styropyro said:
The beam is pretty dim at night, it is noticeable but it is dimmer than a 5mW green. There is also a line through the dot, it is like that of many of our DIY lasers, but this is only noticeable when you set the laser down and walk up to the dot from 10 feet away.
I
finally got some CR2s (Panasonic Lithium 3.0V) for mine today

Well it burns things, pops balloons, etc. so in that sense, I can't complain. On the other hand, the diode (or can?) casts a really odd line that intersects the point. I thought it was a freaky scratch on the lens, but rotating the lens didn't rotate the line. Now I saw your comment above, but having no other experience with a red, I's like to know why this diode produces such a vert. line... :-?
Otherwise, I can only see the beam outside where there's enough particles in the air (fog, etc.) but it is
invisible indoors, even in a completely darkened room... :-?
In any event, it's a very ugly point/vert. line at distance (at 1m, that line is clearly visible & at 30 meters, it looks quite stupid... :-[ Again, I realize this is primarily a "burning" laser, but I hope to eventually find a red that has a clean & tight spot like my 50mW green beauty...
(any recommendations would be most welcome

)
Attached, a sample pic with the laser
1m away from a matte black surface. More pics at different distances
available here too.