Dangerous or am I paranoid?

[AndyR]

I've been wanting to buy a more powerful green laser for quite a while now, sadly I had to wait due to o-like and rayfoss being down for a few weeks.

Now that they are online I have my eye on the 100 mW focusable from rayfoss, and it looks like it fits my needs, nice beam at night, some (however small) burning power. Don't worry... I'm ordering safety goggles for burning also.

After some reading in the safety section I'm beginning to wonder if 100 mW is too strong for my purposes. Is it safe to shine this 100 mW laser around a room without safety goggles at surfaces around 10 feet away as long as I don't hit any reflective surfaces (mirrors, metal etc.) Would tile / white painted walls and windows be ok to shine at?
I'm very afraid I'll lose my vision due to some unforseen accident, and I'm thinking of just buying the 50 mW version.

So what do you think? 50 mW or 100 mW?
I need : visible beam at night (from all angles preferably), the ability to shine it around a fairly small room (not closet sized but not like a living room either).

I would like : ability to burn dark plastics, maybe pop balloons / light matches

And don't worry, I'm always extra cautious around anything even in the smallest degree of danger... and I know that lasers are not toys, they are dangerous!

 

[photonaholic]

My 50 mw units make my eyes itch after some extended indoor use unprotected.

 

[Byrnz93]

If you want burning power, you will need at least 100mWs of green. It will also be very bright which will suit you're visibility purposes.
I would not be shining it around at walls just 10ft away without goggles myself; one stray reflection in you eye and you're blind.

If it was just visibility you were after, I would recommend 50mW: nice bright beam (although I found out a month ago that if I shine it as the sky, someone about >5m away would not be able to see the beam), bright dot, etc. But it has limited to no burning power.

Also, tiles are a no no for shining at without safety goggles as they ARE reflective.

 

[HaloBlu]

When you really look around there may be alot of reflective surfaces in your room. Anything with a glossy surface could do it. Cell phone, door knob, DVD player front display, plastic bottle. The darker you have your room the more your eyes will be dilated which increases your exposure.

I would rather only use a lower power one indoors myself (without goggles). Eyes are just too valuable to risk. 100mW shining on non-reflective surfaces is too bright for my liking as well.

 

[floridaguy5583]

Good burning power, you will need the 100mw, and the 100mw also has GREAT visibility, and remember to always be cautious, Even if you get the 50mw you will need to be cautious, anything higher than 5mw is dangerous to your eyesight

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Good burning power, you will need the 100mw, and the 100mw also has GREAT visibility, and remember to always be cautious, Even if you get the 50mw you will need to be cautious, anything higher than 5mw is dangerous to your eyesight

Your vast knowledge astounds me :na:. LOL

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

T-J --- Be nice.

HMike

 

[Tech_Junkie]

.......

 

[AndyR]

So in terms of outdoor and indoor use (mostly to impress friends, family)
which would be better, a 50 mW or a 100 mW?

I really would like the 100 mW for obvious reasons, but not if I must take extra safety precautions over a 50 mW laser.
One application I would probably like to use my laser in is using it in a fairly dark living room to show off the beam to others that will also be in the room.

If I had a 100 mW laser should I take extra safety precautions to the 50 mW (other than the obvious no pointing at people, reflective objects)? What are they? Is pointing either power laser in a living room not advised at all (even if only at a white wall)?

Sorry for all the questions and :thanks: in advance.

 

[mfo]

Better safe than sorry, get goggles. No matter how safe you are, accidents do and will happen.

 

[photonaholic]

So in terms of outdoor and indoor use (mostly to impress friends, family) which would be better, a 50 mW or a 100 mW?

Sorry for all the questions and :thanks: in advance.

Impress them with your strong sense of safety.

Most non laser fans are rather impressed by a common radio shack pointer, and it's far safer for "public impressing"

Even outside, exposure to the photons reflected back at you from the particles in the air will make your eyes uncomfortable after prolonged exposure.

 

[Raybo]

Impress them with your strong sense of safety.

Most non laser fans are rather impressed by a common radio shack pointer, and it's far safer for "public impressing"

Even outside, exposure to the photons reflected back at you from the particles in the air will make your eyes uncomfortable after prolonged exposure.

This I did not know!

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Even a 20mW looks good in a dark room, and its bright. 100mW is really bright for indoors, plus reflections will be an issue. You might not get hit, but the more people you have in the room, the more chances of an accident. I'd start out with a 50mW, they are under $30. If you want more, then buy one later. You can even sell your 50mW to recoup some of the money. It would be the smarter thing to do.

 

[zaery]

You can never be too safe when it comes to the possibility of losing irreplaceable body parts.

 

[AndyR]

Don't worry, I already planned on getting safety goggles, and I think I'll choose buying a 50 mW green laser.
:thanks:

 

[bp968]

Don't worry, I already planned on getting safety goggles, and I think I'll choose buying a 50 mW green laser.
:thanks:

I wont shine my 50mW in the house at all usually. its outside only and on no reflective surfaces more then 50-75 meters away.

Call me paranoid but eyes can't (currently) be replaced.