California Company Markets A $2,400 2W Laser Bong That You Need to Wear Protective Glasses To Use (vice.com) 110
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...
Pot, high powered laser.... (Score:5, Funny)
What could possibly go wrong?
All it really needs is a sticker saying "Do not look at laser with remaining eye"
Re:Pot, high powered laser.... (Score:4)
Indeed. I think "stoned people" belong on the list of people who should not be trusted to handle 2000 mW lasers.
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Re:Pot, high powered laser.... (Score:4)
Anything less than 2 MW is not worth the trouble.
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"Each laser bong is being sold for $2,400 -- which as far as I can see is worth every damn penny."
A Bic lighter costs a buck. There are lots of other ways to generate heat which don't cost $2400. A fool (Daniel Oberhaus, the author of that quote) and his money are soon parted. That's probably a good thing - stupidity should be painful.
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It does? I haven't gotten it in a proper prescription bottle, ever so far. Sometimes I'll put it in one because they seal so nicely, but weed comes in much flimsier containers with simple flip lids. They're not bad for keeping an air seal, but they're not as good as the "push down and turn" caps. I'm sure they're also much cheaper to make (being one piece), and use somewhat less plastic.
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I'm willing to bet a disproportionate number of buyers will be enginerd types, and that very little will go wrong with them that isn't the result of deliberate experimentation.
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Re:Pot, high powered laser.... (Score:4, Insightful)
It seems to me that the whole laser-to-bowl volume should be wrapped in the goggle material and/or something completely opaque, and that the laser should refuse to operate if it's not. That's just a basic industrial safety interlock, and this is pretty much an industrial bong. It's not hard to design a box that will happily leak air but not light. That pretty much describes every camera.
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What could possibly go wrong?
All it really needs is a sticker saying "Do not look at laser with remaining eye"
"Dave's eye's not here, man!"
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How far Slashdot has fallen. Pitiful.
OK, I'll say it:
My Eyes! The goggles do nothing!
testing (Score:4, Insightful)
Sounds like they tested their product -- a lot, and that their business plan involves giving prospective buyers a test drive.
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Sounds like they tested their product -- a lot, and that their business plan involves giving prospective buyers a test drive.
Sounds like April Fools day was in November this year.
I want a portable one. (Score:2)
Hopefully the technology evolves.
Been there done that (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I work at the LHC (Score:1)
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has it given you superpowers or let you see into the space beyond space, yet?
Re:Yes... (Score:2)
Ignorant non-pot smoker (Score:1)
California shaming? (Score:1)
Why do you have to point out it's a Californian company in the headline? States are usually not mentioned there for product announcements.
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I agree.
Like it was necessary to mention that something like that comes out of Cali.
That's like saying some ridiculous ruling about patent law came out of Texas. It simply goes without saying.
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My state can beat up your state!
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It pretty much speaks for itself. And people wonder why tech is so mediocre these days.
I gotta say it is way more useful than a flamethrower.
Re: If you can get this excited about a bong (Score:1)
An Apple II or a laser bong.
The progress we've made.
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What is a bong?
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It will cut the 5 fingers of your hand, be careful!
TFS says it won't do more than sting your fingers (like a magnifying glass.)
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It will cut the 5 fingers of your hand, be careful!
TFS says it won't do more than sting your fingers (like a magnifying glass.)
Wonder what it does to your pets. Although them having little protective eyeglasses would be cute.
worth every penny ? seriously (Score:4, Informative)
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What's crazy to me is that they use this expensive technology to just crudely burn weed. For less than $500 you can get a good vaporizer that's still expensive, but is less wasteful and healthier. It also allows everyone to share fresh greens... or so I've heard. Less mess and cleanup too.
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Still becomes a smelly dirty bong after first hit (Score:1)
Portable vaping for flower is better
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Bong cleaning is easy.
First, put in some table salt. A couple tablespoons will do.
Then put in about half as much 90% isopropanol in as you would water.
Cover all the holes, and shake the hell out of it. The salt will act as an abrasive to remove the tar, because it won't dissolve in alcohol. The 10% water in the solvent will make the salt a little slushy, but this is good.
Then rinse it out and let it dry, or put it back in service once you can no longer smell alcohol.
Stem cleaning should also be done with al
This is pretty dumb (Score:2)
Any mishap with those glasses, such as getting a bit silly and having them shift slightly on your face so that a specular reflection of laser light off of some dust particle in the air reaches your eye, and you are instantly blinded for life. Not a good idea while high.
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You should never need the glasses. The laser shoots down into the bowl. You'd have to get your head under the mouth piece and look up into the lighter. It's gimmick anyway. It's not going to make it any better to smoke than a traditional lighter or better yet, a mini vape.
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It's gimmick anyway. It's not going to make it any better to smoke than a traditional lighter or better yet, a mini vape.
Unless quantum-entangled weed gets you twice a high.
(For reference, it seems someone is claiming to have created/observed quantum entanglement in bacteria [evolving-science.com]. )
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Unless quantum-entangled weed gets you twice a high.
More like it will get you high and not high.
You won't know which until your cat tells you.
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You mean you won't know which unless your cat tells you. Because if the cat tells you anything at all, you're probably high.
Re:This is pretty dumb (Score:5, Informative)
At 2W, you do need the glasses. This is a Class 4 [wikipedia.org] 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.
Re:This is pretty dumb (Score:5, Insightful)
At 2W, you do need the glasses. This is a Class 4 [wikipedia.org] 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.
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Worse yet, it's green.
Actually it's blue, but the rest of your post is on point.
But since we're here we can talk about the colour clashing of a bong lighting up green while firing a blue laser. There's an old saying for those who aren't in high-fashion and thus unable to pull off this stunt: "Blue and Green should never be seen, especially not without a colour in between".
Re: This is pretty dumb (Score:2)
So the new updated meme should be: just smoke it--no need to look at it with remaining eye
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You should never need the glasses. The laser shoots down into the bowl. You'd have to get your head under the mouth piece and look up into the lighter. It's gimmick anyway. It's not going to make it any better to smoke than a traditional lighter or better yet, a mini vape.
Looking at TFA, there are plenty of reflective surfaces to send the light into places it can do damage. So perhaps you can try getting baked with this device sans eyewear, then report back to us on how safe it is.
Using one of those Braille keyboards.
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Reflection. Some idiot holding a piece of metal in the laser-path. It will happen. The glasses are fore show, though, they are just to avoid the lawsuits from the idiot blinding himself.
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Indeed. In sane countries you cannot even get more than 5mW without being a certified laser-safety expert. That laser is like a chainsaw without any safety.
Life almost stranger than fiction (Score:2)
Rick and Morty (Score:1)
Laser Hookah [wikia.com]
It all makes sense now. Figures it would be Rick and Morty fans that created a real-life version of a method to smoke pot that is impractical, unsafe, and extremely overpriced. Real stoners would never bother with something this daft.
If it ain't broke.. (Score:1)
Do. Not. Fix. It.
Bongs don't need lasers.
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That's why I have a bong made from a plastic "yard glass" used at frat parties. If anyone drops my bong and it actually breaks (more likely, the weed that jumps out of the bowl will be worth more than any damage), they can just get me another $3 yard glass to punch two holes in. The metal stem isn't going to break.
For the 80â(TM)s fan (Score:1)
Perfect for that 80â(TM)s fan watching Kung Fury on VHS and smoking his Laser Bong.
Seriously? (Score:2)
"The laser is not that dangerous, it's not going to cut your finger off or anything crazy like that"
It takes something like 15 J per square centimeter or so to cause third-degree burns. How thin is the 2 W beam?
No, That's Stupid (Score:2)
Stoners did something stupid? (Score:2)
You're telling me stoned people did something stupid? Now way!
(Former stoner here. My income has increased 500% since I stopped getting stoned.)
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Funny, it's the reverse for me. The smoking went way down after my income fell off. The smoking was half the reason I was able to stay sane long enough to keep that job as long as I did.
Guardians of the Galaxy (Score:2)
Come now, stoners; a 2W laser at any wavelength is not Amateur Night shit for casuals -- let alone stoned casuals -- to be fooling with. There will be a lawsuit.
Ob (Score:4, Funny)
FTFY
Anyone else surprised it isn't Musk selling these?
well sure (Score:2)
Up Sell! (Score:2)
it's not going to cut your finger off or anything crazy like that...
You need the $5000 deluxe model for that.
The trial lawyers' trifecta (Score:2)
Bongs, power lasers, California!
Why not make a laser vape instead? (Score:2)
A fool and his money (Score:2)
any benefits? (Score:2)
Ok, so it does "something" with lasers. Does it work like some vapourizers that use infrared as well as other non combusting techniques? or is it a $2400 lighter.
This is a poorly written writeup and i would definitely wait for a proper review before passing judgment. A pure "smoking" experience is the holy grail of the vapourizer market, so if you can do it more pure like with lasers, that that would be interesting to know!
With legality comes a brave new world of science!
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It is a $2400 lighter, that is pretty dangerous compared to a normal lighter in addition. A product for idiots with money.
Next Up... CERN (Score:1)
What about science? (Score:2)