Killing stuff with lasers

[specialk]

This one on wish.com claims to be 10,000 mw and is super cheap at $12. I wonder if you were to give it a shot what type of glasses would protect your eyes since it doesn't come with any of its own.

SZ-508 high power laser flashlight with cool black and silver stars.

http://www.wish.com/c/56c83c10ae8c93358f9f1b77

Yah I mean if that is legit .. great!!! I am just skepptical based on all the research I have done, laser company owners Ihave talked to, and bad stories about bad stuff coming from China. (But again, I DO NOT want to deter anyone from going their own route and trying it. I hope it works) ... if the one I am getting today is not up to par, I am building my own.

 

[specialk]

Laser just got here ...! Wish me luck! I sure hope this is not junk

 

[Milktooth]

Laser just got here ...! Wish me luck! I sure hope this is not junk

Can we get some unboxing images?

 

[specialk]

 

[specialk]

Well.. so far some good some bad:

* It does NOT cut thru paper like the video said. Which leads me to believe that it is obviously not the strenght that they told me. And no surprise there, as this seems to be the common theme when ordering these from China.

* If I had to guess, this is probobly a 1 or 1.5 watt laser. Look at the instructions that came with it .. gaave a huge range of the output power... according to them, it is 1000 mw, 2000, mw, 3000 mw, 4000 mw ...lol ...

* But the GOOD ... it is zapping my majanos. I am going to post some before and after pics of the areas I am working on, but it is taking care of the problem.

So ... I am happy. All things considered.

(BUT, my next chapter and project is going to be ... using this host and taking out the diodes that this came with, and making it even stronger more along the lines of a 5 watt which is what I want !!! ... 1st things 1st though ... slaying majanos)

 

[specialk]

Well... I am an idiot... and have no problem admitting that...

SO, this laser does slice thru paper and it is strong. I was so fired up to use it I did not dial in and adjust the focus/tip of the laser down to the size of a pin head ... now this baby slices thru paper and REALLY zaps the majanos... more so then any video I have seen on youtube up to this point.

So yes I am very very pleased now! This is for sure stronger then 1 and 2 watts based on all the videos I have seen. There is no question about that

 

[Milktooth]

Well... I am an idiot... and have no problem admitting that...

SO, this laser does slice thru paper and it is strong. I was so fired up to use it I did not dial in and adjust the focus/tip of the laser down to the size of a pin head ... now this baby slices thru paper and REALLY zaps the majanos... more so then any video I have seen on youtube up to this point.

So yes I am very very pleased now! This is for sure stronger then 1 and 2 watts based on all the videos I have seen. There is no question about that

Excellent news! Get video of zapping if possible. I want to hear that sizzling bacon sound.

 

[Reef_Pilot]

Well... I am an idiot... and have no problem admitting that...

SO, this laser does slice thru paper and it is strong. I was so fired up to use it I did not dial in and adjust the focus/tip of the laser down to the size of a pin head ... now this baby slices thru paper and REALLY zaps the majanos... more so then any video I have seen on youtube up to this point.

So yes I am very very pleased now! This is for sure stronger then 1 and 2 watts based on all the videos I have seen. There is no question about that

I am certainly not an expert when it comes to lasers, but I have done a bit more research since my last post on this thread. The paperwork in your last picture says that it is a Class IIIA (a.k.a. Class 3R), which according to http://www.lasersafetyfacts.com/laserclasses.html equates to between 1 and 5 mW, and even IIIB / 3B is only 5-500 mW, which is supposedly not strong enough for what we want. Now I don't doubt the claims you are making about it's capabilities, mainly because a lot of these Chinese made laser spec claims are all over the map. I suspect it might be due to sales hype or liability but mostly due to laws & customs restrictions. There is a good article here http://www.laserist.org/us-import-law-03_chuck-maricle-discussion.htm There is also a guy doing reviews and testing the strength of various lasers on eBay showing how varied and inaccurate the claims are. They aren't the best, but an example can be found here at . I guess if you want powerful laser, you should either get one from a reputable source and be willing to pay the price, buy one that has been reviewed by a trusted source, or it is caveat emptor.

 

[specialk]

I am certainly not an expert when it comes to lasers, but I have done a bit more research since my last post on this thread. The paperwork in your last picture says that it is a Class IIIA (a.k.a. Class 3R), which according to http://www.lasersafetyfacts.com/laserclasses.html equates to between 1 and 5 mW, and even IIIB / 3B is only 5-500 mW, which is supposedly not strong enough for what we want. Now I don't doubt the claims you are making about it's capabilities, mainly because a lot of these Chinese made laser spec claims are all over the map. I suspect it might be due to sales hype or liability but mostly due to laws & customs restrictions. There is a good article here http://www.laserist.org/us-import-law-03_chuck-maricle-discussion.htm There is also a guy doing reviews and testing the strength of various lasers on eBay showing how varied and inaccurate the claims are. They aren't the best, but an example can be found here at . I guess if you want powerful laser, you should either get one from a reputable source and be willing to pay the price, buy one that has been reviewed by a trusted source, or it is caveat emptor.

First off I respect the heck out of this post. I also have no doubt, that if we had an "Academic Challenge - Laser version" you would probobly win. ...But a few points in that video.

* The laser I have, is the one he reviewed and said "This is an excellent laser ..." , "I really like this one a lot" ... and some other things he said in whcih he gave it solid reviews.

* Mine also does many of the burning things that he demonstrated.

* I have no idea what the exact watts are of my laser. But it IS strong and it DOES burn. So I am not sure I am signed up for the fact that it suppsedly will not work for what we need. This baby burns my skin on the bounce back when I am shooting it into the tank and move my hand away from the protection I have for myself ... it is STRONG. Even on the refection back.

On that note ... I have been destroying majanos, as well as those stupid purple/blue star clove polyps that are also beginning to infest my tank. As I mentioned before, I tried everything! Nothing worked. I was ready for a tank tear down. ....

...Not anymore. I am going to post some before and after photos here today, but again... I am THRILLED! Saved myself a TON of time and I wish I would have gone this route a long time ago! Again, I am not sure the insides of this laser are "top notch" or top of the line .. only time will tell. But for right now .. this is a fantastic solution for destroying un-wanted pests.

I do whole - heartedly agree with you though that people should do some homework and make sure they buy from a reputable dealer. There are more cons out there then there are good places to buy from. (Of course if anyone needs links or some help, Im happy to pioint them in the same direction I got mine from)

 

[Reef_Pilot]

I didn’t mean to imply that the laser you bought was not adequate for what we need, or anything other than what you claimed... Sorry, if it was taken that way. It is quite the opposite actually. Because a few folks said that the laser I posted a link to earlier in the thread would not be adequate, I was simply trying to suggest that a lot of these lasers are advertised at 5 mW to circumvent importation restrictions. What I looked for was a laser that took two batteries / had a 7.4 volt working power, and looked identical to ones on other websites advertised as higher strength. As I said previously, I think it might be worth taking a shot if you get one cheap enough. It looks like you got a good one, and I’ll be anxious to see the pics/video.​

 

[specialk]

I didn’t mean to imply that the laser you bought was not adequate for what we need, or anything other than what you claimed... Sorry, if it was taken that way. It is quite the opposite actually. Because a few folks said that the laser I posted a link to earlier in the thread would not be adequate, I was simply trying to suggest that a lot of these lasers are advertised at 5 mW to circumvent importation restrictions. What I looked for was a laser that took two batteries / had a 7.4 volt working power, and looked identical to ones on other websites advertised as higher strength. As I said previously, I think it might be worth taking a shot if you get one cheap enough. It looks like you got a good one, and I’ll be anxious to see the pics/video.​

Oh no my man I did not take it that way ... no worries at all. And to be honest, even if you did, I could not blame you as I have found going thru this process of getting what I pay for and dealing with over seas companies, can be quite confusing and a pain. So I get it either way. I am just glad it worked out, I was quite skeptical.

 

[specialk]

Not the best quality ....filmed with my Note 8, it you get the idea. You can hear the bacon sizzling! Pics in a few to show the cleaned up area before and after

 

[Milktooth]

Have you tried it on any algae varieties? Bubble or grape? I have some green bean and grapes things I wouldn't mind frying.

On that note have any of the chemists weighed in on the by product, that being the cooked tissue of the animals or plants? Basically does this process possibly pollute the tank with creosote or anything we should be aware of. Maybe we are simply adding harmless carbon to our systems by zapping the little guys. Just a few brainstorms I pondered this moment.

 

[FredsNJReef]

Dude that's awesome! I have 1 single aptasia that I can't get and I want to avoid a takeover. This may be the ticket!
Also, that thing is blinding me just by watching it on my computer lol, did those safety glasses come with it??

 

[nashorn]

Wow ....looks fun but I fear blinding my fish.

 

[specialk]

Have you tried it on any algae varieties? Bubble or grape? I have some green bean and grapes things I wouldn't mind frying.

On that note have any of the chemists weighed in on the by product, that being the cooked tissue of the animals or plants? Basically does this process possibly pollute the tank with creosote or anything we should be aware of. Maybe we are simply adding harmless carbon to our systems by zapping the little guys. Just a few brainstorms I pondered this moment.

Bubble I have not. Because I know that by popping them it releases more and can cause an outbreak. Although I am not sure if that is still the case if I fry them and destroy everything. I also have gotten bubble algae under control and pretty much gone by using Vibrant.

As for anything negative getting into the tank from zapping them ... nothing I am aware of (but with this hobby, I am sure I am wrong and there is something .. haha ... no but in all the videos I watched there does not seem to be any issues.

 

[specialk]

Dude that's awesome! I have 1 single aptasia that I can't get and I want to avoid a takeover. This may be the ticket!
Also, that thing is blinding me just by watching it on my computer lol, did those safety glasses come with it??

Oh yah .. the glasses are ABSOLUTELY a MUST

 

[specialk]

Wow ....looks fun but I fear blinding my fish.

Yah my fish in that video seem interested, but in reality they are not. I have not had any issues with fish. And again, this is by far THE BEST remedy I have used for majanos or clove polyps.

 

[specialk]

Before & After ;Woot My tank is on its way back!!

 

[anit77]

I'd really like to get one of these but I want to a be sure it's in the 5w range or higher. Yes I have some aptiasia, with one large one I can't get to either, but I also have a gorilla crab I just can't catch. Kinda wanting to get midevil on his @as. It never goes for the shrimp in a jar and keeps pinching the legs off my sand sifting stars. I'm gonna need some power so it can meet it's demise.

I've found some bodies online and one I really like that takes 2 18650 batteries. It's still going to get costly to build one. I'm figuring about $170 to $180 for a true 6w. I'll keep looking when I have more time.