Re: [Utah-astronomy] DesctructiveGear.com
GREAT! I'll come by Monday between 10 am and Noon if that's OK. Cash OK?, or do you need a receipt or check for a record? Wayne A. Sumner Math/Physics/Astronomy/Engineering Boy's Tennis Coach Northridge High School Davis School District (801) 402-8610
"Seth Jarvis" <SJarvis@slco.org> 06/15/08 1:30 PM >>> Wayne,
It's yours. I'll have it at work with me beginning Monday. Thanks! Seth -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com on behalf of Wayne Sumner Sent: Fri 6/13/2008 5:25 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] DesctructiveGear.com Seth, If it's still available, I'll buy it for $180, battery included. Please let me know quick. I have a star party coming up soon. Thanks, Wayne A. Sumner Math/Physics/Astronomy/Engineering Boy's Tennis Coach Northridge High School Davis School District (801) 402-8610
"Seth Jarvis" <SJarvis@slco.org> 06/13/08 1:22 PM >>> OK, I've completely lost my mind.
I just ordered the 100 mW version of the laser. That means my one-day-old-perfect-condition 75 mW (actually specs at 80) is up for sale for the $180 it cost me, but I'll throw in the $10 battery I put in it yesterday. Seth -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Seth Jarvis Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 1:11 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] DesctructiveGear.com Nope, this will be my first report to the group. My 75mW green laser from DestructiveGear.com arrived yesterday (Thursday), less than a week after I ordered it. Considering it came in an envelope with a Taiwanese postmark, that's pretty impressive. The laser seems to be very well made and came with a bench test report indicating that over its 20 second quality control test it had a mean output of a skosh over 80 mW. This little bugger is _bright_. If you want to do the electrical tape cutting and match lighting, this laser is just _barely_ able to do that. I'd say go for the 100 mW if you're dreaming of a death ray. As a night sky pointer, it's simply incredible. As I told Chuck off-line, a person with a P.A. system and one of these lasers could do a star & constellation ID session for a very large audience. I had my son stand over a hundred feet from my last night in city lighting conditions and the beam still looked like a bright pole of light going right to the star he was pointing at. I wish I'd bought the 100 mW laser, but this little bugger for $180 is still sweet - my favorite new toy. BTW, it uses fairly expensive 123 Lithium camera batteries. The best deal I've found for them is a box of 12 from surefire.com. Delivered they'll run you about $26 for the dozen, compared to about $8-$10 each if bought singly from the local supermarket. It's a blast! Seth Jarvis, Director Clark Planetarium -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 12:54 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] DesctructiveGear.com I got a tracking update that my 100mw has cleared Customs. Should be here in a few days. Seth has reported terrific incendiary news on his 75mw. (Did you report to the group while I was off-line?) _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
I just tried lighting a match with my laser, this time using a lens of 250mm focal length to focus the spot to a smaller size. While before, the match took about six to eight seconds to ignite, with a focused beam it takes 2 to 3 seconds. Smoke forms almost instantly. Dark match heads work best. White ones never ignite, I have to color them black with a Sharpie. Matches stored in the garage (camping gear) also never seem to ignite, perhaps from absorbing too much moisture from the air.
What you need to do is see how far away you can pop a balloon. Quoting Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com>:
I just tried lighting a match with my laser, this time using a lens of 250mm focal length to focus the spot to a smaller size.
While before, the match took about six to eight seconds to ignite, with a focused beam it takes 2 to 3 seconds. Smoke forms almost instantly.
Dark match heads work best. White ones never ignite, I have to color them black with a Sharpie. Matches stored in the garage (camping gear) also never seem to ignite, perhaps from absorbing too much moisture from the air. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
I can tell you right now that the distance will depend on the color of the balloon. But it won't do it from tens of meters, I'm thinking. I turn 50 in a few months. I'm sure someone will make sure I have lots of black balloons, lol. On Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 4:31 PM, <diveboss@xmission.com> wrote:
What you need to do is see how far away you can pop a balloon.
I had the laser out again last night. I am just amazed at the beam visibility. The fat, bright gibbous moon was no competition for the beam at all. Wayne, you're in for a treat!
participants (3)
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Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Wayne Sumner