Laser replacement

[Gerald Lawrence]

The laser in my Ron Brown Laser Guide has died and they do not sell the laser seperately. Any suggestion on a replacement?

 

[Bill Boehme]

They're still selling them on his web site. It looks like an ordinary laser pointer in the picture.
http://ronbrownsbest.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=10&product_id=36

 

[Joe Greiner]

Dollar Tree sells disposable lasers (battery not replaceable) for $1 each. You'll need to devise a means for latching the button. I use a spring clothespin.

https://www.dollartree.com/bulk/Laser-Pointer

There are several of them near Brandon MS

 

[john lucas]

I could not find the source I got my laser from. It's just a very small laser diode. You have to make your own switch and power supply but it is so much more solid than the cheap laser pointers. I ran the wires and switch down my support arm so it's easier to reach. I'll look some more and see if I can find the source.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

They're still selling them on his web site. It looks like an ordinary laser pointer in the picture.
http://ronbrownsbest.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=10&product_id=36

Dollar Tree sells disposable lasers (battery not replaceable) for $1 each. You'll need to devise a means for latching the button. I use a spring clothespin.

https://www.dollartree.com/bulk/Laser-Pointer

There are several of them near Brandon MS

Yes Bill he and several others including Tim Yoder sell the whole unit. I do not have the measurement for the pointer but it is small.

Joe I have one of the Dollar Tree units and the laser requires that the button be pressed to stay on .

Have looked at laser diodes and may go that way. Just cannot find a pen that fits the Ron Brown holder, or I could drill in out.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Are you saying that Ron Brown doesn't support their products with replacement parts?

It would be a lot lighter and less bouncing if you replaced the pen that is currently there with just the diode and focusing lens. If you can find one with an adjustable lens that will give you the sharpest point.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I have not tried Ron Brown directly but a club member has and they do not sell the laser separately. I have been looking at diodes just thought someone might have a better idea so no wires.

 

[john lucas]

Go to amazon.com. There must be a million laser pointers. Finding the sizes of the housing however might be challenging. If you get one with the on button on the side it's pretty easy to find something you can slip over the tube to turn it on. Buttons on the end are a pain to deal with. I built a rotating cam housing that fit on the top of a pointer and pushed the button down but the vibrations would make it rotate up and turn the laser off.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Temporary solution is use laser pointer from Dollar Tree. Made a collar with thumb screw to hold button on. Also ordered a laser doide as a possible more permanent solution. Thanks

 

[tdrice]

This is really late but the best solution I have ever seen for holding the button on a laser pen is a castration ring (or Band), Available at any farm supply store, a lifetime supply is bout $10. Just slide it over the end of the pen and over the button for on, back off the button for off. (Idea stolen from Lyle Jamison)

 

[Marc Sitkin]

I'm building a hollowing arm and just ordered these lasers from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SAEADNW/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They need a power supply to work. You might want to check them out.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Welcome to the AAW forum, Marc.

Those diodes look like they might be the same that is used on Advanced Lathe Tools (Steve Sinner) boring bar system. On my laser pointer the lens barrel can be turned to adjust the dot for optimum sharpness at the focus distance. My laser operates on a pair of penlight batteries (3v) and it's possible that the 5v laser might work with a lower voltage.

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

I think the laser I use is the same as Bill's,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/120921382860

 

[Marc Sitkin]

Welcome to the AAW forum, Marc.

Those diodes look like they might be the same that is used on Advanced Lathe Tools (Steve Sinner) boring bar system. On my laser pointer the lens barrel can be turned to adjust the dot for optimum sharpness at the focus distance. My laser operates on a pair of penlight batteries (3v) and it's possible that the 5v laser might work with a lower voltage.

Thanks Bill-

This site has a vast variety of lasers in a sortable list. Might help you find what you need. https://www.digikey.com/

My order came in today, and it looks like it will work out fine. I'll use a cell phone charger to power the laser, and forego the batteries for now.