Laser Noob Safety Questions

[BEARS ARE PEOPLE TOO]

Hey all! I recently purchased a 1.6W 445nm laser and I already bought these, but after reading some of these stories about close call or actually getting hit in the eye I am terrified! :cryyy: So I wanted to know every precaution i need to take before using the laser (when it arrives). Do you have to wear the goggle at all times? Every single time you use the laser glasses need to be on? Is it dangerous to even look at the beam off a piece of paper or bouncing off of anything? Even though the beam isn't reflecting directly into your eye? Do you need them when shining it at night? or burning stuff at a distance? What distance is safe to look at the beam? Any other info would be great!

 

[Razako]

You need them if you're burning with it, or shining at nearby objects. You don't need them to just look at the beam or point at far off objects.

 

[Pi R Squared]

Hey all! I recently purchased a 1.6W 445nm laser and I already bought these, but after reading some of these stories about close call or actually getting hit in the eye I am terrified! :cryyy: So I wanted to know every precaution i need to take before using the laser (when it arrives). Do you have to wear the goggle at all times? Every single time you use the laser glasses need to be on? Is it dangerous to even look at the beam off a piece of paper or bouncing off of anything? Even though the beam isn't reflecting directly into your eye? Do you need them when shining it at night? or burning stuff at a distance? What distance is safe to look at the beam? Any other info would be great!

Those safety glasses are just fine. It is safe to look at the beam, it is not safe to look at the dot up close and never when burning. If you use it outside at night no glasses needed unless pointing at something up close. There is no answer to how close is too close, it depends on the surface and focus but if it feels too bright to look at then it is, that little dot when focused can be brighter than the sun, if you're just pointing it across the room try not to look at the dot.

When using any laser without safety glasses be sure the laser will never slip out of your hand or roll off a table, this is when you have an accident and get flashed in the face.

Alan

 

[EllyEnthusiastic]

First-- It's awesome that you care about laser safety. +rep for that.

With a 1.6W laser, I second everything Razako said, with the added clarification that you cannot look at the dot at close range. It's like looking at the arc of a spot welder. At longer distances, it's okay, just be careful up close, even when you aren't burning stuff.

 

[BEARS ARE PEOPLE TOO]

2spooky4me. How much exposure can cause some significant damage? Direct contact is not a worry cuz I'm probably going to lock this thing with they key, close the shutter, and remove the batteries every time I'm not using it XD... How many times would it take to damage your eyes by looking at the reflected beam too close. Also, how far away can this laser burn stuff exactly?

 

[WizardG]

"How many times would it take to damage your eyes by looking at the reflected beam too close."

Once is all it takes. Never allow yourself to become complacent. I got the ol' time safety glasses religion after a reflection off of a shiny paperback book cover on the other side of my bedroom nailed me straight in the face for just a fleeting moment. + rep for asking good questions before you get your laser.

 

[Razako]

2spooky4me. How much exposure can cause some significant damage? Direct contact is not a worry cuz I'm probably going to lock this thing with they key, close the shutter, and remove the batteries every time I'm not using it XD... How many times would it take to damage your eyes by looking at the reflected beam too close. Also, how far away can this laser burn stuff exactly?

Eye damage can happen very quickly or instantly if you exceed the safe exposure level. If the spot on an object appears too bright, then it probably is too bright to look at. Past 100 feet you should generally be fine as long as the objects are non-reflective. Generally you'll want to wear goggles for almost any indoor usage. Basically a common sense kind of thing. The range it can burn at will depend on how you set the focus. Once you get it, you'll see how to set the focus at certain ranges.

 

[BEARS ARE PEOPLE TOO]

hmm. i'll have to play around with that then. Generally speaking how far can a 1.6W laser burn stuff. how have other 1.6 w lasers performed at a distance?

 

[BEARS ARE PEOPLE TOO]

O.O Ok welp now I'm hella spooked. I think i'll just attach the keys for the laser to the glasses XD. No glasses. No laser.

 

[Pi R Squared]

hmm. i'll have to play around with that then. Generally speaking how far can a 1.6W laser burn stuff. how have other 1.6 w lasers performed at a distance?

I have a 1.5W build 445nm M140 diode, it was my first powerful laser. I have never tested it for distance burning but it is definitely more than 10 feet. To burn better, buy a tripod and a clamp to hold your laser and burn stuff that way instead of holding it in your hand and it will burn faster because the dot is motionless in one place.

O.O Ok welp now I'm hella spooked. I think i'll just attach the keys for the laser to the glasses XD. No glasses. No laser.

I frequently use my lasers without glasses because I like to see the beam, but I am not recommending you do that, when you do just make sure there is no chance of an accident, and watch out for mirrors and glass, if you don't feel you can safely do it then don't.

If you want something that can burn at a long distance then get a 405nm for your next laser.

Alan

 

[Pman]

I read somewhere that it takes around 100 seconds to damage your eyes looking directly at the sun. Seems hard to believe. Also hard to believe you could stand looking at it that long.
Reminds me of this neat movie I have called Sunshine. Check it out. My bet is most people have never seen or heard of it but it's really interesting with an unexpected twist.
I also use my lasers mainly to see the beam without glasses. Don't really care about burning. I wouldn't be involved in this hobby at all if everything was just a low powered dot. Grew up reading and watching Sci-fi stuff and a laser beam was always fascinating. Unfortunately I can't set any of mine to stun, kill or vaporize.....yet

 

[Lifetime17]

Yes plain and simple safety glass and you have no worries about damaging your eyes. As far as burning yourself well that's self inflicted and you should be careful but it won't kill you.

Rich