Gentlemen and Gentlewoman. I'm the first to admit that goggles are but a crutch, that proper safety means designing the experiment,equipment,laser show, pointer play session, in such a way that you do not need the goggles in the first place. I'm the first to admit that goggles drive some hazards of their own. I also fear what the pointer community calls "uncertified" goggles as unsafe. I further fear the so called "homemade goggles" from useless theatrical gels.
I hate the fact that many only buy the goggle that they think will reduce the incident power to the so called "safe" 5 milliwatts, without measuring what is actually there.
It would also be a better world if the low cost goggles were actually "full wraparound"!
However if more then a few people start using them, that might result in a good thing, with high powered lasers in untrained hands. So while I decry depending on a 30$ piece of plastic that has, ironically, driven the used, quality, commercial goggles off the market, I still must welcome the fact that some people are wearing them. It will prevent some damage in a few situations.
In the case of industrial lasers, we know that proper goggles are mandatory. Key word: proper.
The saddest part is that there is no mechanism for removing counterfit, worthless, clone goggles off the market.
Case in point, the Asian low cost vendor who told a researcher that counterfit, untested, QD3 at 25$ was fine for class IV qswitched yag.
Case in point. This young idiot who should be stun gunned, drawn and quartered, hung, burned at the stake and then taken out and hurt! He's welcome to blind himself, that is his business. But when he preaches a false sermon on safety gear he is not worth a piece of silver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_kLnGR6CA
I love this line from him: "The homemade ones are for friends who happen to visit. These help with (like u said) reflections and split second exposure. "
Steve
Last edited by mixedgas; 07-07-2010 at 14:05.
Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
When I still could have...