Laser pointers.

[Jamie]

One of the guys did a flea market run this weekend. He knew I was
looking around for a source for cheap laser pointer/toys, so I could
strip the lasers out of them..

He found me a deal. 15 Laser pointer-Animal toys, for $20 bucks.

These are key chain things with end caps you can change project
images instead if just a point. The 3 button cells in each
package alone, is worth more.

A good source for DIY laser projects.. I've made a few interesting
things with them in the past.

Jamie

 

[[email protected]]

One of the guys did a flea market run this weekend. He knew I was
looking around for a source for cheap laser pointer/toys, so I could
strip the lasers out of them..

He found me a deal. 15 Laser pointer-Animal toys, for $20 bucks.

These are key chain things with end caps you can change project
images instead if just a point. The 3 button cells in each
package alone, is worth more.

A good source for DIY laser projects.. I've made a few interesting
things with them in the past.

Have you tried DealExtreme? A bit more expensive than that but they have
greens and at least one violet lasers, too.

 

[Chieftain of the Carpet Crawlers]

One of the guys did a flea market run this weekend. He knew I was
looking around for a source for cheap laser pointer/toys, so I could
strip the lasers out of them..

He found me a deal. 15 Laser pointer-Animal toys, for $20 bucks.

These are key chain things with end caps you can change project
images instead if just a point. The 3 button cells in each
package alone, is worth more.

A good source for DIY laser projects.. I've made a few interesting
things with them in the past.

Jamie

Pretty lame. Beyond lame, in fact.

Also, you do know that they are less than a buck each, and YOU paid MORE
than a buck each for them, right?

Take a 200 mW laser out of a simple old DVD or CD burner, and replace
the stupid one in your lame pointers.

youtube has many videos on how to do the changeout.

 

[Jamie]

D'oh moment -- I've been trying to think of how to hand-machine nice
button cell holders for things like active RF probes and other teeny
handheld one-off bits of lab kit.

OF COURSE it makes sense to scavenge them out of laser pointers or
flashlights or whatever.

D'oh.

I've done that before, but that was when the first laser pointers came
out. The cases were better made however, I guess you still can buy the
chrome plated barrel cases..

Either way, you still need to machine the bushing for the probe tip,
that is where a little lathe and collets come in, which I have :0.

Selection of material and thickness comes into play to keep the
capacitance down at the tip. I found that thin teflon washers worked
a treat with one experiment..

The units I got I wouldn't recommend for this use. The cases are
plastic with a conductive coating inside the barrel. Of course, if that
don't bother you then you're golden..

If you don't have any yet, you can find the cheap ones where they sell
pet toys..

Jamie

 

[Jamie]

Is there a Dollar Store where you are? Over here at the 99 Cent Store
you can get a laser pointer plus the batteries for $0.99 each, plus
tax.

But, at least you got a neat animal too...

Yes, we have a dollar store however, they don't have any laser
pointers, at all and they don't stock them. Already looked.

Jamie.

 

[notbob]

If you don't have any yet, you can find the cheap ones where they sell
pet toys..

Here's a one-stop shop fer lasers, as cheap as $3:

http://www.laserpointerpro.com/

Looks like they got it all. Free shipping, too.


nb

 

[miso]

Is there a Dollar Store where you are? Over here at the 99 Cent Store
you can get a laser pointer plus the batteries for $0.99 each, plus
tax.

But, at least you got a neat animal too...

I needed some coin cell batteries in a hurry once and bought a $1 laser
pointer at the dollar store just for the batteries.

 

[miso]

Pretty lame. Beyond lame, in fact.

Also, you do know that they are less than a buck each, and YOU paid MORE
than a buck each for them, right?

Take a 200 mW laser out of a simple old DVD or CD burner, and replace
the stupid one in your lame pointers.

youtube has many videos on how to do the changeout.

You do realize DVD and CD lasers are different frequencies. The CD is
invisible (IR).

Oh wait, it's the Chieftain asshole. He doesn't know anything. Never mind.