Help with blurry 1W 445nm

Hello,

Today while i was cleaning my laser diode window, I forgot to take the batteries out (future cleaning will be without battery cap so the batteries simply can’t even stay in). So while I was cleaning the lens diode window (because I suspected it has became dirty after unscrewing my lens several times). By the way I was doing all this because I was noticing some weird ‘worm like’ marks in the dot. So what happend while cleaning, I pressed the back of the laser on the table to keep it still for more precice and gentle cleaning and it clicked on by accident, with the Q-Tip against the laser diode window, I immeadiately removed the Q-Tip and powered down the laser. But it was too late, the Q-Tip already showed a burn mark... So I looked at the laser diode window and it appears to also have a slight burn mark, not so easy to see but clearly big enough to be visable in the dot size (blurry/bigger when focussed to infinity and when using without lens, displays a weird distorted pattern instead of the perfectly big rectangular shape it had before).

One positive thing: so it turned out that my lens had some little fibers laying on it, which i I removed by compressed air. So my lens now is crystal clear but unfortunately my laser diode window is not...

What can I do? I already tried cleaned it with 70% alcohol on Q-Tip and finishing with a blow of compressed air. But the burn mark still is (although barely) visable in the laser diode window.

Some mistakes are not easily corrected. If you keep your laser wrapped up and out of the air when not in use, it is rarely necessary to clean the diode's window. I can't remember the last time I had an issue with the window of a laser diode. Unless you spill something on the lens, it is rarely necessary to do more than blow dust off of it with canned air. You can try to very carefully scrape the burned material off the window, but it is likely there until the diode is replaced. Take it as a learning experience.

paul1598419 said:

Some mistakes are not easily corrected. If you keep your laser wrapped up and out of the air when not in use, it is rarely necessary to clean the diode's window. I can't remember the last time I had an issue with the window of a laser diode. Unless you spill something on the lens, it is rarely necessary to do more than blow dust off of it with canned air. You can try to very carefully scrape the burned material off the window, but it is likely there until the diode is replaced. Take it as a learning experience.

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It still burns the things I want, it only doesn’t make a sharp and clean dot. Do you recommend the scraping, or would you advice doing nothing, because I am sure that I would break it if I am trying to replace the diode. Does this laser actually make a nice platform for future upgrades? For your information, it is the so called ‘Gatling Style’ laser.
And if I want a new laser, and I am looking to do a little burning, wanting a small form factor and beam visability, what color would you recommend? Also, is fixed focus too bad? I would assume with high enough power fixed infinity focus would also burn, right?

No, no, no no no. The Gattling is one of the cheapest crap Chinese lasers one can get. Some are sold to unsuspecting people for far more than they are worth. If you want a quality 445nm 1 watt laser try laserpointerstore.com. They are fairly inexpensive with mostly good parts. For more expensive lasers, try Sanwu, as many members here swear by them. Podo is a member here and spokesman for Sanwu. As for laserpointerstore.com, tommy is the member here that represents them.

paul1598419 said:

No, no, no no no. The Gattling is one of the cheapest crap Chinese lasers one can get. Some are sold to unsuspecting people for far more than they are worth. If you want a quality 445nm 1 watt laser try laserpointerstore.com. They are fairly inexpensive with mostly good parts. For more expensive lasers, try Sanwu, as many members here swear by them. Podo is a member here and spokesman for Sanwu. As for laserpointerstore.com, tommy is the member here that represents them.

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Okay, Thanks for the info. Which color would you recommend for my use? Some close and distance burning and good beam visability. Maybe a higher power green? Or something else?

Laser diodes like to be clean. With a 1 watt diode anything on the window when power is applied tends to fume and fuse to the window. With a 7 watt diode any contamination of the window can easily result in a broken or even melted window. I never remove my lens unless I absolutely have to and I always make very sure the window is clean before putting the lens back on. I'd follow Paul's advice and chalk this one up as a learning experience.

WizardG said:

Laser diodes like to be clean. With a 1 watt diode anything on the window when power is applied tends to fume and fuse to the window. With a 7 watt diode any contamination of the window can easily result in a broken or even melted window. I never remove my lens unless I absolutely have to and I always make very sure the window is clean before putting the lens back on. I'd follow Paul's advice and chalk this one up as a learning experience.

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Yes, unfortunately, a hard learning proces, but so be it. Both of you have far more experience then me, and you both know far more then I do. So I will stick tightly to your advice.

As far as burning lasers go, you need to think of how much you are willing to spend. By far the cheapest 1 or 2 watt lasers are the blue 445nm ones. The diodes for these have become ubiquitous and are therefore less expensive than green ones are. The only 1 watt red ones have terrible divergence specs, so the beam ends up looking like a line rather than a dot. Do you see what I am saying here? Look at the link I gave you and price different lasers to see which fits your budget and needs.

paul1598419 said:

As far as burning lasers go, you need to think of how much you are willing to spend. By far the cheapest 1 or 2 watt lasers are the blue 445nm ones. The diodes for these have become ubiquitous and are therefore less expensive than green ones are. The only 1 watt red ones have terrible divergence specs, so the beam ends up looking like a line rather than a dot. Do you see what I am saying here? Look at the link I gave you and price different lasers to see which fits your budget and needs.

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Okay I understand. Thank you.

paul1598419 said:

No, no, no no no. The Gattling is one of the cheapest crap Chinese lasers one can get. Some are sold to unsuspecting people for far more than they are worth. If you want a quality 445nm 1 watt laser try laserpointerstore.com. They are fairly inexpensive with mostly good parts. For more expensive lasers, try Sanwu, as many members here swear by them. Podo is a member here and spokesman for Sanwu. As for laserpointerstore.com, tommy is the member here that represents them.

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PS laserpointerstore sells several models of Gattling host lasers for more than they are worth same as every other Chinese reseller no different also
Have a look on page 2 of all laser pointers on the laserpointerstore web site --there are 3 types of Gattling host lasers listed

Encap said:

PS laserpointerstore sells several models of Gattling host lasers for more than they are worth same as every other Chinese reseller no different also
Have a look on page 2 of all laser pointers on the laserpointerstore web site --there are 3 types of Gattling host lasers listed

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Yeah I noticed that too. I think I will go for a Sanwu Pocket Series. Any other recommendations for small high(ish) output power lasers of which the beam is clearly visible and that can light matches? My budget is no more then 100 euro’s. Including shipping and (new) safety gear.

Jesse said:

Yeah I noticed that too. I think I will go for a Sanwu Pocket Series. Any other recommendations for small high(ish) output power lasers of which the beam is clearly visible and that can light matches? My budget is no more then 100 euro’s. Including shipping and (new) safety gear.

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The Sanwu Pocket is a great choice. I have a few different ones. You should be very happy with it. I would suject you buy a couple of extra batteries, for they seem to drain the batteries fairly quickly. Best wishes and enjoy.

BobMc said:

The Sanwu Pocket is a great choice. I have a few different ones. You should be very happy with it. I would suject you buy a couple of extra batteries, for they seem to drain the batteries fairly quickly. Best wishes and enjoy.

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Yeah, I already have 3 10440 batteries.
Which color and mW do you like the most? Mind sharing some beam pictures in daylight/at night?

Jesse said:

Yeah, I already have 3 10440 batteries, of which I use a single 10440 in my 'shorty' 5mW 532nm pen.
Which color and mW do you like the most? Mind sharing some beam pictures in daylight/at night?

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Sounds great, 3 should be plenty. My favorite Pocket is the 150mw 520nm, such brightness in such a small package. Next would be the special request build I had done. A 1 watt 445 Pocket, burns quite nicely, does get hot quickly so it’s something I’ve got to watch. But it’s fun one too. I’ve got some Pocket beam shots posted here on the enchanted beam thread if you like to take a peak

https://laserpointerforums.com/f48/enchanted-beams-thread-98105.html

Enjoy

Jesse said:

Yeah, I already have 3 10440 batteries, of which I use a single 10440 in my 'shorty' 5mW 532nm pen.
Which color and mW do you like the most? Mind sharing some beam pictures in daylight/at night?

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Yeah Bob, which one is your favourite child?

EDIT
Bob you were few sec faster and beated me ^--^

ArcticDude said:

Yeah Bob, which one is your favourite child?

EDIT
Bob you were few sec faster and beated me ^--^

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Morning Arctic. Just trying to get the day started. Have a good one