Problem with the super cheap 'X-Cubes' is the sellers only offer them for 'fun' use. they are incredibly cheap as they are the PBS cubes (and combiners) that did not pass QC--and most of the sellers have now clue aside from size..
I would buy then test to figure out the coatings used.
..the power you mention are not really high enough to harm the cubes and,of course no harm to your lasers .... but there is hope for us..
I just partnered up with a new-to-ebay guy who had what looked like a VERY nice and a good size at 18mm per side.(for most uses you want that size or larger). AND he tells me he can buy the best of the 'rejects' so he lists his X cubes as 'Very slight defects... I got one from him-- extremely well packed (it was his second ebay sales) it was AFAIK looking very close its perfect- maybe the defect was inside-IDKFS- but other defective/damaged/discount cubes had chips on sides and some on corners...not the one I got.
I am helping him set up his new store-he is very helpful-has great English skills and wants ideas/advice on items we would like to buy.... I listed cubes of many sizes and degree of defects offer lot of 5 pcs for a discount (I got a bunch cheap long ago and gave them away to buyers of my lasers).. He will list a lot of 5 w/ all 5 sizes. -- He offered to help me do a GB for a larger order AND he lives where almost all these are made-
mybe ALL that are listed come from there... so he should be able to find out more --what coating etc. And that would be a big plus-and there there are the 'C' lenses--prism pairs- F and FL lenses and ones we have not heard of. (yet)
The pairs used have been costing builders about $120 a set...
The last cubes I sold were gotten in a GB ~6 years ago- from feeler to paid-for to final delivery was almost two years.. This forums members lack the patience to wait that long -- and there were complaints on the delay from many.. there was a 5 weeks AFTER the money was in the hands of the optics makers.. so even at a group buy the cubes coated for combining very high power of 445 lasers. Tested for hours w/ 25W-- they could have bought direct-waited very little time BUT the cubes would have been $120.. we got them for 1/3 of that/.. they are being used right now for dual 44 builds.
Mine are gone- last place for these is ebay- 50usd FREE$HIPPING-
AND afaik he only has a few left- and unlikely there will be another GB by him.... BUT we may be able to do that if you give me enough time to test..subscribe to this thread and I will likely start my own thread after the OP has what he needs. I will BRB with a link to the new China X-cube seller. From my experience IF these were really defective-- I would not pay more than $5 per cube-- but these are a few grades better no doubt. PM me directly to get on my wanters list
Watch for my XCUBE thread soon--there WILL be a link at the other sales/good deals/discounts section to the parent thread .
and please help me make a wishlist-- He will later be joining LPF but knows that spamming here would not be a good idea--"I will spam FOR YOU"
I sent him to look at all optics offered by techhood-newgazer-exitotem- and others,
Your suggestions need not be just optics--btw he did also mention 'samples'..woot!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
here you go
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_sop=15&_nkw=cube+prism&_blrs=spell_check
^^^^ that should me my cube search--good way to gauge how much to bid based on the BIN listings-larger numbers , fo course. get better deals but
this one below is an auction... so a roll of the dice (or cubes lol)
WHAT I can say-'blab'has the most perfect cubes-good size-fa$t free $hipping and awesome job packing--the pic below is the ones I got.
THIS IS OUR NEW GO_TO GUY FOR XCUBES
I will not bid on this one if want better luck I suggest you put this link ina new POST (not thread) Deals& Discounts section--LOOK for sticky at top -
post the link and place DIBBS on one.. I would not try to win w/ a bid and used A.S. a snipers service--trusted and first in the sniping services.
PM me to get a link and you will get your first 3 snipes free-no downloading--just have them make more auction wins for you --add it and they do the rest on your choices of high bidding--
here is where to get a super deal on a near perfect cube and a nice size IMHO
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-18mm-X...650889?hash=item4b4d31b6c9:g:yqUAAOSwSixbRxz5
when you win and pay PLZ mention me(Len or my ebay 'snapplz' and you might find an extra surprise when you awesome cube arrives crazy fast and very well packed.. Tell Alan hello and mention also LPF..
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...10.TRC0.A0.H0.XXcube.TRS0&_nkw=Xcube&_sacat=0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5x1-5x1-...554814?hash=item23a21b51fe:g:y~gAAOSw8Wdbe8O4
https://www.ebay.com/itm/35X35X37mm...673496?hash=item56a7849d18:g:T7sAAOSwj99aRFQD
^^^^^ several sizes defects??
'Blab' has the best quality--my review will be posted soon.
Pic was too larger to attach--sorry