Flashlight to burning Laser Pointer?

Ever wonder how on earth you could create a powerful burning laser out of a maglight? Ok, maybe not... but this is still a cool hack.



Laser Flashlight Hack! - video powered by Metacafe

Kipkay extracts the laser from a DVD burner and mounts it in a small flashlight to create a handheld laser burner that can light matches and burst balloons. Hit the play button to see how he did it. This project isn't for the faint of heart: it involves pretty specialized components and soldering, but that'll all be worth it when you're camping with your pals and you start the fire by pointing your homemade handheld laser at the tinder. For more info, Kip posted the laser mod over at Instructables, too. WARNING: Your burning handheld laser could pose a safety risk to humans, especially when pointed at eyeballs. Watch your kids, proceed at your own risk, treat as you would a weapon, etc. Thank you.