviews and I would rather have someone on these forums recommend something specific.

mortuus said:

Hibro wow cant believe you would buy from them, max is nothing but a complete moron he has ripped off many people here and ignored when lasers didnt arrive or when they had issues, sad u give money to crooks instead of the better companies that deserve support.. u are better off buying lasers from aliexpress or whatever because they sell more or less the same type of hosts but for higher price.

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Thanks for your advice mortuus. However as I said before. Me and my friends have a good experience with lazere so I am not completely agree with you. I rather go with laserBTB or skylasers than aliexpress or ebay.

Dog said:

It was in my original post, but I want something less than $200. I would prefer something green and, from what RedCowboy mentioned, I want a handheld. Some of the options I gave in my previous posts were what I am looking for, however, I don't see any product reviews and I would rather have someone on these forums recommend something specific.

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As mentioned by Hibro below, the best bang for your buck would be at laserbtb. Their units are pretty good and tend to be overspec

-Alex

I'm likely going to buy a LaserBTB. I have narrowed my choices down to PL 520nm 532nm 100-1000 (200mw)
and HL 532nm 50-300 (300mw)
Which should I choose? I prefer the advanced 200mw one that comes in a briefcase, but for $20 more, I can get a 300mw without a fancy case and professional look. What I'm primarily thinking of is if the 100mw difference is really worth the $20 and overall look of it.

Dog said:

I'm likely going to buy a LaserBTB. I have narrowed my choices down to PL 520nm 532nm 100-1000 (200mw)
and HL 532nm 50-300 (300mw)
Which should I choose? I prefer the advanced 200mw one that comes in a briefcase, but for $20 more, I can get a 300mw without a fancy case and professional look. What I'm primarily thinking of is if the 100mw difference is really worth the $20 and overall look of it.

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It won't be terribly brighter but the extra 100mW will allow you to do more burning. What are the main uses you are buying it for?

-Alex

Just pointing around and a little burning. I guess I will go with the 200mw one. Also, what is an IR filter? Is the $1.61 worth it? (I obviously wouldn't mind paying +$2, I'm just curious to what the IR filter actually does)

Dog said:

Just pointing around and a little burning. I guess I will go with the 200mw one. Also, what is an IR filter? Is the $1.61 worth it? (I obviously wouldn't mind paying +$2, I'm just curious to what the IR filter actually does)

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An IR filter, or Infrared filter blocks out harmful residue IR light(which is invisible to your eye) but is needed to create 532nm light. 532nm lasers are DPSS and use the following process known as frequency doubling.

You start out with a powerful 808nm pump diode which fires into a crystal, changing the wavelength of the light into 1064nm. Finally, that light is then fired into another crystal which takes that light and "halves" it into 532nm.

:yh:

-Alex

Wow, I didn't know that! Does the IR filter have any affect on the visibility and/or burning capability?

Dog said:

Wow, I didn't know that! Does the IR filter have any affect on the visibility and/or burning capability?

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Not on visibility but it does on burning. As IR light is many times more powerful then the 532nm light you get at the end, you're laser could output much higher levels of radiation then you would imagine if you only counted 532nm light. How do you think those 5mW eBay pens burn so well? :beer:

-Alex

Hap said:

Not on visibility but it does on burning. As IR light is many times more powerful then the 532nm light you get at the end, you're laser could output much higher levels of radiation then you would imagine if you only counted 532nm light. How do you think those 5mW eBay pens burn so well? :beer:

-Alex

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But it's important to remember that infrared (IR) is invisible yet can still cause eye damage, so definitely get an IR filter since then the laser will be atleast a little bit "safer".