Laser pointer for hollow-form system

[Robert Marshall]

My hollow-form system uses a laser pointer held by a frame that is linked to the cutter handle. This enables you to align it with the tip of the cutter (or out in front of it), and know about where it is cutting when it is out-of-sight inside the hollow vessel.

The original laser is failing (intermittently bright, dim, off), and this is with new batteries. I don't know the history of this laser, because I acquired the hollow-form system in an estate sale (former club member passed away, widow is selling off shop equipment). But I expect it has had several years use, doing some high-vibration work, and has gotten shaken nearly to death. Gotta replace it.

Has anyone used one of the laser pointers available, for example, from Amazon, for this purpose? They are essentially the same form factor (metal tube that contains the 2 AAA batteries, electrical contacts, the laser itself, and a switch). I think the cheapo laser pointer will fit the holder that now holds the old, failing laser pointer. Cost is about 1/6 of what the hollow-form system's website charges for a replacement laser pointer.

Has anyone tried this?

[John Keeton]

It may not be the laser. Check this thread - https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?201626-Monster-Laser-quot-Retrofit-quot

And this one - https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?187873-Monster-laser-replacement

And this one - https://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?249820-Monster-laser-replacement

And there is one where I hard wired mine with a transformer from a charging unit - can’t locate the thread right now on my phone.

[Chris A Lawrence]

Now might be the time to look at upgrading it to a camera system. I changed from a laser pointer to a micro usb endoscope camera that plugs into my tablet. They are about the diameter of a pen. I just stick a piece of transparency paper on top of my screen and trace out the cutter and wall thickness measurements. When the cutter is in the hollow form i see the entire shape of the cutter on the screen and my wall thickness marks. Makes hollowing so much easier.

[Dwight Rutherford]

I changed to a camera set up after 10 years with a laser. So much better!

[Robert Hayward]

Here is the replacement I bought for my Monster hollowing setup. Was a drop in fit, wish I would have bought a spare or two as my link says they are currently unavailable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ARAVIMC/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Grant Wilkinson]

I now use a camera system, too, but to answer your question, when I used a laser, I used the type you are referring to that use a couple of small batteries and look like a pen. They worked well.

[Robert Marshall]

Thanks to everyone who contributed their ideas.

I think I'm going to try the cheapo laser pointers, while pondering the camera option as well. Has anyone used an Android smartphone as the monitor for a camera setup? Or is the screen too small?

[Peter Blair]

I started with a small screen like a back-up camera size but found it too small. I too would recommend the switch to a camera. I found an old monitor at our Thrift shop for a few $$$. If possible test the screen with a magnet. Why? Well I use a couple of powerful rare earth magnets to hold the transparent piece to the front of the monitor. This way I am able to reposition the cutter by moving the transparent piece rather than re tape every time I change cutters.

[Grant Wilkinson]

For me, a smartphone screen would be too small. I bought a used 10" android tablet and it works very well.

[William C Rogers]

Well I would like to have a larger screen, but don't know how to make the connection between the camera and screen. My camera has RCA plugs on the end.

[Peter Blair]

My monitor is an older one and has the RCA plugs so I didn't have any issues.

[Grant Wilkinson]

@William Rogers: What are you using for a screen now? I would bet that, if you have more than one RCA plug coming from your camera, only one (usually yellow) is for video. The other(s), maybe red and white, are for audio. If you want to use a screen with USB input, you can find an adapter to go from the RCA to USB. They are usually quite inexpensive. There are boxes that will take an RCA input and convert it to HDMI output, but all the ones that I have seen are very pricey.

[William C Rogers]

Grant, I'll start a different post regarding this.