Thread: Green laser and dish obstructions.

Originally Posted by Stargazer

I have read that there are different qualities of the green lasers, that some are not near as good as the others (such as the cheaper ones) and that there are certain things to look out for.

Some of the cheaper ones don't have IR filters and can be very dangerous. The radiation can damage your eye without you realizing it since it is infrared. You won't blink or close your eyes. The diodes are also of varying quality and can burn out on cheaper lasers.
The cheap red lasers you get at the dollar store or gas station are really not much of a danger and have little risk of damaging your eyes but higher power ones of any color should be treated much like a gun. Don't point it at anything you don't plan on shooting it at. I have hit myself in the eye with my 50mW green laser and it's not pleasant. A brief flash won't do any harm but prolonged exposure could.

My BIL has a 300mW green laser and if you shine it on your skin it feels like a bee sting. It will light a match as well. Imagine shining that into your eye.

Originally Posted by SpiffWilkie

Some of the cheaper ones don't have IR filters and can be very dangerous. The radiation can damage your eye without you realizing it since it is infrared. You won't blink or close your eyes. The diodes are also of varying quality and can burn out on cheaper lasers.
The cheap red lasers you get at the dollar store or gas station are really not much of a danger and have little risk of damaging your eyes but higher power ones of any color should be treated much like a gun. Don't point it at anything you don't plan on shooting it at. I have hit myself in the eye with my 50mW green laser and it's not pleasant. A brief flash won't do any harm but prolonged exposure could.

My BIL has a 300mW green laser and if you shine it on your skin it feels like a bee sting. It will light a match as well. Imagine shining that into your eye.

Thanks for posting that helpful information.

Whenever I go to a meeting and the presenter is using a laser pointer I cringe. You have no assurance of what the device can do.