DVD Laser- IR and Protection?

[Kas]

Today I made a laser out of a perfectly working DVD burner and Maglite. I'm currently waiting on my housing and lens before I can totally close it all up.

What I'm wondering about is how dangerous the IR from the thing can be. Even just looking at it indirectly for ~10 seconds today caused my eye to hurt, and it still hurts.

Should I look into some goggles and an IR filter? Where can I find the two?

 

[EVAN_TAD]

Survival of the fittest.

 

[chuck]

A DVD burner will use a diode...diode LASERs are solid state, and emit only a single frequency of light. There should be no IR present in the red beam.

Having said that, the output strength will be between 80mw and 250mw. In *any* color, that's a strong LASER.

-- Chuck Knight

 

[Kas]

So now I know the laser is strong, what exactly can I do to protect myself from burning my eyes?
​

 

[chuck]

Well, your first instinct was right. Goggles would definitely help...but not IR goggles. You need to protect yourself from red light, not infrared.

Look around these forums and you'll find a host of suggestions for them, and for places to buy them. I've seen mention of goggles costing as little as a few dollars, to almost as much as you want to pay.

Until you get a pair, you might refrain from looking at the spot, and especially looking at it, close up. Also, since it's a visible spot, even sunglasses should help...but they'd be no match for the performance of real goggles.

-- Chuck Knight

 

[Kas]

Well, your first instinct was right. Goggles would definitely help...but not IR goggles. You need to protect yourself from red light, not infrared.

Look around these forums and you'll find a host of suggestions for them, and for places to buy them. I've seen mention of goggles costing as little as a few dollars, to almost as much as you want to pay.

Until you get a pair, you might refrain from looking at the spot, and especially looking at it, close up. Also, since it's a visible spot, even sunglasses should help...but they'd be no match for the performance of real goggles.

-- Chuck Knight

If it can save my eyes, its worth the price. My eye still hurts.

Would you happen to know where I could find these threads?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

One such thread is right here...hope this is helpful to you.

 

[Gazoo]

Sunglasses can make it worse. When you wear sunglasses your pupil dilates and this allows more of the red wavelength to get through to your eyes. Please do not even think about it. What I have found to be perfect are the wicked laser shades. They allow enough red to get through so you can see the dot on a wall. Some goggles have too high of an OD rating and you can't even see the dot when wearing them. http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/Red_650nm_LaserShades-49-11.html

 

[Tek465]

Since your working with a dvd laser you can get by with just a simple pair of welding goggles. You can pick those up at any hardware store. You don't need heavy shading so anything designed for light welding should be fine.

As a bonus, since welding also produces harmful IR and UV, welding goggles will also protect you from those hazards.

 

[Gazoo]

Since your working with a dvd laser you can get by with just a simple pair of welding goggles. You can pick those up at any hardware store. You don't need heavy shading so anything designed for light welding should be fine.

As a bonus, since welding also produces harmful IR and UV, welding goggles will also protect you from those hazards.

It has not been proven anywhere this is a good idea either. Why skimp and risk doing damage to your vision which can not be replaced. Buy laser goggles that are meant for protecting your eyes for the proper wavelength. Using anything else is like playing Russian roulette.

 

[stephenmadpotato]

Laser IR filters available here http://www.novalasers.com/NOVAstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=68 Don't kid yourself, your still not nearly safe you'll need red laser glasses.

 

[Heruursciences]

You'll need goggles rated for 660nm, you could probably get by with a pair of goggles rated for ruby laser, and military spec green colored yag laser glasses should protect you from it. You'll have to test the glasses to see if they pass dangerous amounts of laser light. Your best bet would be to search ebay for the correct glasses. Always remember foresight sure beats lost sight!

 

[stephenmadpotato]

You'll need goggles rated for 660nm, you could probably get by with a pair of goggles rated for ruby laser, and military spec green colored yag laser glasses should protect you from it. You'll have to test the glasses to see if they pass dangerous amounts of laser light. Your best bet would be to search ebay for the correct glasses. Always remember foresight sure beats lost sight!

Hell no!! Never EVER use ebay for buying protective items, there are assholes out there selling tinted red glasses claiming they "protect you" from red laser light. Even if they do block a partial amount of red light you still have IR light etc. Just dont take the chance in my opinion. Buy glasses from a brand name such as wickedlasers.com or Novalasers.com (nova is probably cheaper).

 

[Gazoo]

The red lasers do not put out any IR...in case you didn't know.