o-Like 200MW laser -- fraud?

[dcreeper]

For my father's birthday, I ordered the Old style red laser 200mW/adjustable laser from O-Like because I read a lot of good things about them. Unfortunately, I am having a lot of trouble matching O-Like's reputation with my experience..

Product arrives, I'm the paranoid type so I test it to see if it works as advertised. It doesn't. The beam isn't even a little warm. So I reported the problem, they accused me of incompetence and made me take pictures etc, after 2 weeks back and forth they let me ship it back at my own expense to get a replacement.

(the birthday gift is hopelessly late at this point)

They stalled. They insisted that they didn't get it yet so I waited. And waited. And waited. Then they said I never sent them the laser, so I sent a picture of the receipt. They insisted that I sent it to the wrong place. I actually had to tell them to look at the receipt and note that the addresses matched. So they switch to yet another stalling tactic..etc.. Anyway. 4 months of stalling later, they actually send me a replacement. (they tried to not send me a batteries / charger.. I had to fight over that too)

(extremely late birthday gift)
Today it arrived. I charged the batteries and popped them in. It doesn't work. The beam is very bright but only mildly on the warm side.. it's not going to burn anything anytime soon.

Is there some trick to making their product work as advertised or some way I can fix it? Is it possible I am doing something wrong? Do you guys think I should report fraud? I really really really don't want to deal with their 'customer service' any more.

(I'm a noob on this subject.. any advice.. no matter how dumb will be very appreciated)

 

[Fonduman]

the beam really has no latent temperature of its own. it shouldnt feel warm or anything. it can burn if held on your skin for a few seconds. however, it requires focusing to a small point to burn anything. i got the 200mW red waterproof one yesterday and its great, runs at 210mW stable on a fresh battery. if you focused it to a small point and it still wont burn a black object it is definetly underspec.

 

[BlueMeanie445]

If "warm" is directed at the feel on your skin, dont expect much. If you are of darker skin tone and have some pigment it may sting.

If you focus it down and try it on something black like electrical tape, it should burn and smoke.

What have you tried burning, and what color were these objects?

 

[Tech_Junkie]

You should have done your homework. When focused you can light matches, or burn plastic, but in no way is it going to do what you think it will. 200mW is moderate at best. Your expectations are to high for a hand held under $100. If you want a good burner, then you'll have to pay for it.

Takes some times and read around here. Goggles are also a must, because these will blind you quicker than you can blink. No joke.

 

[Seoul_lasers]

Indeed, you'll have to focus it on something that will absorb the light. Black tape will smoke at those power levels but you will not feel anything in the way of heat on your skin unless you hit an area rich in pigment, then you might feel stinging. Even at 300mW I have never been able to get a red laser to burn my skin unless I hit a freckle or something.
I DON'T suggest you try this either. burning your skin with a laser isn't exactly swift.

 

[goninanbl00d]

The beam shouldn't feel warm. The red diffuses in your skin, so it doesn't burn or hurt.

Try that with a 405nm and you'd have a hole in your skin.

Instead of trying to use your skin as an LPM, try burning dark paper, leather and matches with it.

Also, try twisting the head to focus the beam down to a spot. It will burn better that way.

 

[Fonduman]

The beam shouldn't feel warm. The red diffuses in your skin, so it doesn't burn or hurt.

Try that with a 405nm and you'd have a hole in your skin.

Instead of trying to use your skin as an LPM, try burning dark paper, leather and matches with it.

Also, try twisting the head to focus the beam down to a spot. It will burn better that way.

ah thanks, i was wondering why me red laser wouldnt burn me but the 405nm one stung like hell lol

 

[goninanbl00d]

The shorter wavelength is absorbed more readily, even by lighter-colored objects.

A 500mW infrared laser on your skin would be somewhat noticible while a 500mW 405 or 445 on your skin would feel like you've just been shot by a BB.

It's also why even a 1W infrared sometimes has trouble burning clean white paper.

 

[lasersbee]

4 months of stalling later, they actually send me a replacement.
(I'm a noob on this subject.. any advice.. no matter how dumb will be very appreciated)

What I can't understand is that you spent 4 months jerking around
with O-Like to replace a Laser that was more than likely up to specs...

Just a few hours of reading on the Forum would have given you
the information you needed to know that there was perhaps nothing
wrong with your original Laser as you say the 2nd Laser isn't much better....
A little research would have saved you 4 months of time...IMO

BTW...

to the Forum...

Don't forget to read the Newcomers Section... the Stickies... the
FAQs and of course the Forum Rules...

Enjoy your stay...


Jerry

 

[dcreeper]

:thanks: Thank you all for the replies! Yes! I should have done more research, I've had months to berate myself for that one!

I've been poking around a lot today, compared to YouTube - 200mw red laser from o-like review it seems the current one is underspec. The focus has to be absolutely perfect or I get 0 performance, even then I have to hold it stead for a few seconds before anything noticeable occurs. (it really doesn't help that the threads are so loose that the focus wiggles to a new position every time the laser is moved)

Even if it was upto spec it probably wont meet actual needs, so maybe i should just give up on the current one. The goal laser definitely needs more oomph than the one on my desk. Right now I'm not sure yet what the right power range would be.

Both of my parents are retired and getting up there in age. They are spending their golden years traveling. (Right now they are with a caravan in Alaska, it's a multi-month adventure) Old people are easy victims. Old people who are traveling all over are victims with money. (thieves actually went after the caravan a few days before my parents joined them) My father is a great martial artist, but his body can't keep up anymore and it's worse every year.. So I'm looking for an alternate option :gun: he can use if he's ever in trouble. Guns are useless (too many problems when you travel), real blades can cause similar issues and they are too physical to be a long term solution anyway. So I figured a laser pen would be good! A burning sensation + a yelled 'you're gonna go blind' would create enough pain, confusion, and fear to deter anyone (assuming there's no drugs involved)

based on goninanbl00d's post a 405nm sounds like it could do the job... but how many MW should it have?
(I'm not seeing any great sources for 405nm though... really, anything that would work is good, assuming it looks like a laser pen or flashlight)

 

[Fonduman]

:thanks: Thank you all for the replies! Yes! I should have done more research, I've had months to berate myself for that one!

I've been poking around a lot today, compared to YouTube - 200mw red laser from o-like review it seems the current one is underspec. The focus has to be absolutely perfect or I get 0 performance, even then I have to hold it stead for a few seconds before anything noticeable occurs. (it really doesn't help that the threads are so loose that the focus wiggles to a new position every time the laser is moved)

Even if it was upto spec it probably wont meet actual needs, so maybe i should just give up on the current one. The goal laser definitely needs more oomph than the one on my desk. Right now I'm not sure yet what the right power range would be.

Both of my parents are retired and getting up there in age. They are spending their golden years traveling. (Right now they are with a caravan in Alaska, it's a multi-month adventure) Old people are easy victims. Old people who are traveling all over are victims with money. (thieves actually went after the caravan a few days before my parents joined them) My father is a great martial artist, but his body can't keep up anymore and it's worse every year.. So I'm looking for an alternate option :gun: he can use if he's ever in trouble. Guns are useless (too many problems when you travel), real blades can cause similar issues and they are too physical to be a long term solution anyway. So I figured a laser pen would be good! A burning sensation + a yelled 'you're gonna go blind' would create enough pain, confusion, and fear to deter anyone (assuming there's no drugs involved)

based on goninanbl00d's post a 405nm sounds like it could do the job... but how many MW should it have?
(I'm not seeing any great sources for 405nm though... really, anything that would work is good, assuming it looks like a laser pen or flashlight)

burning sensation where?
you think they'll be standing still long enough for you to burn their arm or something? theres no way you could just focus it on them, you'd need a laser that burns exceedingly well focused at infinity over a good distance. hmm, talking a watt at very least, with probably tem00, <1mrad. nope, doubt it will happen any time soon.
the only feasible use for these in defence unless you wanna spend a while carefully aiming it at someones eye to blind them for life is to defocus it and use the glare to disorientate someone. not something to drive someone away on its own. i think you need to read more, imo you have unrealistic expectations of laser pointers and their uses.

 

[davidgdg]

Dear oh dear at so many levels.

 

[liteglow]

I ordered a 200mW old style RED laser from O-like !
2weeks and it arrived at my home .

The laser was "ok" with the charge able batteries.
But with one pair of NEW batteries, the laser was bright as hell (well, it was 200mW+ with my lasermeeter) so no doubt the lasers from O-like is as they describe !

I dont feel anything at my skid on 200mW red, you can notice it yes...
But try to FOCUS the beam into something black, and you got smoke instantly !!



BTW, if you want to feel heat, buy a lighter !

 

[dcreeper]

burning sensation where?
you think they'll be standing still long enough for you to burn their arm or something? theres no way you could just focus it on them, you'd need a laser that burns exceedingly well focused at infinity over a good distance. hmm, talking a watt at very least, with probably tem00, <1mrad. nope, doubt it will happen any time soon.
the only feasible use for these in defense unless you wanna spend a while carefully aiming it at someones eye to blind them for life is to defocus it and use the glare to disorientate someone. not something to drive someone away on its own. i think you need to read more, imo you have unrealistic expectations of laser pointers and their uses.

thanks Fonduman

Burn location isn't important, the sensation of burning is. The focal point is an issue but not an impossible one. Blinding is too permanent. If you cause long term harm to someone, their friends tend to get angry and start making all kinds of plans. Also it could be considered excessive force by the local law enforcement. Limited harm deterrence is definitely better but if blinding is really all a hand held would be good for then it's best to not use one at all... An intense LED flashlight could achieve temporary blindness though I haven't looked into those yet because sunglasses are both an easy counter and used by criminals to hide part of their face.

this post by goninanbl00d was really encouraging, it makes a pain/fear based deterrence seem possible

The shorter wavelength is absorbed more readily, even by lighter-colored objects.

A 500mW infrared laser on your skin would be somewhat noticible while a 500mW 405 or 445 on your skin would feel like you've just been shot by a BB.
.

 

[dcreeper]

liteglow, new batteries. Interesting! thanks

 

[Exerd]

OMG

No wonder this person is claiming the laser isn't up to his specs. Read what he expects out of it. He seems to think this is a capable weapon!

"Guns are useless (too many problems when you travel), real blades can cause similar issues and they are too physical to be a long term solution anyway. So I figured a laser pen would be good!"

Sure, just pull out your O-like lightsaber and slice their arm open!

Unbelievable. You are choosing a laser as a weapon. I'm sorry to sound harsh, but you really need to educate yourself and get with reality. A laser is by no means an effective weapon. Not in ANY way. That person is going to get a flash in the eye, then beat the hell out of your parents if they even tried defending themselves that way. You are just putting them in more danger by giving such advice!