Hackszine.com: Maglite LASER burnination

Maglite LASER burnination

Desertfoxx sent us a tip to a classic KipKay howto video. It's pretty easy to swap out the diode in a laser pointer or similar laser housing with the diode from an old DVD burner. Put the whole deal into a mini Maglite and you've got yourself a nice little handheld fire starter, perfect for lighting matches or popping dark colored balloons from across the room. Like all lasers, it's also excellent for quickly blinding people, so watch where you point the thing.

If you haven't caught KipKay before, he's been doing some fun weekend project video podcasts for MAKE.

How To Make A Burning Laser Flashlight

Posted by Jason Striegel | Jul 9, 2008 09:44 PM
Electronics | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

Newest comments listed first.

Posted by: Math Campbell on July 10, 2008 at 2:43 AM

Safety Warning!!

Whilst it's noted in the summary there to "watch where you point the thing", it's not stated in the video, so in case someone is a) stupid, b) didn't read the summary and c) unlucky, I'll say it here too:
DON'T LOOK AT THE BEAM, OR THE DIODE ITSELF, EVER!!!

Also, be careful when pointing it around, since if you hit a mirror and you're unlucky, bye-bye vision.

In short, remember the old physicists caution: "DON'T LOOK AT THE LASER WITH YOUR ONE REMAINING EYE!"

Cool mod though. But be careful children; one millisecond of exposure, even through your closed eyelid, will be enough to blind you, permanently.

Posted by: Madam Curie on July 10, 2008 at 9:04 AM

DumbAss

This is about as dumb as it gets. Think of all the future bright geniuses that will end up blinded by their peers (also twits).

Imagine driving along the freeway when twits zap you 'accidentally', or when you're practicing touch & go's at the airport

Next, show me how to make a silencer for my .22 so I can eliminate a laser twit.

Posted by: dudelyduderson on July 28, 2008 at 1:31 AM

Tinted Pinto

Twits HA! That rules.