Thread: Mag Lite to Burning Laser

Originally Posted by Bruno

Cool? Bloody stupid is what I call it, and I hope he gets sued into oblivion by the first one going blind permanently.

If that thing shines into your eyes for only a millisecond, even if only by reflection on a polished surface, the optical nerves in your eye will be destroyed before you have the time to blink. Literally.

A 245 mW laser is not a toy. It is a weapon that will permanently blind anyone unfortunate enough to get the beam into his or her eye.
And of course he had to publish the instructions to make one so that every stupid teenager or malicious twat could make it and do irrepairable damage and get away with it.

Anyone using such a thing in my or my family's vicinity would quickly discover the hard way that I have very low tolerance for stupidity, especially if it put me or others in grave danger.

I'm not saying it's a good idea, it's just interesting. I see it like straights- they're extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. Be careful and no one can get hurt. Just like we would never carry around our razors, no one in their right mind would carry that laser around.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Cool? Bloody stupid is what I call it, and I hope he gets sued into oblivion by the first one going blind permanently.

If that thing shines into your eyes for only a millisecond, even if only by reflection on a polished surface, the optical nerves in your eye will be destroyed before you have the time to blink. Literally.

A 245 mW laser is not a toy. It is a weapon that will permanently blind anyone unfortunate enough to get the beam into his or her eye.
And of course he had to publish the instructions to make one so that every stupid teenager or malicious twat could make it and do irrepairable damage and get away with it.

Anyone using such a thing in my or my family's vicinity would quickly discover the hard way that I have very low tolerance for stupidity, especially if it put me or others in grave danger.

Originally Posted by JMS

Yes Dad

Since I am certain some will not understand my flippant response let me explain.
Hell yes it is dangerous, but so is the knife I wear on my side, the guns that many of us own, the cars we drive,the straight razors, Hell! even crossing the street is dangerous!! Shall I go on? We are all grown men here! By the way, as I write this I am drinking a beer which I am certain is also dangerous!

Originally Posted by JMS

Since I am certain some will not understand my flippant response let me explain.
Hell yes it is dangerous, but so is the knife I wear on my side, the guns that many of us own, the cars we drive,the straight razors, Hell! even crossing the street is dangerous!! Shall I go on? We are all grown men here! By the way, as I write this I am drinking a beer which I am certain is also dangerous!

The point is that it is dangerous and the maker presents it as a cool toy and doesn't talk about the dangers at all.

Everybody knows that knives are dangerous. Everybody knows that guns are dangerous.
But very few people know that that laser is dangerous. After all, it's just a fancy laserpointer, right?

And even though bullets might ricochet as well, a reflected laser beam is just as dangerous after a couple of reflections as when it left the laser diode.

This is similar to waving a loaded gun around in a crowded room with the safety off, in the assumption that it is harmless.
You wouldn't feel comfortable about that either I think.

Originally Posted by Bruno

The point is that it is dangerous and the maker presents it as a cool toy and doesn't talk about the dangers at all.

Everybody knows that knives are dangerous. Everybody knows that guns are dangerous.
But very few people know that that laser is dangerous. After all, it's just a fancy laserpointer, right?

And even though bullets might ricochet as well, a reflected laser beam is just as dangerous after a couple of reflections as when it left the laser diode.

This is similar to waving a loaded gun around in a crowded room with the safety off, in the assumption that it is harmless.
You wouldn't feel comfortable about that either I think.

It's a good thing I like you Bruno!
I think this will probably have to be hashed out on another off topic thread, don't you?

Originally Posted by JMS

It's a good thing I like you Bruno!
I think this will probably have to be hashed out on another off topic thread, don't you?

Since this is still about that laser, I think it is on-topic in this off-topic thread
Hmmm...
We will meet at dawn. I hope you won't mind me wearing my lucky Abrams tank?

I like you too. But don't tell it to my wife

Originally Posted by Bruno

Since this is still about that laser, I think it is on-topic in this off-topic thread
Hmmm...
We will meet at dawn. I hope you won't mind me wearing my lucky Abrams tank?

I like you too. But don't tell it to my wife

"Mans intelligence" is the thread I was talking about!

Well, luckily there's no instructions for a current limiting circuit in the video (though plans exist on the internet with one). Without a current limiting circuit there's a fair chance the laser diode will burn out with any regular usage. Especially if the thing is used continuously for more than 20 or so seconds; more so if the batteries have been freshly juiced.

Bruno has a very good point. This thing could permanently blind someone at a considerable distance in the wrong hands. Just a few weeks ago some idiot caused eye damage to a couple of pilots with a less powerful laser. I believe he's currently facing time in a federal facility. It seems that the TSA has very little tolerance (and rightly so) for this kind of thing.


Wayne

Its also against federal law. Im sure you have all read that little disclaimer that comes with equipment that contains lasers. Something like "it is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner other than its intended purpose" etc.

Another thing to worry about that any laser output above class IIIa or around 3.5MW is illegal per FDA regulations for civilian use unless you receive approval from the FDA.

Course I dont know if they enforce these laws.

you know I'm busy when I haven't logged on in over a week!