Where should I buy my laser?

[ToneLoke]

Where should I buy 532mw laser?
I want a laser that is 100mw or more.
I would like it to be FDA compliant so it doesn't get taken by customs. Laserglow, optotronics, and novalasers are all to expensive for me. I really don't want to spend more than $200 for the laser.

I read the guide to buying your first green laser, but I noticed that some of the companies' quality have spiraled downhill.

I am thinking about buying from rayfoss because some of their lasers have the FDA safety features.
I am also considering lazerer since a lot of people say that company is reliable, but I don't know of their lasers will make it through customs.
I was considering laserbtb, but some people said that it was on the FDA import alert.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

I vote no on rayfoss. Everything I bought from them was crap, "600mW green" did about 63mW

Try looking at laserbtb (sky), click on the 650, 520 or 445 on my sig for the big review, they have the safety devices (except 5 second delay) on the PL and HL models.

Oh, and welcome to the forums! Hope you enjoy your stay and don't forget to get some safety goggles!

 

[ToneLoke]

Yea I know about laser safety.

 

[Livinloud]

Lazerer is great. mine made it through customs with no problem and im hoping it made it out of customs too (tail cap jumped a thread or something odd and sent it out for repairs). many members have had really good experience with them and Max is a great guy to work with, super helpful and is quick to answer questions, esp for a Chinese company. output of lasers is spot on, make sure you get the power output chart for $5 extra, its worth it to know exactly what your laser is putting out and since its a 532nm he will give you the IR output as well, that alone is worth the $5. THIS is the laser i got and it is a sold host, heavy but not too heavy, great focusing ring as well. i just got unlucky and had the threads jump on me :cryyy:

Welcome to the forum and keep us posted as to where you buy. if your not set on getting a laser with safety features id highly recommend buying from members on this forum. i just bought a 1.5W 445nm laser from Blord and it is amazing and he can do some custom builds for you, just PM him. search the B/S/T section for 532nm lasers and contact members who have many builds for sale, they normally will do custom work if you ask nicely :na:

 

[ToneLoke]

How do lasers get taken?? Do a bunch of people just look into your packages or something?

 

[Livinloud]

How do lasers get taken?? Do a bunch of people just look into your packages or something?

do you what customs is? if not here is a brief Livinloud crash course on customs:

when a package gets shipped from overseas or into a different country it has to go through customs. what customs does is x-ray or scan every parcel. they are looking for drugs, weapons, safety hazards, chemicals, etc...... since it is impossible to tell whats in a package just from looking at it, hence the scanning. if customs realizes there is a laser in the package they will take your package.......you will never receive it

what lazerer and a few other companies do is sell lasers that look like flashlights and declare them on the customs form as such. thus when customs scans them and believes there is a laser in the box, the custom form says flashlight. most customs personnel are too lazy or just dont care to open the package and confirm the contents. if you didnt realize, customs has the right to open any package they feel is suspicious and you cant do anything about it. you'll just receive no package if they take it or an opened package if they let it through customs.

hope that helps out

EDIT: btw how old are you?

 

[ChaosLord]

I recently bought from laserbtb, and it came through fine. In fact, i believe they say its guaranteed to get through, and if not, they with get it to you. If you look on there site, it says beside the laser FDA if it's approved. As long as it's not >500mW, it should get through fine.
Their class 4s are a risk though, as none i saw had FDA cert.

 

[ToneLoke]

Thank you for the replies. I'm either going with laserbtb or lazerer.
Livinloud, why do want to know how old I am?:thinking:

 

[Livinloud]

Thank you for the replies. I'm either going with laserbtb or lazerer.
Livinloud, why do want to know how old I am?:thinking:

Most companies wont sell to anyone under 18 for starters.

Yea I know about laser safety.

second, you used an 'innocent' whistle when talking about safety, slightly scary to me seeing as to the potential dangers involved with lasers. safety isn't something to joke about or skimp on with lasers (not trying to imply that your whistle meant you don't care or know about safety but just wanted to check that you know the severity that can come with using lasers in a dangerous manner)

finally, you didn't know how lasers got confiscated or taken by customs. it may just be me but i thought customs procedures was a common thing.

those three things led me to believe you are either young or uninformed. PLEASE don't take that the wrong way as i was just wondering and trying to confirm your maturity/age. for all i know you could be 35+ years old, very mature and have a vast knowledge of laser safety but i would rather confirm this than see yet another immature kid purchasing a laser and doing stupid things with it, i.e. shining it at an aircraft because 'its funny'. those people give the laser hobby a bad rep and thus cause more restrictions to be place on our hobby. we don't need lasers to be completely banned so it is normal for members to ask regarding age and if buyers have a good understanding of laser safety.

sorry if you took what i said or asked the wrong way because trust me, it was done with the best intentions in mind and trying to protect you and people in your surrounding area along with the entire laser community

:beer:

 

[ChaosLord]

Just FYI: Sam's Laser FAQ - Laser Safety

 

[Livinloud]

Just FYI: Sam's Laser FAQ - Laser Safety

just skimmed it quick but did i read correctly:
"So the 1 mW laser has the potential to produce an intensity on the retina 167 times that of direct sunlight!"

does that mean my 1.5W 445nm is 250,500 more intense than the sun with respect to intensity on the retina?

 

[ChaosLord]

Yeah, it kind of blew my mind when i saw that. If that don't make you respect a laser, maybe you don't need one...

 

[Livinloud]

i knew my laser was powerful as all heck but wow that is absolutely astonishing!!! have to give MAD PROPS to eagle pair for stopping that amount of light!

 

[ToneLoke]

They used 2mm as the pupil diameter. That would be in sunlight.
In your house, it would be around 5mm. So essentially you are getting even more than 167 times the intensity(If you use your laser indoors and if the beam diameter is more than 2mm).
At night, the pupils get even larger, so you better "PROTECT YOUR SEEING BALLS" (Styropyro)

 

[ToneLoke]

Do you guys have any suggestions for specific lasers under $200?

 

[Livinloud]

for a 532nm over 100mW? you can basically get FOUR 100mW 532s for $200 or a 200mW for $150 or 300mW for $190......

you want a FDA approved or just safety features?