Getting X100, safety questions

Now that I am getting the 100 mW X100 Compact Portable Laser from Nova Lasers (h77p://w\/\/w.novalasers.c0m/NOVAstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=15), I have a few questions on legal and safety issues.

First of all, I am going camping in about two weeks, will I be able to shine this up in the air at night without getting arrested, thrown out, or my laser taken away? How about through the air under the horizon? That is, not at people, cars, campers, or anything like that.

Moving on, as for the power of the laser, I know that this can do everything up through Etch into black leather says the website, such as melt through plastic, and pop balloons. So what happens if I touch the beam? Will it burn me, or just sting?

As far as shipping goes, I hear that Nova Lasers is in Canada, meaning this laser will be imported to get to me in PA. This is illegal from what I hear. What will happen if they find it in the mail? Will they take it? Will Nova send me a new one if it gets taken for free? Will I get arrested/fined? This laser also has no safety features that I am aware of which I believe makes it not FDA certified. What will most likely happen if I get caught carrying this around, what's the worst that could happen?

Sorry I asked so many questions, thanks for all of the help,
Zach

As long as you use common sense when shining it in the air you should be fine but I wouldn't really want to risk it. As for touching the beam it will only give you a little sting, no damage to skin but be careful with your eyes. They will ship you a new one if it gets taken by customs. If you get caught carrying it around it all depends on who catches you, the worst that could happen is jail time if your over 18 (i think) just don't so anything that would get you into that situation.

personally I would spend the extra whatever on the alpha series or another FDA certified laser so I wouldn't have to worry about any of that.

I hope I make sense and sorry if I don't I tried to answer best I could

Ask your questions only once, in only one board or thread.

Read MUCH MORE than you post.

Read the board titles for clues to where the information you are looking for may be

If you decide that you've posted in the wrong place, delete that post before posting again in another board or thread

Peace,
dave

Sorry daguin , I'm new here. I'll delete the other one.

Thanks for the info maxkillz, I'll look into getting an FDA certified one, but if I can't find an ideal one, I'll just be extra extra careful with where I shine it, and not take it out in public often.

the alpha series is only a bit more and it's FDA certified, NOVAlasers sells them too ;D

But I can only get a 25 mW in the alpha version for the about same price.  Does the FDA certification cost that much that it makes them 100 dollars more?

well it needs a shutter, 2 second delay, key, indicator light, and a dongle thing. plus it runs on AA batteries so it should last a lot longer. it also can be on for longer periods of time. plus getting it certified and stuff. It comes in a very nice case too...thats all i can think of ;D ;D

Okay, okay, so it is well worth the extra cost. I'm getting this early for Christmas, so I'll have to discuss the cost to see if it is do-able. If you think about it though 100 dollars more isn't bad considering you could lose a 210 dollar illegal laser I guess. I'll talk it over with my family and see what they think about it.

Discussed it. I realized though that this is my first laser, and I'm just getting it to have fun with, so 300 dollars is a bit much. I figure that the most likely way to get caught is by shining it over the horizon, which is already illegal, so it kind of defeats the purpose. And I just thought about it, but these lasers come from Canada, so even though they have the safety features, are they actually "FDA Certified"? I don't know how that all works, does each individual model need to be certified, or is it certified because it has X Y and Z. Also, the alpha series doesn't have a lens holder, not a deciding factor though. I could always get the Alpha 85, 25 mW less than the X100, but only 10 dollars more. So basically I am asking for your opinion, what do you guys think I should do?

Thanks,
Zach

it's US FDA certified, and they usually way overpowered so the 85 should (don't quote me on it) be putting out ~100mW+ plus you can have it on for 200 seconds at a time instead of 60 seconds so i guess thats a plus if you want long burn times. They say the batteries last 3-4 hours instead of 60 minutes so thats another plus. In the long run I guess you'll have a lot on batteries  ;D my friend has one and it's pretty solid, you won't be disappointed with it if you got one. AA batteries are also a lot cheaper and last longer than AAA

Okay, you've convinced me (telling me they were over powered is what did it). I'll get the Alpha 85 mW. I'll be sacrificing the two lenses and holder (although you could just hold one on the end I guess), 30 mW (assuming the 105 mW version is equally overpowered, but 100 is plenty for me) and 10 dollars, but no biggie since I'll be gaining FDA certification (legality), a lot of security, 140 seconds of additional power-time per cycle, 3-4 hours of life, cheaper batteries, and probably a few other things I am not thinking of at the moment. I'll also feel a lot better knowing someone can't just take it off my desk and play with it too.

Thanks again,
Zach

my friends new laser after he sent back his old one because of a lens problem, he just brought this over a minute ago
139 peak and 119 average isn't bad for a 105  ;D ;D so assuming an 85 is similar it's going to be like 119 peak and 99 average

Awesome! That will be plenty power for me.

Do a review when ya get it, theres not many people with these here I may ask my friend if I can borrow it for more than a few minutes next time so I can do a review of his. Might be tomorrow might be next month, who knows :

Yeah, for sure.  I'll definitely do a review on it.  I'll put in the order tomorrow afternoon probably, so it'll probably get here 7-10 business days, so I'll write it the same day it I get it.  I'll try to include some pictures too.  I look forward to your thoughts on your friend's too, PM/E-mail me when you do one if you want.  

Great decision to get the Alpha, I got a 125mW one yesterday, and I coudn't have been more pleased. Be sure to post a review. There's not that many people with them here (like maxkillz said) so it would be great to have several reviews to compare the Alphas.

My A-125 is also overspec, 135mW avg. and 150mw peak. Nova will never let you down!