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Are any lasers safe to touch
- Thread starter jim1174
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
That depends on a lot of things like
wavelength and beam diameter. Skin is even
different in different people and areas of
the body. I would be a fool to provide a
numerical answer.
That depends on a lot of things like
wavelength and beam diameter. Skin is even
different in different people and areas of
the body. I would be a fool to provide a
numerical answer.
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
Also skin color. Just based off my own testing, hitting a freckle with a laser hurts more than just lighter skin.
Also I wavelength affects it too. I can feel a 50 mW 405 laser, but not a 50 mW 532.
Also skin color. Just based off my own testing, hitting a freckle with a laser hurts more than just lighter skin.
Also I wavelength affects it too. I can feel a 50 mW 405 laser, but not a 50 mW 532.
Teej
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
I would recommend not touching the beam. Even if you knew the "number" you'd also need to know the laser's "number", and, they are rarely accurately rated.
IE: Lets say you did a detailed study, and found for your skin, on the part you wanted to touch, the number was 5 mw....so you bought a 5 mw laser, and assumed you were fine, but, it was underrated and actually put out 50 mw, and, burned you.
If you are asking this question, essentially, just do your best to not touch it...that will be safer.
I would recommend not touching the beam. Even if you knew the "number" you'd also need to know the laser's "number", and, they are rarely accurately rated.
IE: Lets say you did a detailed study, and found for your skin, on the part you wanted to touch, the number was 5 mw....so you bought a 5 mw laser, and assumed you were fine, but, it was underrated and actually put out 50 mw, and, burned you.
If you are asking this question, essentially, just do your best to not touch it...that will be safer.
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
I know those cheap red laser pointers are safe lol.
I know those cheap red laser pointers are safe lol.
Teej
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
And you could be wrong, as they are often under rated.
Hence the advice for someone who needs to ask....don't touch.
And you could be wrong, as they are often under rated.
Hence the advice for someone who needs to ask....don't touch.
Pman
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
All of the "cheap" red pens that I buy are over 100mW. You are likely "safe" if it one of those cat toys that take button cell batteries. Don't just assume that if you get a green laser that you can barely see the beam in a dark room has a really low output either. I just received a green one last week that was very dim but measured over 70mW so it was pushing lots of infrared.
Bottom line is you need an LPM to measure what's really going on.
All of the "cheap" red pens that I buy are over 100mW. You are likely "safe" if it one of those cat toys that take button cell batteries. Don't just assume that if you get a green laser that you can barely see the beam in a dark room has a really low output either. I just received a green one last week that was very dim but measured over 70mW so it was pushing lots of infrared.
Bottom line is you need an LPM to measure what's really going on.
Last edited:
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
Its not terribly painful anyways. To me, putting my hand in the way of a 1.4 watt 445 laser felt the same as touching something that was just slightly too hot to handle comfortably.
Its not terribly painful anyways. To me, putting my hand in the way of a 1.4 watt 445 laser felt the same as touching something that was just slightly too hot to handle comfortably.
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
And lower than 405 and your DNA starts taking damage.
And lower than 405 and your DNA starts taking damage.
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Re: Are any lasers safe to tough
There is no "magic" wavelength below which
DNA damage begins to occur. The chances
only increase as the wavelength decreases.
There is no "magic" wavelength below which
DNA damage begins to occur. The chances
only increase as the wavelength decreases.
Stay away from 254nm folks.
I just waved my hand over it once and i can smell my skin breaking down.
Wear gloves and Goggles as well as blocking any light from a clear florescent tube. if you work with it. It's completely covered up so no light gets out unless i open it to change a sample hence my protection.
I have a small one i use to test materials exposure. It dry rots rubber bands in a day.
if you see a florescent tube that glows like one of those bug lights run or you will get arc eye if you don't have proper eye protection.
I found orange colored laser goggles to work the best since they block 190-500 some nms.
I just waved my hand over it once and i can smell my skin breaking down.
Wear gloves and Goggles as well as blocking any light from a clear florescent tube. if you work with it. It's completely covered up so no light gets out unless i open it to change a sample hence my protection.
I have a small one i use to test materials exposure. It dry rots rubber bands in a day.
if you see a florescent tube that glows like one of those bug lights run or you will get arc eye if you don't have proper eye protection.
I found orange colored laser goggles to work the best since they block 190-500 some nms.