can you see a laser beam with the proper safty glasses?

[nicks75]

I'm still a noob with lasers and have my first 50 mw on its way, I still have to pick up some safety glasses but i'm guessing the way the glasses work you probably can't.

 

[udanis]

I'm still a noob with lasers and have my first 50 mw on its way, I still have to pick up some safety glasses but i'm guessing the way the glasses work you probably can't.

If the glasses are the required OD then no you can't see the beam

 

[nicks75]

If the glasses are the required OD then no you can't see the beam

Ok thanks, kinda takes the fun out of playing around in the dark indoors but still more fun than going blind.

BTW your not far from where I live, I live in the Pittsburgh area.

 

[Connormgs]

If you're starpointing or just pointing around your room away from reflective objects you don't need goggles. If you're pointing near reflective objects, your face is close to the laser, you're burning stuff, you need to accurately point your laser at something, you're going to be/need to be staring at the dot for more than a second, then you need goggles.

Too long, didn't read version, if your eyes are going to be in potential danger, wear your goggles.

 

[chipdouglas]

its not the od rating that blocks the beam. its the coating of the glass that blocks the light. the od rating is like a fire rating of a safe.

michael

 

[nicks75]

If you're starpointing or just pointing around your room away from reflective objects you don't need goggles. If you're pointing near reflective objects, your face is close to the laser, you're burning stuff, you need to accurately point your laser at something, you're going to be/need to be staring at the dot for more than a second, then you need goggles.

Too long, didn't read version, if your eyes are going to be in potential danger, wear your goggles.

Well mainly I just want it as a fun gadget to mess around with. I mainly play around with my 5 mw ebay green (which is probably >5) before I go to sleep with the lights out, it kinda relaxes me, I just point it around the room, there's nothing to reflect off of just white walls. The beam is a little noticeable but not as much as my green I have mounted on my rifle, that's listed as a <5 but its really bright. I would be happy with a pointer that matches that power, I'm guessing its somewhere between 30-50 but that's just a guess from my experience of seeing pics and vids.

I'm probably going to buy both a 30 and a 50 from rayfoss since the 50 I have coming is from focalprice and just took the chance of getting a cheapy for my first >5. I figure with both 30 and 50 I would get one that suites me for indoor use and use the 50 for responsible outdoor use.

I figured a 50 would still be too much for indoor use from just the dot reflecting off a wall.

 

[Lasers and Masers]

Yah a 50mw will have a pretty bright reflection all over the room because of the white. I'd recommend using the 50 with goggles only in door as I have not in the past and it hurt my eyes a bit.

 

[RA_pierce]

VLT is the Visible Light Transmission. OD is the Optical Density. It is determined by how much of the laser light is attenuated.
It is a base-10 logarithm (IIRC), meaning that, for example, OD2 will attenuate the beam by a factor of 100. OD4 will attenuate the beam by a factor of 10,000 (someone correct me if I am wrong).
You want the OD rating to attenuate the beam to less than 5mW.
In the case of a 50mW green, OD2 will be fine.

 

[nicks75]

Yah a 50mw will have a pretty bright reflection all over the room because of the white. I'd recommend using the 50 with goggles only in door as I have not in the past and it hurt my eyes a bit.

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely use goggles if I use the 50 indoors, I'll probably pick up a few different powers 30 and under for indoor use until I find out exactly the power I'm looking for before committing to buying a top quality one.

Though I do want something brighter than a 5 I'm not really looking for burning or balloon popping, I just want something to relax with that has a solid beam, lasers have that effect of me though I'm sure I'm not alone here on that.

Maybe later on when I feel I'm ready to use the higher ones for burning or balloon popping (with goggles on of course) I'll move on to the higher powered ones.

 

[nicks75]

VLT is the Visible Light Transmission. OD is the Optical Density. It is determined by how much of the laser light is attenuated.
It is a base-10 logarithm (IIRC), meaning that, for example, OD2 will attenuate the beam by a factor of 100. OD4 will attenuate the beam by a factor of 10,000 (someone correct me if I am wrong).
You want the OD rating to attenuate the beam to less than 5mW.
In the case of a 50mW green, OD2 will be fine.

Thanks, I never knew that about glasses, good to know when picking out a pair.

If I'm understanding right then a OD2 would make a 100 mW equivalent to a 1 mW if the beam shines through the glasses?

 

[Toaster]

I dont think 50 mW Needs goggles that much as people claim. I use my 1Watt 445 and I dont use the goggles unless I am around mirrors

 

[RA_pierce]

I dont think 50 mW Needs goggles that much as people claim. I use my 1Watt 445 and I dont use the goggles unless I am around mirrors

I am comfortable with lasers on the low end of Class IIIb without goggles depending on the use, audience, setting, and wavelength. I ALWAYS use goggles when I am in a position where eye damage is possible or likely.

But to use a Class IV willy-nilly is not wise no matter the circumstance.
Remember that damage to your vision can be cumulative and go unnoticed until it's too late.
Direct reflections from mirrors are not the only hazard a Class IV short wavelength laser poses.

 

[Birdy num nums]

Would od 1 be fine for a deal extreme 50mw green laser module? I heard that its not actually 50mw more like 35mw. Would od 1 attenuate the beam to like 1mw?

 

[Pman]

I made Christmas cookies for 5 hours the other day on the burner (special Norwegian ones that are made one at a time) and man could I see the beams from just about any low powered unit I have. Still trying to get my lungs to recover though

 

[Stas]

Hi there,
I bought a 445-450nm 2500mw laser from china. Then based on internet advice, I bought some "Eagle Pair" branded safety glasses, rated OD4+ for 190-450nm and 800-2000nm for about £40, also from china. When I turn the laser on, I can a bright purple dot on the wooden surface, which turns into a bright white dot when I focus it. I can see the laser beam when wisps of smoke go through it.
Is this normal? I like being able to see

 

[diachi]

Hi there,
I bought a 445-450nm 2500mw laser from china. Then based on internet advice, I bought some "Eagle Pair" branded safety glasses, rated OD4+ for 190-450nm and 800-2000nm for about £40, also from china. When I turn the laser on, I can a bright purple dot on the wooden surface, which turns into a bright white dot when I focus it. I can see the laser beam when wisps of smoke go through it.
Is this normal? I like being able to see

Please avoid digging up old threads. This one is nearly three years old.

Where did you order the glasses from exactly?