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my question

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decafdave

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Hey everone! I'm very new to this sort of thing, although as a kid I had a keychain laser pointer. I had no idea you could even buy lasers that actually burn things until I saw a vid on youtube!

Anyways, I'm interested in getting a green laser but I have a few questions.
First, what exactly is the difference between a laser and a laser pointer?

secondly, is there a laser you can get that allows you to see the actual beam? I know it requires particles in the air but Ive seen some lasers advertised as being good at star-pointing in the night sky.

And don't worry, Ive read enough on this forum to stay away from Wicked Lasers!

Now as far the power levels go, what would be required to pop a balloon? how about to burn a match or other small thing?

Thanks alot
 





Hello!

decafdave said:
Hey everone! I'm very new to this sort of thing, although as a kid I had a keychain laser pointer. I had no idea you could even buy lasers that actually burn things until I saw a vid on youtube!

Anyways, I'm interested in getting a green laser but I have a few questions.
First, what exactly is the difference between a laser and a laser pointer?
Click to expand...

A laser pointer is simply a device that creates a laser.

decafdave said:
secondly, is there a laser you can get that allows you to see the actual beam? I know it requires particles in the air but Ive seen some lasers advertised as being good at star-pointing in the night sky.
Click to expand...

Yes, most green lasers have a very visible beam at 30mw+, even without much pollution/smoke/anything added into the air.

decafdave said:
And don't worry, Ive read enough on this forum to stay away from Wicked Lasers!

Now as far the power levels go, what would be required to pop a balloon? how about to burn a match or other small thing?
Click to expand...

Some people have reported popping balloons with DX True 30mw lasers, but I would recommend about 100mw for popping balloons and lighting matches. A DIY ~200mw red that you could make for ~$50 would probably be your best bet as a first burning laser.
 
spyrorocks said:
Hello!

[quote author=decafdave link=1207339442/0#0 date=1207339442]Hey everone! I'm very new to this sort of thing, although as a kid I had a keychain laser pointer. I had no idea you could even buy lasers that actually burn things until I saw a vid on youtube!

Anyways, I'm interested in getting a green laser but I have a few questions.
First, what exactly is the difference between a laser and a laser pointer?
Click to expand...

A laser pointer is simply a device that creates a laser.

decafdave said:
secondly, is there a laser you can get that allows you to see the actual beam? I know it requires particles in the air but Ive seen some lasers advertised as being good at star-pointing in the night sky.
Click to expand...

Yes, most green lasers have a very visible beam at 30mw+, even without much pollution/smoke/anything added into the air.

decafdave said:
And don't worry, Ive read enough on this forum to stay away from Wicked Lasers!

Now as far the power levels go, what would be required to pop a balloon? how about to burn a match or other small thing?
Click to expand...

Some people have reported popping balloons with DX True 30mw lasers, but I would recommend about 100mw for popping balloons and lighting matches. A DIY ~200mw red that you could make for ~$50 would probably be your best bet as a first burning laser.
[/quote]
But he'd need goggles too.
 
Jamilm, price range is around $100. It doesnt have to be super-strong as its my first.

Would I still need goggles if I wasnt shining it near mirrors or reflective surfaces? Is just looking at the beam harmful?
 
The beam by itself is not harmful, but goggles are recommended for any laser above 5mw in power.

Goggles: $40
Eyes: Priceless
 
Once you start using a laser over like 30mW you'll understand why you need the glasses. The dot is so intense it leaves spots in your vision if you look at it, which cant be good for the eyes.
 
Plus its a lot more comfortable to burn stuff if you dont have to wait for your eyes to readjust after staring at the spot you've been torching.
 
thanks for the responses, point taken about the goggles. I am thinking about DX for my first purchase as I'm on a college student budget. What do you think is the better buy, the "true 30 mw green lase pen" or the "50 mw green laser pen". So if it doesnt say "true" does that mean the output will be way less than 50 mw? Well, I guess its a risk I'm willing to take since the prices are so incredibly low.
 
decafdave said:
thanks for the responses, point taken about the goggles. I am thinking about DX for my first purchase as I'm on a college student budget. What do you think is the better buy, the "true 30 mw green lase pen" or the "50 mw green laser pen". So if it doesnt say "true" does that mean the output will be way less than 50 mw? Well, I guess its a risk I'm willing to take since the prices are so incredibly low.
Click to expand...

Go for the True 30mW.
There's an amazing amount of reviews and all LPF members recommend it.

It's a great little laser.
 
If you want to pop balloons well, id go with the dx true 50mW. That was my first greenie and i loved it. Oh and just so you know, the beams from green lasers are very thin despite how they appear in photos. If you haven't ever used a high powered green it will probably surprise you as it did me.
 
cbrian4 said:
If you want to pop balloons well, id go with the dx true 50mW. That was my first greenie and i loved it. Oh and just so you know, the beams from green lasers are very thin despite how they appear in photos. If you haven't ever used a high powered green it will probably surprise you as it did me.
Click to expand...

hmm..so the true 30mw won't pop dark balloons? And what is the advantage of the true 50 over the regular 50 on DX?

thats interesting about the beam being thin, I would imagine it would be quite thin and hard to see in a lit room, but it will be easy to see at night right? Yeah, pretty much my only criteria (besides price) is too be able to see the beam well at night, and to be able to pop dark balloons easily.

Again, thanks for the responses everyone.
 
One last question: at night, how far would everyone estimate the ranges of a 30mw DX and 50?
If anyone has a link to a chart or something I would greatly appreciate it
 
decafdave said:
[quote author=cbrian4 link=1207339442/0#12 date=1207545805]If you want to pop balloons well, id go with the dx true 50mW. That was my first greenie and i loved it. Oh and just so you know, the beams from green lasers are very thin despite how they appear in photos. If you haven't ever used a high powered green it will probably surprise you as it did me.
Click to expand...

hmm..so the true 30mw won't pop dark balloons? And what is the advantage of the true 50 over the regular 50 on DX?

thats interesting about the beam being thin, I would imagine it would be quite thin and hard to see in a lit room, but it will be easy to see at night right? Yeah, pretty much my only criteria (besides price) is too be able to see the beam well at night, and to be able to pop dark balloons easily.

Again, thanks for the responses everyone.
[/quote]
Not all DX30s can pop balloons, but a DX50 should be able to. The "true" is verified to be pretty good, there have been bad reports about the non true DX50. My friend's DX50 can light matches.

There is no specific range on these things due to atmospheric conditions, but you will be able to get some amazing distances with a DX50.
 
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