Well, first let me reiterate that I likely have more lasers than anyone here BUT that just means I have quantity which has nothing to do with quality.
The actual answer to the question of how long have I been collecting is about 2.5 years as I had some before joining in Nov. of 12
There's new members here all the time and don't know enough about me but let's just say I have serious kidney pain issues and I've used building lasers as an outlet to not focus on my pain. I've been dealing with it since 1989 but was medically retired from the Navy after 10 years service with a 50% disability between Navy and VA in 1996.
Went back to college and learned a very different trade than what I did while in and since 1998 have worked as a Commercial/Industrial Refrigeration Technician until going out on Workers Comp in April with a bad shoulder injury. There's little possibility at this point that I will be able to return to what I've done for all that time.
Finding any kind of distraction is WAY better than just doing nothing when dealing with pain because all you will have to focus on is your pain.
Since the story is out again I might as well just post the rest BUT there's nothing special about owning so many. There are so many members that know WAY more than I do about all this stuff and I rely on them to answer my questions. I try and give back where I can and come up with new ideas but the idea part isn't getting easier and I post so much because I have the time and this is the only forum I belong to.
It's going to be an interesting year for us as my wife also has a medical issue called IC (which is something called Interstitial Cystitis). Finally got a diagnosis after about 2 years of trying to figure it out.
Hey, it is what it is as far as our health goes and we deal with it
Maybe this year I'll have to sell all these off and I'll have none. That's life and it's OK if it happens but for now I don't plan on it. For me the fun is more in the figuring things out and building. In some ways it feels like a let down when I finish a project. These are a reminder of part of what helped me get through the last couple years in constant pain. I don't believe in ever giving up.
Case #3
Case #4
Case #5
Case #6
Seperate case with Star Trek Phaser
Any unit needing it is wrapped or separated so they don't touch each other. Units touching are only for the pics.
This is how for instance case #6 would actually look like:
So in case you see this Isaac, the 589nm will be well protected and cared for and I can guarantee you the on cycle won't be more than 10 seconds other than to measure the output and see what I get compared to what you saw. I have a silver case that is currently just holding some hosts ready for building that I'll likely put it in if it doesn't fit in with the smaller Phaser case.
The last full case has the 1.5W 520nm I put in a Sinner host. It's the third one from left all chrome plated copper. Hadn't shown anyone yet.
The really long horizontal one is just a Spartan 445nm with its corresponding 2X beam expander attached. Like many here, the Spartan was my first high powered laser and I think cost me well over $300 with shipping.
I would say there's another 25 or so pen type units scattered around the house I think plus I carry a 532nm one in my Bible case as I give one away every now and then to someone at church who I know are responsible. Gave one to a commercial pilot friend of mine who usually sits behind us who loved it and was trying to figure out if he could bring it on the plane with him. He said that he has never seen one in all his years of flying and I was certainly happy about that. I'm hoping that means that it is actually WAY less likely that people are shining these at planes/helicopters than the news wants us to believe. He's one of those experts that they interview on the news when something bad happens. Remember that sensationalism sells.