Survival Laser ?

[Gollnick]

If at first an idea does not seem absurd, then there is no hope for it.

Therefore, I think there's a lot of hope for this idea.

If you want to get a good idea, get a lot of ideas.

* Pauling is one of only two people who have ever won two Nobel Prizes and the only person who has won two Nobel Prizes in unrelated fields (Medicine and Peace)

 

[harkamus]

I'd just go for a fire piston myself.

 

[Thomas Linton]

* Pauling is one of only two people who have ever won two Nobel Prizes and the only person who has won two Nobel Prizes in unrelated fields (Medicine and Peace)

I'm not sure bringing up winning a Nobel proves much these days.

 

[nc527]

Forget it then I was just saying some day there may be the outside chance a laser will be the new way of starting a fire

Maybe it will a system where you crack a retaining wall shake up 2 chemicals and it heats up and sets fire I know chemicals like that exist already it's just a matter of developing a safe compact disposable container

Maybe it will be a system based around the nine volt and steel wool trick

or perhaps we will stay with a bic lighter..................

 

[paperairplane]

You want a high tech firestarter - get a Bernz O Matic trigger light propane torch. Under $25 at most hardware stores.

 

[Thomas Linton]

That is not true, at all.

True if sold as pointers, or so the feds think.

The FDA applies this reg to laser pointers. You could always try taking them to court to beat a criminal charge: 21 CFR 1040.10(f).

And there are state laws.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I'm not sure bringing up winning a Nobel proves much these days.

I completely agree.

 

[jackman2]

like someone above said its illegal to own anything above 5mw in the U.S.

with that said a 5mw GREEN laser would make quite a decent signal maker. anyone who has never had one a suggest you go on ebay and spend 5 bucks on one. they will blow your mind in comparison to red lasers

Haha. Ya signal a plane and get booked as a terrorist.

 

[harkamus]

Haha. Ya signal a plane and get booked as a terrorist.

Some kids got in trouble a few days ago when they shined a laser up in the sky causing two helicopter pilots to get injured. Was on the news the other day.

 

[jackman2]

It is no joke. Just carry a fire steel and some bics.

 

[proud2deviate]

300mW isn't going to go a long way towards starting a fire. Maybe if you had just the right tender, it would do it. I wouldn't count on it, though.

With that said, there are a couple of manufacturers producing powerful handheld lasers in waterproof hosts.

My most recent hobby build peaks at over 1.2 watts, and it'll set fire to stuff if you hold your mouth right, but I wouldn't want to count on it in a survival situation. Too much to go wrong. I imagine it would be useful for signaling, though. These new diodes are offering an obscene power to price ratio that was unheard of just months ago. I'm personally quite excited to see what the future will hold.

 

[Rugger]

There is a channel available on the Roku player that demonstrates a hack where you can make something on that order. I'm certain decent Google-Fu will find you one.

 

[dougo83]

like someone above said its illegal to own anything above 5mw in the U.S.

False. A friend has them for his astronomy Lab."

It it not a good idea. Say you have your tinder on the freshly rained earth. You turn on your burning laser, and the beam catches a drop of water on a leaf. The beam reflects the light back at you, searing your retinas and rendering you an incapable burden on society.

So...blind people are "incapable burden(s) on society?" I bet you are real treat at parties.

I'm not sure bringing up winning a Nobel proves much these days.

Except those were one by great minds who won the award when it had value.

RE:OP-I think it is a cool idea, but I wonder about the practicality. I have seen some of the videos of homemade lasers on YT and none of them seem like the best idea out there. With an increase in technology and a decrease in material cost, I think it would be workable.

 

[harkamus]

Just build your own death ray: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sc...ath-ray-can-melt-concrete-20110204-1afxk.html

...which can melt concrete and steel.

 

[Thomas Linton]

So...blind people are "incapable burden(s) on society?" I bet you are real treat at parties.
. . .

Being blinded would probably not increase your chances for survival, 'Course you can slice yourself open with your knife.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Just build your own death ray: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sc...ath-ray-can-melt-concrete-20110204-1afxk.html

...which can melt concrete and steel.

Way cool for sunny days, but it's a bit too large for my PSK. ^ ___ ^

There is this thing called a magnifying glass. Less cool but more practical.

 

[dougo83]

'Course you can slice yourself open with your knife.

I can do that just fine with nearly perfect vision. I just take exception to that poster calling the blind a burden on society.

 

[jimh0220]

Again, light saber! No burned eyes either (unless you stick it in an eye, then.....)

 

[GPB]

Speaking of lasers, what happened to this company? Did they get shut down?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749040&highlight=laser

 

[proud2deviate]

Speaking of lasers, what happened to this company? Did they get shut down?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749040&highlight=laser

No, Wicked is still going. They're based in China, I believe, so our .gov folks can't do much about them. However, they've gotten a lot of flak from hobbyists lately, due to slow shipping, deceptive marketing, and shoddy build quality. Buy the parts and assemble it yourself, and you'll almost certainly have it better, faster, and cheaper.