Bitlasers.com Review - 140mW 450nm Single-mode Blue laser - Chance "ChanceCoats123" Coats
Pricing and Selection - When I was first getting into the market for a laser, I knew it sure would be nice to find a store which sells lasers for Bitcoins. A quick search brought me to Bitlasers.com; a clearly setup website with lasers for almost any range of users. Since I was buying my first laser, I knew I didn’t want a very high powered model. I found myself drawn to the 50mW violet laser for less than $50 USD. After reading a bit about what else I would need, I added the CR123a batteries also sold on Bitlasers.com to my cart and was ready to checkout. The process is extremely simple. There are two ways to place an order, as a member, or a guest. I chose to create an account to streamline future purchases and the process took no more than a few minutes. I had placed my order and was given a Bitpay address to send my coins to. I sent the coins and quickly got a confirmation email for my order. With shipping to the US included, the grand total game to less than $70 USD, a more than fair price for what I had chosen.The waiting game began…
Communication - After talking with ‘Grix’, the owner of Bitlasers.com and forum member at Bitcointalk.org about my order, he helped to inform me about the various lasers he sold. I had a few questions about a battery charger as well and he quickly helped me to find a model which would work well with the batteries I purchased. Overall, he was a very polite person to talk to and I wouldn’t hesitate to do business with him a second time.
Product Quality - After reading the FAQ about shipping on the Bitlasers website, I was expecting a two to three week shipping time. After only a week and a half, however, I received a package from Norway… Who do I know from Norway? I quickly headed upstairs and practically ripped the packing open. The entire setup came nicely packed to ensure no damage occurred during the overseas shipping and the parts were all in great shape. The batteries came in a convenient container and the laser came in parts with very clear instructions. I followed the instructions to a ‘T’ and was ready to lase. I’ve done some machine work on a mill and lathe so seeing the nicely machined parts in the kit was a great start. The laser just felt nice in the hand. Everything about the laser was robust and the one that I received even has O-rings on each section to make the laser water proof. The focusing lens is easily change and doesn’t slip around accidentally. I was very pleased to see how nicely the unit turned out and it worked perfectly. For a first time user of a real laser, I was not disappointed in any way.
Extras - As you might have noticed by now, I mentioned ordering a 50mW violet laser, but my review is for a 140mW blue laser… I was contacted by Grix a few days after placing my order and was told that upon testing the 50mW violet diode, he had found it to be defective. Being a very upstanding seller, Grix offered multiple no-cost alternatives for me to choose from, all of which were more expensive than the laser that I had purchased. He could have easily asked me to wait and ordered a replacement diode, but instead he went out the way to please his customer. This is a sign of a truly reputable seller and is the primary reason why I will end up buying more lasers from Grix in the future.
Pictures!The un-assembled laser:
The finished product
The focusing lens:
A small, focused beam:
A larger, unfocused beam:
*Sorry about the poor quality pictures. These things produce a lot of light and can be hard to capture well.
**I also had a video of me burning a match, but Photobucket was not playing nicely.
