Laser Tattoo

Step 6 Safety!

I have a failed space invader attempt on my left arm.

I stoopidly forgot that the laser beam was completely exposed on the left side before it hit the final mirror.

Shortly after the space invader etch started, I noticed a lot of smoke. This smoke was not coming from the etch, but from the left side of the cutter, where the upper part of my left arm was resting. When I looked over, I saw that my shirt was smoldering.

I was so focused on keeping my forearm in place (as to not ruin the tattoo), I did not notice that the laser was no longer etching it, but rather cutting a gash into my upper left arm.


Needless to say, I only etched my right arm from that point on.

Comments

[twisted_clown_23]

my question is how permanent is this? i don't want to do it if it don't last like a regular tattoo

[bluestorm21]

you're melting the first(and possibly second) layers of skin with a laser diode which is about equal to a whole day out in a summer sun on 1 cm of your body, effectively creating scar tissue, and in effect creating a neoplasm, and destroying dna and tissue, and you think that this could not give you cancer?

even if not, a laser which if beamed in an eye 1/10th of a second would cause permanent blindness, and is designed to etch metal, and cut dense materials is hardly even close to be considered "safe".

just stand outside with a high power magnifying glass in the sun with a stencil of the tattoo, its the same concept, i do hope that you don't promote more of this, lest we end up with children getting their arms cut off trying to do the same with a saw, getting melanoma from this type of exposure, since you've already created a neoplasm in itself

[www.microbike.ie]

you contradict yourself and whole does not make much sense, i think that laser tattoo machines are the future of tattooing, magnifying glass big enough can melt through metals just using sun, also if the laser would be so dangerous, we would not be using surgical lasers to perform eye operation, scar removal, hair removal...etc just google cosmetic department is full of lasers for different uses ex. http://www.mediclase.com/ i think all depends on the settings of intensity. I think equally dangerous is making million perforations and bringing alien substance(ink) into your skin, been there done that so I would not bee that scared it is still safer than DIY jail tattoo

[bluestorm21]

yes, perhaps in the near future we will melt our skin off much like we fill our bodies with foreign objects which cause cancer for larger breast size, and zap away other medical ailments with lasers, but I would assume that a machine designed for cutting metal and wood is not anywhere near suitable or safe for that, as you've pointed out, they have medical lasers, these laser were developed and tested for over a year, on top of numerous clinical trials before they could be submitted for review, and then reviewed again by biotechs to ensure safety, and also efficiency, which in that case, perhaps a laser made for this purpose would be suitable. but based upon your grounds, i could say performing a lobotomy with a box cutter in my bed room would be the future of surgery, as my box cutters cut just like scalpels, it just doesn't make much sense, does it not? and if it does, then my apologies, by all means, you should follow these instructions and proceed, but as it's pointed out in step 6, this is hardly safe, and since its purpose is not to preform this task, and you are bypassing the safety features, it is most likely going to inflict (unwanted) harm.

i mean no offence

[www.microbike.ie]

you "facts" are based on speculations so you cannot be sure about what you saying this is just combination of general ideas and what you think personally that is right and what you read but until you or someone proves by testing that your claims are correct they are not. what is your ground in this that you act as a laser professional even if you understand lasers it does not make you qualified in the area of dermatology...

[bluestorm21]

My speculations are based on facts that biotech engineers, fda, and the board of medicine all research such procedures for years befoe they are used in practice, and the fact that the final product is something made for human use and this is not, nor would it be. I agree, I study Pathophysiology and histology and I'm not a dermatologist,however I know lasers, I know electricity and I do know the development that is done to create a product suitable for human application, and it doesn't take a scientist to point that fact out to you, if that's speculation, then I really don't follow

[everywhere]

it looks like fun. i want a think geek logo on my hand

[hintss]

whats wrong with the hacker logo?
HaD skull and crossbones?
picture of the laser cutter?
some random xkcd characters?

[everywhere]

i didnt know about those sites when i posted that a year ago but the HaD logo would be awsome

[hintss]

you should totally do a picture of a laser cutter

[Ikotoo]

I have heard be exposed to lasers for long periods of time can give you skin cancer.

[laci37]

I think if something gives out enough radiation to burn you it can damage the DNA too. It's like strong sun shine, it burns, it causes cancer but who cares?

[hintss]

but it burns away the DNA, so theres no DNA to be damaged :P

[blugyblug]

But everything causes cancer. Geez ive heard from someone that Meningicoccal vaccines cause cancer. I HATE EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES THIS BULL about cancer, just because its scary doesnt mean you can get everyone to not do something or buy something.

[ShadowAssassin]

AMEN! and who cares you gotta live your life anyway :D

[Ikotoo]

as do I hate people who think everything gives you cancer. Someone a few days ago told me that if you freeze a water bottle with water in the plastic releases chemicals. Well that it complete bullshit. but L.A.S.E.R. stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. so one could think.

[cheat]

It's true about the water bottle. There were even some i heard were recalled. Error in production caused chemicalls or made of chemicals something like that.

[blugyblug]

I know.. But Radiation doesnt mean it will give you cancer. There are lots of types of Radiation, most of them harmless but when someone says radiation you think of gamma radiation from nuclear bombs and stuff

[buckminsterfullerene]

Radiation is not just stuff that kills. light is a form of radiation, not just sunlight but all light, ex: light bulbs, candles, etc. All types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are forms of radiation, this includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma. Obviously, you don't get cancer from standing by a radio your whole life or by being in the presence of a lit light bulb, but you could be harmed by the other forms. luckily, the most common harmful form that we are exposed to often is UV from the sun, but we can easily protect ourselves from it. The only reason that the harmful forms of radiation are dangerous to us is that when they pass through our bodies, they break molecules apart in our cells, specifically our DNA, or reform them so that they cause abnormal effects on their function. Specifically with DNA, when it gets damaged by radiation, when the cell divides, it spreads the DNA mutation to the cells that it becomes, and those cells grow differently and sometimes rapidly and cause tumors resulting in cancer. Hope you liked my overview of radiation and cancer.

[DallasDeckard]

Lots of good info, good job buddy! Concise, intelligent and useful.

[blugyblug]

Erm, ok. Lol wow thats alot of info xD

[Ikotoo]

Yeah, I have not looked to much into the type of radiation give off by it, but good point.

[oblivtion1]

this can cause skin cancer due to lazer radiation. you should not do this.

[spark light]

kazeem is right. and still. skin cancer is caused not by the simple burning of skin, but when you get a melanoma, a side effect of a bad sunburn. the difference is that this kills your cells, where as cancer is the mutation of them. simply put, this is safe as far as cancer is concerned.

[robotguy4]

I don't think cancer is as worrysome as burn infections...

[Kazeem]

There's no such thing as 'lazer radiation' the types include Gamma rays, X-rays, Ultra-violet rays, Visible Light, Infra-red, Micro-waves and Radio waves. Only kinds of radiation that are more energetic than Ultra-violet can cause skin cancer.

[SenKat]

Incorrect - there IS laser Radiation, and it IS harmful. Before spouting off about things you know nothing about, you should do some research, "Kazeem". While you are looking it up, look up, "Ignoramus" and see if it applies, and then see what you can do to improve - should be self-enlightening.

[hintss]

and the laser is infrared

[osxtiger]

The chances and exposure are negligible, continue having fun people.

[fultron89]

I have heard that exposure to lasers for very short periods of time can remove appendages:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frX00n3gngU

[Kryptonite]

If you got a super strong laser (future?) then it's possible, but how do you make a laswer that strong only last about a metre? (light sabers, I laugh at you!)

[hintss]

go to unitednuclear, then go to their death ray parts category on their site

[Kryptonite]

Thanks!

[Ikotoo]

lulz!

[codongolev]

my grandma heard that sweetened iced tea is a liquor.

[cantth1nk0fnam3]

someone is a tv addict

[whodatman]

Uhh... instead of the pain, skin damage, possible permanency and not great contrast for visibility, why not rig up an inkjet printer to put artwork on your skin? Get tired of the design, wash it off. And you can do different colors too.

[kyle brinkerhoff]

hmmm...... this just screams cancer

[M4industries]

 Hehe

I dont recommend alcohol based products before the etch! Your entire hand could catch on fire!

[XkidXhavocX]

you may not reccomend, but he just doesnt remember.