20 Ways To Handle Class 3b & 4 Laser Light

Because of unfair treatment by Avery Tarasov, I no longer support this forum.

bleh!

nice!

I'd like to particularly emphasize #9 and #16.

Re: #9 -- As hobbyists, often these laasers are used in a more informal setting. Children and pets are ALWAYS a potential intruder into the area where the beam is shining. Also bear in mind, that even tall people are "short" when seated.

Re: #16 -- I know that you love your wife and/or husband and your ring professes your commitment. However, do you want to hear the pain and fear in their voice as they drive you to the hospital?

Ask yourself this question, "If this laser was a small caliber handgun, would I still handle it the way I am?"

If your answer is, "No", then you are not treating the laser with the respect that it's potential for harm represents.

Peace,
dave

Brilliant post! :thanks:

Great post Eidict.


michael

Great post!!!

Deserves a sticky...

^^ agree :gj:

[removed]
This thread is a good one.
Regarding #1: Tripods and clamps can be bought for very cheap. They can easily be adjusted for any height and it is a much better alternative to setting the laser on a table. Pointers and flashlights tend to roll if they are cylindrical.

That's why I think high power pointers are too dangerous to have.

Something I'd add: Beam shielding. Class 4 lasers are a fire hazard, en even below that it's a lot of light. Building beam shielding from simple PVC tubes keeps you from dropping things in the beam, which not only burns what you drop in, but also lets the light out. It keeps you from accidentally crossing the beam path, you obviously know where your beam is going.

And a last thing which may be debatable: this way you can enclose a laser setup so that you can take you goggles off. But only if you do not change a thing in that setup! I did it for the pump laser of a Ti:Sapphire so I could use IR goggles and not the very dark goggles for both IR and green.

And welcome to the forum, a good first impression.

Re: looks for a laser that burns

randomkid said:

and just out of curiosity, has anyone on this forum gone blind in parts of their eyes?.

Click to expand...

I haven't admitted this, but I have a 'spot' in my left eye -- and it wasn't even from a laser. It was from a high powered blue narrow-angle Nichia LED in 2002.

I was looking at the die itself under a loupe, to observe the color changes/differences (green vs blue) at barely-operating threshold currents. Bumped two leads of a pot together and it went full power for maybe a second.

Saw a pink spot for a month. It's since turned black - but sometimes when I'm tired it's a pink speck again.

... Keep in mind, this wasn't even a laser. This made me a believer. You can be as careful as you want -- it's the mistakes that you can't even comprehend that'll get you.

Goggles on, then laser on. Laser off, before goggles off.

I also take these precautions:

-Non-FDA compliant lasers are in a lockbox.
-They are stored without batteries. (I have seen Dildas and o-Like new styles turn on, if batteries are in, when unscrewing/tightening the endcap - EVEN if the button isn't pressed)
-Focusable lasers are stored DEFOCUSED, I widen the beam as far as I can before storage to minimize damage if an accidental illumination does happen.
-FDA-Compliant lasers have the keys stored *Separately* from the laser itsef (again, batteries out.)
-If possible, goggles/glasses of the appropriate WL are stored WITH or NEAR the laser itself.
-Each portable laser is in an anti-stat bag as well -- this is not for the laser's protection, let me explain:

The lockbox, storage without batteries, defocusing, and individual statbagging of my portable lasers serves this purpose:

** To make sure that I am _thinking about it_ and _aware_ and _present_ when I am going to turn on a laser. **

The point is to make operation of the lasers as 'non casual' as possible. I have to open a lockbox. I have to remove it from the stat bag. I have to insert the batteries, turn it on, and focus it. (In the case of FDA-compliant, I have to insert the batteries, insert the interlock, turn on the key, open the shutter, and wait 5 seconds.)

This may be annoying to some people, but the procedure required gives me some time to think about an realize the seriousness of these instruments.

Maybe it seems paranoid - but the "LED incident" is what made me decide to not play around with this stuff. It may seem like overkill but I got a "taste" of optical injury, and I do not want more.

Once you get a little, it changes you. I know many people who say "I'm careful - I won't make a mistake."

The point is, most mistakes and accidents happen (not only in lasers, but in HV electrical, construction, etc) when experienced, knowledgeable people think that they "know what they're doing" or have "done this a hundred times without a problem". They get a little lax, or figure they've done it so often tha they don't need the protection. And then "Shit happens" and they aren't protected. And they get injured or worse.

So, yes, there are folks here who have optical damage. I didn't expect it, and I thought I was being careful. From what I understand, I'm not the only one.

(I heard some horrible story about some guy passing a laser into his eyes and seeing 'black spots' when he did it - and then doing it again to 'see if he really saw it' or not... and then again because he 'wondered what was going on'. Each time he was doing that, the black spots he was seeing was him burning his retina. Permanently.)

Excellent advice Aryntha! Especially keeping the lasers defocused and without batteries. Thanks!

With the soon to be introduced 1 watt 445 nm lasers. Not only should this be a sticky as it already is it should also be required reading before any kid or young adult and mature persons can join this forum now that high power class 3b & 4 lasers will be available for little out of pocket expenditure.

If i can permit to add a word .....

Stating how to handle these powers is a good idea ..... but, maybe, this can also be completed with some "how NOT to handle class 4 lasers" suggestions .....

Not just the "good" part of the suggestion, but also the complement.

Just as example:

5. Always keep the beam terminated as close to the laser as possible. - A non-terminated beam from a class 4 laser, if focused, can cause serious skin damage or set some materials and/or clothes at fire, is not dangerous only for your eyes.

And so on .....

I know that for peoples that use lasers from long time, this may be redundant, but we have here a lot of peoples that, without previous experience, have gained access to those lasers, when before only had low or mid power units, so they are used to think "ok for eye safety, but a laser on clothes or around the home is not dangerous, if i take care about my eyes" ..... is not just matter of eyes safety, with these levels .....

Sorry for the interference, is just a personal impression .....

Naah, not failed ..... i just suggested that, considering how much peoples, being used to point lasers on various items, can be "fooled" thinking "hey, it's just another laser" ..... you know, better safe than sorry

And yes, i know about burning capability of non-focused class 4 lasers ..... i have a nice permanent scorch on a finger, caused from lack of care of a friend turning on a high power UV unit, that remember me this