Most of you are probably old enough to remember when the red lasers first hit the market. Originally intended for use as a presentation tool, the laser soon became a prankster’s favorite toy. Painting red dots on unsuspecting bystanders, annoying theater-goers by adding your own red dotted story line, confusing the hell out of the cat… the possibilities were endless. But the joke got old pretty quick, the novelty wore off, and soon enough the red laser went the way of the dodo bird.
So here we are 15 years later, and to my delight, lasers are back. No longer used as a prankster’s tool they have returned for a much more noble cause, Eye Candy. Anyone who has ever been to a Ghostland Observatory show can testify to the amazing visual stimulation and immense entertainment that lasers are capable of providing. New, more powerful lasers can do much more than just produce a tiny dot. Modern lasers produce incredible streams of light sure to captivate most anyone who sees them.
These new lasers aren’t just for performers looking to put on an elaborate light show. The technology has become cheap enough for your average toy happy glow-junky to afford. The most common ones sold these days are green lasers ranging from 5 to 30 mW, though lasers capable of emitting well over 100mW can be found for purchase online (Note: I do not recommend the personal use of lasers over 30mW, as they can be dangerous if used improperly).
My favorite laser to play with is the 30mW green star pointer.
More than a standard laser pointer, this laser has 2 diffractive lenses sitting atop the pointer which split the beam into hundreds of tiny smaller beams. This creates of the effect of projecting hundreds of tiny dots (or stars), on any surface the laser is pointed at. The user can also rotate the top lens to change the alignment of all the dots, much like a kaleidoscope. It’s not easy to explain this effect with words, so check out this video, it’ll give you a much better idea of what I’m talking about.
As you can see from the video, you can also turn the star pointer into a standard laser pointer by simply removing the diffractive top. You now have a powerful 30mW laser whose beam is visible cutting through the night sky for up to 8 miles.
Another one of my favorite lasers is the handheld motorized laser pointer.
This laser has a single detractive lens which splits the beam, but also has an internal motor that moves the position of the laser using mirrors. This has the effect of creating an array of different shapes as the motor moves the laser through a set of pre-programmed patterns. Again, check out the video below to better see the effect produced by this laser.
Not to be a buzz kill, but I do want to finish by mentioning you should always use your lasers responsibly. Many of these lasers are quite powerful and can cause damage if exposed to the eye for a prolonged period of time. Also, please don’t shine a laser where it probably isn’t wanted, whether that is on a person, a stage, or a piece of art. Irresponsible use of lasers (such as shining them on stage at shows) has already caused them to get a bad rap in certain circles. Lets use them to add to everyone’s experience, not take away.
So there you have it, lasers are back, get involved. If you are interested in purchasing one, check out the links below for the best prices I’ve been able to find anywhere online. And stay tuned for some future DIY posts where I show some cool things you can create with your lasers.
