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California Company Markets A $2,400 2W Laser Bong That You Need to Wear Protective Glasses To Use (vice.com)
Silicon Cali is now selling a massive device that uses a two-watt, 445 nanometer laser to light the bowl of a bong, according to an article shared by dmoberhaus:
This is about 400 times more powerful than the average laser pointer, which has an output of about five milliwatts. Silicon Cali even sells special glasses that are meant to protect your eyes while looking directly at the laser when you take a hit. "The laser is not that dangerous, it's not going to cut your finger off or anything crazy like that," Justin Zelaya, the founder of Silicon Cali, told me in an email. "It may sting a little bit if you get your hand in the way but kind of like a magnifying glass."
Zelaya told me that he worked with five other people to produce the bong and that their backgrounds range from "Bitcoin core developer to a mad scientist, like myself...." The glass, which is custom blown in California, is lined with color-changing LEDs. The entire thing is controlled by a phone app.
Each laser bong is being sold for $2,400 -- which as far as I can see is worth every damn penny.
The company only plans to sell 45 of these "limited edition" devices...
Zelaya told me that he worked with five other people to produce the bong and that their backgrounds range from "Bitcoin core developer to a mad scientist, like myself...." The glass, which is custom blown in California, is lined with color-changing LEDs. The entire thing is controlled by a phone app.
Each laser bong is being sold for $2,400 -- which as far as I can see is worth every damn penny.
The company only plans to sell 45 of these "limited edition" devices...
What could possibly go wrong?
All it really needs is a sticker saying "Do not look at laser with remaining eye"
A friend and myself have been making anywhere from 200mA - 1.6A lasers, and indeed smoking weed with them for years.
At 2W, you do need the glasses. This is a Class 4 device. Even diffuse or indirect beam viewing can burn your eyes out before your blink reflex kicks in.
The glass of the bong could reflect things in ways that you don't predict. The smoke particles - a piece of leaf or ash at the wrong place at the wrong angle - would be enough to create a serious hazard.
Worse yet, it's green. Basically the optimal (pessimal) wavelength to maximize absorption by your (disporportionately red-reflecting green-absorbing) retina.
At 2W, you do need the glasses. This is a Class 4 device. Even diffuse or indirect beam viewing can burn your eyes out before your blink reflex kicks in.
I was nailed in the eye by a laser once, a few watts. It was being bounced around as someone adjusted one of the mirrors. Doctor said it was pretty miraculous that it only hit the white of one of my eyes, and I was lucky I wasn't blinded.
Worse yet, it's green. Basically the optimal (pessimal) wavelength to maximize absorption by your (disporportionately red-reflecting green-absorbing) retina.
When I read that sentence, it was very clear that you do know exactly what you are talking about.
Mods, get this post to +5 informative ASAP.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.