Was it a good deal or did I get burned

[dsli_jon]

Hi LV -

Welcome to PL.. ..Now, as you said, 'if you ever do or say anything not 'fitting', please let you know', well, umm.. This isn't anything 'wrong', but.. this little bit of 'prose', about yourself, here:

...hook it all up and watch with the amazement of a child as that powerful green beam shines off into infinity. ..

..raised a bit of a 'newbie-flag', for me, so I would simply like to encourage you - before you get yer Class IV 2.5Watt Green - which is about *10 times* the power most- eye-surgery is done at - in-house, and go 'beaming-off into infinity' - Or anywhere - to please make certain you are familiar with Laser Safety-basics, and also, what 'is / isn't legal' / safe-practices.. In-particular..

..Unless you already-have, please take some time to read this PDF: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Medical.../UCM119257.pdf ..It is a quick-read, and will help you understand some of the concerns with a laser this powerful.. These lasers, in particular, have a very-fine beam, and, at full-power, 2.5W of 532nm can blind you far-faster than you can blink, if a reflected-beam hits you in the 'wrong-spot' in the eye...

..You can also further-read some of the more 'detailed-Regs', etc, here: http://www.photonlexicon.com/wiki/in...dies_in_the_US ..IF / when you are at the point of 'doing shows', etc, and what you'll 'need to do' to be doing them legally - and more-importantly, Safely..

..Sorry if I come across as 'being too-forward', but.. reading a-bit 'into your experience-level', from your comments, there / demeanor at the outset, here, I'd really just hate to have not said anything.. and, later find out you both 'got a good-deal', *and* 'got burned'.. Dig?

fwiw..
cheers..
j

[Luthervan]

dsli_jon I don't thinik I've done or said anything that should lead anyone to the assumptions you made just above, without a bit more knowledge of the person they are referring to. Im no expert by any means but I'm 49 years old, definitely not a newbie, and never have been stupid enough to haphazardly point any laser off into the distance or the sky - let alone a 2.5 watt one. That quote you pasted there was simply my feeble attempt of a metaphorical picture of how excited I was. So much for haphazard creativity. Between that and all the focus on my mistakes instead of the question I asked, I dont know if im gonna fit in here or not.

cheers.

[absolom7691]

Oh, I wouldn't jump on Jon too hard. If you only knew some of the posts that have come across here, you'd see why he takes the stance that he does. He wasn't being rude, I think it was more of a friendly PSA than anything. If you have an evening to kill and want some light reading, THIS THREAD is a primary reason why we like to share safety information to new laser guys. If you don't fit the "New Laser Guy" profile, brush it off and let it stand for the "New Laser Guy" that wanders into your thread in the future so he doesn't get the wrong idea.

[Bradfo69]

I dont know if im gonna fit in here or not.

Yeah... you will. You had enough knowledge of what you were bidding on to bid on it in the first place. I'm looking forward to hearing about it and seeing pics as I've "heard" of a Lightwave Halfnote laser and wondered what in the heck a halfnote laser was. Since you're in Durham and are into lasers... without question, it's time to pull out your 2015 calendar and take a look at August. About the middle of the month, you've gonna want to schedule some vacation time or, at least plan an "illness" to get a day or two off work. There's this little "thing" that happens..... http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...14-Sign-up-now! Read the whole thread over a nice beverage. It's your new Mecca!

[tribble]

If you have an evening to kill and want some light reading, THIS THREAD is a primary reason why we like to share safety information to new laser guys.

Damn, I feel like I just spent a year in the twilight zone... shame that so many of the original incriminating links are dead. Also, djallen's website now appears to go somewhere else? Or is it the same as it was? Sam's FAQ even links to it now. I am so confused.

[tribble]

There's this little "thing" that happens..... http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...14-Sign-up-now!

Hey Buffo, that's last year's thread... where's the 2015 thread?

[absolom7691]

Damn, I feel like I just spent a year in the twilight zone....

Yeah, that one's a doozy for sure! It's amazing how much help was dispensed and ignored. That thread in particular has shaped a lot of the attitudes of the pros on this site. That's why they default to warning mode at the slightest hint of someting out of place. It's not to be rude or assume guilt, it's a knee-jerk reaction and I can completely sympathize.

[dsli_jon]

...I don't thinik I've done or said anything that should lead anyone to the assumptions you made just above,...

Sorry, I guess I just 'summed' posts #2 and #14 and got 'this might be someone that has not had such power (..and so-fine a beam, as-these..) before' = might be helpful to simply point to the 'careful not to drill your fovea out'-section of PL.. So, sorry if my 'math' was wrong, and you're really all-over what you're doing..

cheers..
j

[mixedgas]

Yeah, that one's a doozy for sure! It's amazing how much help was dispensed and ignored. That thread in particular has shaped a lot of the attitudes of the pros on this site. That's why they default to warning mode at the slightest hint of someting out of place. It's not to be rude or assume guilt, it's a knee-jerk reaction and I can completely sympathize.

I'm still trying to figure out how he got the massive 800 series laser into the tunnel hatch under the gas station, to access the underground three phase.

Rumor has it he has grown up somewhat. I find it ironic that FaceAche keeps suggesting I should "friend" him.

The Aquamarine incident:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...an-ravers.html

And one in Israel (Q-switched pulses) and one rumored event in Bulgaria (CVL-nanosecond pulses) are what worry the professionals like me.

I've also read enough retinal burn threads over at LPF to make me retch. Extrapolating from the reports over there, means the actual pointer rate is probably 100 to 1000 times the industrial/scientific accident rate. So forgive us if we're dramatic, but some times the warning has to hit like a falling brick wall.



Steve

[tribble]

Hmm, can't get the newscientist article to load, even from their own index.