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August 13 2007
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How to Turn a Flashlight Into a Laser

Though I’m not a fan of lasers when they’re used for LASIK eye surgery, this fascinating video appealed to the gadget geek in me -- and I couldn’t resist sharing it with all you other technology junkies out there.

The video shows you how to turn a regular MiniMag flashlight into an extremely powerful hand-held laser (that’s strong enough to light matches and pop balloons). It does require some specialty parts and work, namely the laser component from a DVD burner and some soldering, but the steps are clear enough for most anyone to follow.

If you decide to give this one a try, please realize that this laser is much stronger than the typical laser pointers that you can buy. You should not use it for presentations or to play with your pets, and you should avoid pointing it at anyone, even at a distance, as it has the potential to cause serious eye damage, or worse.

Lifehacker.com

Warning: Lasers can cause permanent eye damage. Please wear protective goggles and be careful to not shine any laser into anyone‘s eyes.



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Community Comments ( 32 )
Comment on this Article
  
  
MTOakey
[ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on September 1, 2007 ]
8 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I applaud you Doc !!!

1st Amendment. Don't let weenies, wimps, or Liberals force you to remove anything from your website. Your disclaimer after the write up need not even be present because you can not be held responsible for someone else's ignorance & stupidity.

2nd Amendment. Need I say more.

My 11 year old daughter and I made this and her response was "COOL!" can I use it in as a Science project some how?

I too use to "play" with the techie components when I was a kid. We did find ruby chips cheap and rubbed & grinded our own lenses with cesium powder, we built rocket engines with common stuff from the local pharmacy's shelves, explosive to say the least, but fun and a learning experience! Interest in the sciences and math has dwindled in the past couple of decades and we really need to foster more interest in them just to be able to stay competitive with our world neighbors (aka. Korea, Iran, China) The 50's & 60's had an explosion of technical achievements and ideas that certain people went after with fervor. Just look at 'Star Trek' and think cell phone, PDA, DNA and other medical advances CAT, CT, MRI, EEG just to mention a few.

Ideas and Information sharing is what can light the flame of interest in a young mind rather than the Music & Sex culture that seems to be running our children's lives in recent history.

Now, if you'll excuse me, My daughter and I are going to see what else we can ignite with our new toy... maybe a heilium filled - no wait, what would happen if we put more than 1 laser on it and maybe a more powerful energy source, sorry I GOTTA go...  ;-)

 [ Reply ]
  
  
MTOakey
[ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on September 1, 2007 ]
7 Points        
   
 
Novice User

And what's wrong with McGyverism, it has got to be better for the brain than just sitting there vegetating or playing video games.

Now let's think about what could happen if we stop giving kids soda (and HighFructoseCornSuryp juices) and candy and fast foods - and medication that lazy 'social sheep' doctors prescribe to treat non-existent disorders, divert all that misdiagnosed 'ADHD' energy (aka. youth) to directed thinking, exploration, experimentation, adventure, fun activities???

And actually do some of all this with our kids instead of drugging them up and/or leaving them with babysitters or worse alone and to their own devices? (remember the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, if not then my point has been made apparent) Carpe Diem because Tempus fugit, and Primum Non Nocere. That is what we should be teaching our future.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
savethemales
[ Joined on 09/07 ]  [ Posted on September 2, 2007]
-3 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Apparently, you have forgotten your Latin.  "Primum Non Nocere" means FIRST, DO NO HARM!  There are plenty of wonderful things to do with our children that don't invvolve creating something that could be dangerous even in the hands of an adult.  

How about NOT making a laser out of a flashlight and NOT giving the junk & drugs to our kids and spending time with them explaining how evolutionary THEORY (which is the only theory of origin approved in public schools) is impossible because it assumes we came about by steps that are the opposite of the 2nd LAW of thermodynamics.  Now there's a good brain exercise!

  
  
Toddah
[ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on September 2, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Novice User

These comments bring to mind a song called Hippies Lament by Wally Pleasant, an East Lansing musician.   It goes like this..."I'm self rightious, pretensious, and politically correct..."  Is it possible to be both a social activist and have a sense of humor.  Hmm, ponder that.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Laserman
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on August 11, 2007 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Sounds like something for the Laserman's utility belt. You never know when the bad guys are going to bind you with balloons. (o:|]
That's a scary, cheap cop-out when the article ends its safety warnings with "etc". It's basically saying, "You figure it out".
 [ Reply ]
  
  
mmc88121
[ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
And you want to do this why?

Mary
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Laserman
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 11, 2007]
4 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

To fend off an attack of rabid balloon animals?
Mercola
  
A.M.E.
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 11, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
when balloons go bad...it's not a pretty sight...it's always in your best interest to dispose of them as soon as possible.
Mercola
  
ypsidixit
[ Joined on 08/07 ]  [ Posted on August 13, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Zippos are so old school. Bah!

Mary, just imagine if you were being approached by a mugger holding two fistfuls of matches. Now, wouldn't you want to be armed with the perfect tool for this situation? Of course you would.

As he's writhing on the ground, blowing on his singed hands, you could also laser-tattoo "Nice try, match-holding loser" on his ugly old leg (assuming you have nice handwriting). The experience would leave him "scarred for life" and would probably make him think twice about pulling that pretty little stunt again. Yes, sir.

Mercola
  
Borgon
[ Joined on 11/06 ]  [ Posted on September 1, 2007]
3 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

If you end up blinding your assailant by mistake, you will end up being sued and bankrupted.

Grown-ups, DO NOT play with powerful lasers, a stray reflection may blind you or somebody else.

Mercola
  
savethemales
[ Joined on 09/07 ]  [ Posted on September 2, 2007]
-6 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Let's see.... the likelihood that Mary will get out her soldering gun vs. an assailant who already has envisioned a nefarious use for this device.....   I'm pretty sure he's thanking his lucky stars that his Shop class included soldering.  

Gotta say it sure puts a damper on those people who have the habit of looking into the light end of the flashlight as they turn it on to check the battery power!

  
  
rablpn
[ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
2 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Just in time for back to school!  (Just kidding)
This is a bad thing for kids to do
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Bridestein
[ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
2 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Looks kinda dangerous to me. I'm not sure what the application would be, although I'm not nearly as imaginative as some here.
On another note, here's a link to a cool video showing you how to get 20 minutes of bright white light from a pencil...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/726251/turn_a_pencil_into_a_light/
 [ Reply ]
  
  
l2readbooks
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on September 3, 2007 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Lol @ dangerous and take it off. Have some faith in common sense. Kids play with things much more dangerous than a laser pointer that can pop a balloon.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
skcscuba
[ Joined on 09/07 ] [ Posted on September 8, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

I have a M.S. in radiation biophysics.  I say this only because I hope that it will persuade you to consider my comments carefully.  I am not a cautious person, made made my first laser from a He Ne tube, nitro-glycerin (worked too well) as a teenager and worse yet still drive after drinking too much.  I believe that every law abiding household should have a gun after properly training the family.  I almost grabbed my old cd writer to make one of these, but after about 10 seconds I realized how incredibly dangerous this device is.  Pay particular attention to the writer who talked about how the first thing anyone does when they pick up a flashlight is turn it on and point it at their face to see if it works.  How would you like to permanently blind your 5 year old granddaughter or whoever.  THIS DEVICE WILL DEFINITELY DO THIS!  It will not start fires except under special conditions and is really not that dangerous  EXCEPT TO THE EYES.  That is the real danger.  It seems so harmless that it begs to be abused.  Most people quickly realize the danger of guns, napalm and automobiles.  This device reminds me of the German booby traps from WW2.  A fountain pen with just enough explosive to cripple you for life.  The other real danger is that unlike a gun which is, with rare exception, only dangerous in the direction which it is pointing, the laser easily can be just as powerful after after multiple reflections and STILL  IRREVERSIBLY FRY THE FIRST AVAILABLE RETINA.  This isn't about first or second  amendment rights.  It's normally not a good idea to let poisonous snakes loose in your house.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
cmichaelo
[ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on September 5, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

I can not imagine this is a legal use of a class 3b laser device.  It is downright irresponsible...not unlike having a gun in your home.  The difference is that the laser doesn't have the power to kill someone.  However, the laser could easily be used for malicious purposes by kids or immature grownups in such a way that it's impossible to link the damage/crime with the perpetrator.  It's the perfect weapon to ruin somebody's life.  Thanks for sharing this.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
jwags
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on August 12, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Apprentice User
I can't wait to try this!  A few friends of mine and I tried to build a laser in 8th grade (1967).  We could find a jeweler who would loan us a ruby crystal.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Russ Bianchi
[ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Savvy User
McGiverism with little net result.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
barbeena
[ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on September 3, 2007 ]
-1 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I'm really surprised to see this type of instruction on this site.  Haven't we heard enough about kids, in particular, that find instructions on the internet and build an item that they sometimes use foolishly causing pain or distruction with it.  It's not always even done deliberately....... maybe just out of ignorance.  

I refer people to this site to learn about health related issues and hope this type of potentially dangerous information is kept off in the future.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
lynne1109
[ Joined on 10/06 ] [ Posted on September 1, 2007 ]
-1 Points        
   
 
This user is