Where should the line be drawn?

Assuming laser diodes keep getting cheaper and more powerful and battery tech also increases to keep up with the power needs for portable lasers (not talking about lab lasers), at what point would we consider the power too much for someone new to high power portable lasers to use (assuming they at least read and seem to understand all the warnings that we could think of)? Is it 1 watt, 5 watt, 20 watt, 100 watt, 1000 watt, 10000 watt, 100000 watt? At some point the line would need to be drawn. And then at what point would we consider lasers unsafe for public handling at all(including the knowledgable and even professional enthusiasts on this board).

Considering that 10mw could cause permanent retinal damage when should the power be considered too much? As an enthusiast myself I wouldn't want any limits but I do see that at some point there would need to be very strict limits enforced.

Thats the FDAs problem. Laser hobbyist are a very small group. You still cant just go out and buy a 1W hand held laser. You have to build it, as with most dangerous stuff you cant buy.

The line's been drawn at 5mW a very long time ago. Nothing's changed since then except the number of people breaking the law by selling higher powered handheld lasers to the ignorant and/or irresponsible. But there's no enforcement because there are so many bigger fish to fry. So there's no line to be crossed. How about 20W green from a handheld laser being waved around like a light saber? The cost will be paid by those blinded, burned or caught.

The 5mw is specific to laser pointers from what I have heard. From all the comments i have read it sounds like Higher power portable lasers are legal if they have the necessary safety features. Bigger portable lasers is what I am referring to.

:horse:

xStatiCa said:

The 5mw is specific to laser pointers from what I have heard. From all the comments i have read it sounds like Higher power portable lasers are legal if they have the necessary safety features.

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Its also not illegal to build and own, but you are not suppose to take it outside.

You can take it outside. It's all about beam control, and protecting the public from energy being directed at them when in public space or at home. Keep the beam in private space and you'll only have to worry about liability.

xStatiCa said:

at what point would we consider the power too much for someone new to high power portable lasers to use (assuming they at least read and seem to understand all the warnings that we could think of)?

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1 watt is already too much IMHO if you new to high powers.
Its not just about them possibly hurting or blinding themselves but others.
How many people who buy the arctic are not going to show a friend at least once? Whats the chances that they paid for a second pair of certified glasses? Do they mention the dangers of even diffusely scattered 1W of 445nm at close range & that damage may not be apparent immediately?

How many of these new arctic owners are going to bother Always locking it up after they play with it?
How long till a child picks one up?

Pontiacg5 said:

:horse:

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LOL!! So True!! :crackup::crackup::crackup: