Red, White and Blue for July 4

The Declaration of Independence was completed, signed and ratified on July 4, 1776, separating the nascent American colonies – soon to be called the United States ­ – from England and giving them their own standing in the world. There are countless ways to honor this bold move by the Constitutional Congress and the 246^th anniversary of its ratification. Red and blue lasers, as symbols of support for the holiday, can be part of the fun. (You can make some cool designs, aiming them at a white sheet to add the white into ‘red, white and blue’.)

Why Choose a Pen with a Red Laser Beam

Pointers with a red laser beam are designed to be visible to the human eye. Red is one of the most popular colors of laser pointers precisely because of its excellent visibility during the day and at night. Our Senator Red Laser Pointer is tuned to 650 nm, a comfortable setting for the human eye and excellent for long-term output power stability. It is a popular choice in research labs and with professionals in many other industries who value it for its pinpoint accuracy over a long distance.

Why Choose a Blue Laser Pointer

Blue laser pointers are somewhat less popular than red or green but we think they deserve equal billing to their winter holiday-colored counterparts. Why? Like other laser pointer colors, blue can be made into compact and lightweight tools, it functions well even at high temperatures (up to 65°C/149°F) and, most importantly, are very bright to the human eye. Human eyes like the wavelength where blue is visible (450 nm) as it is close to the peak of a human eye’s sensitivity.  We like the Sotonic Blue Laser Pointer for its intense, sharp-edged blue laser beam and true-blue aqua color. The black case it comes in looks great, too.

Safety First

No matter how you choose to honor the independence of the United States from England, please do so safely.  All Alpec laser pointers have a laser light capacity below 5 mW, a level considered safe and comfortable for viewing with nothing more than your eyes. That said, safety always comes first. Here are a few tips to stay safe with lasers this July 4:

●  Never aim or shine a laser directly at anyone, including animals.

●  Do not aim a laser at any vehicle, aircraft, or shiny surface.

●  Do not buy laser pointers for children or allow children to use them. These products are not toys. Even an FDA-recommended IEC Class I Laser Product includes some risk.

●  Do not buy or use any laser that emits more than 5 mW power, or that does not have the power output printed on the labeling.

●  Immediately consult a health care professional if you experience eye sensitivity or “flashing” after using a laser.

Have a wonderful holiday and stay safe out there!