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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

[noob] Is this legit? [/noob]

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I've only just recently become fascinated with lasers and started buying them, so I don't know what sites are legitimate. I've seen a couple a posts about O-Like so I decided to browse the selection and this one caught my eye

808nm 220mW laser torch /adjustable/burning [OL808-200] - $39.00 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products

The thing that worries me is the price :undecided: it says it will light matches and pop balloons instantly. It's a 808NM 220MW infrared laser for $39.99. Is it legit?

Also, can you guys recommend any USA based sites to order from? (to avoid an hassle's with customs)
 





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For a starter laser IR is not what you want. It's nearly invisible and as such, even at as large a power as 220mW, will be very dim, deceptively so. The price is about right, but this is because low-powered (In this case 500mW and below) are somewhat inexpensive. I would go with New Style red laser 200mW /adjustable [OLNRL200] - $45.99 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products and definitely a pair of goggles for red, remember, you only get one set of eyes. As for customs, it is very rare that O-Likes lasers get caught in customs, and if they do they'll send another, their customer service is excellent. Welcome to LPF.
 
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Thanks for the help :)

So the IR won't light anything? I don't mind visibility, I currently have a 50mw green, and I love it.... but I'm looking for something that can burn. To be perfectly honest, something with a slightly more inconspicuous beam (yet can still burn) would be more appealing to me which is why I looked into the IR.
 
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the ir laser is pretty much only good for burning up close. if you want to pop balloons or ignite matches at a much greater distanced go with a blu-ray


michael.
 
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The IR will burn...but may I ask why you need a less visible beam?

Honestly? So it's less likely to be seen when I'm using it outside and at school. I'm a jr, in case your wondering. I actually am allowed to have lasers on campus (because I'm in third year technical theater, and we use them a lot.) Also if I'm ever just chillin outside, bored, and want to burn some stuff I don't like having the beam pointing it out so obviously drawing attention to me... I know it sounds sketchy but my intentions aren't bad, I assure you lol.
 
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the ir laser is pretty much only good for burning up close. if you want to pop balloons or ignite matches at a much greater distanced go with a blu-ray


michael.

About how far can I burn with a blue ray? What mw would you recommended?
 

Ash

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Honestly? So it's less likely to be seen when I'm using it outside and at school. I'm a jr, in case your wondering. I actually am allowed to have lasers on campus (because I'm in third year technical theater, and we use them a lot.) Also if I'm ever just chillin outside, bored, and want to burn some stuff I don't like having the beam pointing it out so obviously drawing attention to me... I know it sounds sketchy but my intentions aren't bad, I assure you lol.
*facepalm

-So you are going to get an invisible laser, and anyone near your "burning" (including you if you are not wearing safety glasses) can potentially have their eyes permanently damaged by your laser. :scowl:
Using a high-powered laser in public is completely irresponsible.
Read this --> Laser safety - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
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*facepalm

-So you are going to get an invisible laser, and anyone near your "burning" (including you if you are not wearing safety glasses) can potentially have their eyes permanently damaged by your laser. :scowl:
Using a high-powered laser in public is completely irresponsible.
Read this --> Laser safety - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Do you even need glasses for an infrared laser?



also no need to be so sarcastic, I clearly stated I'm relatively new to lasers....
 
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No matter how well you can or can Not see a beam doesn't make it less powerful


Honestly think about what you are saying

[you]I want a laser that can burn things... But it's can;t burn my eyes because if my eyes can;t see it how can it hurt it them?[you/]

any laser over 5 mW that you are viewing/burning at close range you can permanently ruin your eye sight with 1 reflection

Even if you can;t see it, obviously if it can burn something else then the soft tiny tissue in your eye will get destroyed by it way faster than you can blink


Just FYI lasers and school are not a good combination, If you with all your so called experience don't even understand that a laser burning something can hurt your own eyes let alone someone 200 feet away, then any random idiot "IE your friends/peers" will be even dumber with said laser and you will for sure ruin someones eye sight and would get in a lot of trouble for it even if they caused the damage, you brought it remember...
 
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No matter how well you can or can Not see a beam doesn't make it less powerful


Honestly think about what you are saying

[you]I want a laser that can burn things... But it's can;t burn my eyes because if my eyes can;t see it how can it hurt it them?[you/]

any laser over 5 mW that you are viewing/burning at close range you can permanently ruin your eye sight with 1 reflection

Even if you can;t see it, obviously if it can burn something else then the soft tiny tissue in your eye will get destroyed by it way faster than you can blink

You obviously have a hard time reading, and for that I'm sorry. You were right on one part, and one part only. I did say I wanted a laser with burning capabilities. I also CLEARLY said it wasn't going to be pointed anywhere near peoples eyes. I just want one with a beam that isn't very visible. Seriously, why do people feel the need to be so arrogant and cocky when others ask for help/advice? You're no better than anyone else, your lack of reading ability proves that.
 

rhd

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gmoney21o:
Seriously, don't go IR. It's really scary. Don't let this thread devolve into internet silliness, and just trust the underlying message here - IR is a really scary thing to have in your pocket / possession.

Even just a semi-shiny object (a coin on the ground, a stone, a piece of plastic, etc) can reflect enough of the beam to cause instant permanent eye damage. That's not "theoretical paranoia", its real honest-to-god danger. At 200mW you're talking a hundred dollar-store laser pointers all focussed on one thing - that's the kind of power range you're talking about

What makes IR especially scary, is that you can't see it. Your eye won't blink. It'll just stay open while the IR burns your retina - and it only needs miliseconds at high power.

It may be hard to understand this before you've used high power lasers, but once you've handled a laser that actually CAN burn really quickly, you'll recognize that it's a scary thing to hold in your hand. The ability to permanently damage your vision faster than your eye can blink - Scary, no? It's ten times more terrifying with a laser you can't even see.
 
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gmoney21o:
Seriously, don't go IR. It's really scary. Don't let this thread devolve into internet silliness, and just trust the underlying message here - IR is a really scary thing to have in your pocket / possession.

Even just a semi-shiny object (a coin on the ground, a stone, a piece of plastic, etc) can reflect enough of the beam to cause instant permanent eye damage. That's not "theoretical paranoia", its real honest-to-god danger. At 200mW you're talking a hundred dollar-store laser pointers all focussed on one thing - that's the kind of power range you're talking about

What makes IR especially scary, is that you can't see it. Your eye won't blink. It'll just stay open while the IR burns your retina - and it only needs miliseconds at high power.

It may be hard to understand this before you've used high power lasers, but once you've handled a laser that actually CAN burn really quickly, you'll recognize that it's a scary thing to hold in your hand. The ability to permanently damage your vision faster than your eye can blink - Scary, no? It's ten times more terrifying with a laser you can't even see.
Thank you for providing a logical answer :yh:

What kind of glasses would I be need if I did go IR?
Right now I'm torn between THIS and THIS
Both fit my price range, but my decision is going to be based on the price of the glasses required to safely operate them.
 
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you need goggles that are specifice to what the wavelength of light you are using. you should read up more before you get into this. i think you under estimate the safety value
 
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Do you even need glasses for an infrared laser?



also no need to be so sarcastic, I clearly stated I'm relatively new to lasers....

Don't you think a little more laser knowledge is appropriate before you start playing with a potentially dangerous toy.
I suspect that burning something with a laser will get old very fast much like burning something with a magnifying glass does. Have other reasons to buy high powered lasers just in case you do get bored
 

Kevlar

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@gmoney, don't take our responses so hard. Members here are ALL about safety. The more laser injuries get into the news, the more legislation by goverments can be put into place and make it hard for us to practice a hobby we love. So a lot of us will push safety as a matter of factly until we're blue in the face.

I'm sure you don't intend to point your laser in anyones face but as RHD said, reflections can happen, and far too often.

If you want to burn something, use a lighter. :beer:
 




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