Homemade Burn Laser for Camping

[adgjqetuo]

Hi Everyone,

I'm fairly new with this - but it has recently really sparked my interest.

I would really like to make a laser good enough for camping (ideally to lite campfires with and stuff). I would like it to work from a fair distance and be durable and portable as well.

I saw some videos on how to make them with DVD burners and a Mag light but they weren't very detailed.

Can someone help point me to a really detailed writeup and possibly a parts list of what I would need to complete this project?

Recommendations of nm and mw for this project as well would help too!

Thanks! :bowdown:

 

[daguin]

They are all over the Tutorials board and the Laser Pro Shop board

You have many decisions yet to make my young padawan

Peace,
dave

 

[Razako]

I'd recommend matches or a lighter. Cheaper and safer alternative if your goal is to start fires. You'd need a multiwatt laser to actually start a campfire and it won't be easy or cheap.

 

[rhd]

I've had the exact same thought (I'm an avid camper too), and it's really not something that can be done practically.

There's a big different between seeing a 445 light a match on fire at close range, or watching it burn tape, and expecting a laser to actually start a fire on it's own.

In terms of your purposes, think of lasers being more akin to the focal point of a magnifying glass on a really bright day. At the focal point, if you hold it steady, you can melt some materials, and no doubt set fir to some others. However, having been a long time camper, I'll comment that very little of the typical kindling you find in the bush is likely to go up in flames from even a 2W laser, and even in a situation where you're close enough (a few inches) to keep the laser steady and focused on one particular point.

2W from a 445 is about the most powerful portable I'm aware of. In theory you could take a 5W C-Mount IR, pop it in a dead 532nm host, and use an AW IMR cell to provide enough current. That would still be portable and offer a bit more output power, but IR is not absorbed very well by plants, leaves, sticks, etc, so it would probably be counter productive. If a 445 can't do what you're looking for, I can't think of anything else that would.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

To be honest, I'm more of an amateur camper.... I don't go on week long hikes...

That being said though... I think a laser makes for a great emergency beacon. Unfortunately that's about it.

When you have a 1W+ laser (as I'm sure you will soon :eg try a little experiment. Take some kindling... put it in a metal container or do it outside... and try to light it using a laser.

The prob I ran into is that the laser charred the wood, but didn't actually set it on fire In fairness I was using only some wood shavings, and a small amount of sawdust... not real kindling, but close enough IMO.

The other problem is... are you really going to take your goggles with you when you go camping?