Well hello there fellow humans.
In May, I ordered a Sanwu Red Guardian: my first real laser, and I want to talk about my experience. There was also a deal where I got a free (200mw?) red laser pointer. This might be useful to you if you're ordering from Sanwu for the first time.
When I got the laser in the mail, it was very well packaged; consumed by a spherical mass of bubble wrap. There was so much bubble wrap I probably could have thrown it at a wall without damaging the laser. This is good because the copper host is soft and delicate.
I made a regrettable novice mistake when I used the laser for the first time. Back in May (this has since been corrected), the page for the Red Guardian on Sanwu's website claimed that it had reverse polarity protection, but this is not true. Having not dealt with lasers before, I wasn't sure which way to insert my 18350 battery. So, I relied on this claim, thinking that if I inserted it the wrong way it just wouldn't turn on and it would be no problem. Big mistake. I must have inserted the battery with the negative side to the diode, because as soon as I turned on the laser, it started smoking. Some of you lads might remember my post about this. The correct way to insert a battery into a laser with negative casing is with the positive end towards the diode. Please do not make the same mistake I did.
The driver was fried and the diode produced a very weak beam. I contacted Sanwu. Their customer service is fantastic, and so is their English. They suggested I send the laser back to them so they could fix it. But this spooked me because I knew the laser would have to go through Chinese customs. I was also concerned it would get lost, so I wanted to insure it. However, Sanwu suggested I send it with a low declare value so that it doesn't attract the attention of customs. I decided to take the risk and send the laser through the International Tracked and Signed service. As far as I am aware, this service only insures up to the value of your item as specified on the customs declaration, so this was indeed very risky.
I was particularly anxious, but Sanwu was able to confirm that they had received it 16 days later. That was a painful 16 days. Nevertheless, they were able to fix it and send it back to me with a tracking number. Professional. I also requested that they correct the information on their Red Guardian page, which they did. However, when I received the Red Guardian, I noticed that the threads in the copper where the tailcap goes had been slightly damaged. The tailcap still screws on but needs a lot of wiggling to make it horizontal. I'm going to be very careful with screwing the tailcap in the future.
So I have the Red Guardian now. A review is coming! Don't you worry guys.
As for the red laser pointer, Sanwu's website says it takes a 18650 battery, which I thought was strange considering its low power output. When I received the laser, I realised that it's a different model to the one on their website, but I had already bought the battery. It arrived with a big scratch down the host. It has the text "Laser Pointer JD-850". Turns out it takes a 16340 battery: Sanwu told me this in an email. That's £8 plus postage down the drain. It could have been more clear exactly which laser pointer I was going to receive.
I won't properly review the red laser pointer but I will inform you that it's pretty okay but lacks an adjustable focus. The metal construction feels very cheap, and I would have preferred if the button was on the side rather than the bottom. The laser dot is always very bright but the beam is only slightly visible, even at night.
So the moral of the story is: nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody's gonna die.
In May, I ordered a Sanwu Red Guardian: my first real laser, and I want to talk about my experience. There was also a deal where I got a free (200mw?) red laser pointer. This might be useful to you if you're ordering from Sanwu for the first time.
When I got the laser in the mail, it was very well packaged; consumed by a spherical mass of bubble wrap. There was so much bubble wrap I probably could have thrown it at a wall without damaging the laser. This is good because the copper host is soft and delicate.
I made a regrettable novice mistake when I used the laser for the first time. Back in May (this has since been corrected), the page for the Red Guardian on Sanwu's website claimed that it had reverse polarity protection, but this is not true. Having not dealt with lasers before, I wasn't sure which way to insert my 18350 battery. So, I relied on this claim, thinking that if I inserted it the wrong way it just wouldn't turn on and it would be no problem. Big mistake. I must have inserted the battery with the negative side to the diode, because as soon as I turned on the laser, it started smoking. Some of you lads might remember my post about this. The correct way to insert a battery into a laser with negative casing is with the positive end towards the diode. Please do not make the same mistake I did.
The driver was fried and the diode produced a very weak beam. I contacted Sanwu. Their customer service is fantastic, and so is their English. They suggested I send the laser back to them so they could fix it. But this spooked me because I knew the laser would have to go through Chinese customs. I was also concerned it would get lost, so I wanted to insure it. However, Sanwu suggested I send it with a low declare value so that it doesn't attract the attention of customs. I decided to take the risk and send the laser through the International Tracked and Signed service. As far as I am aware, this service only insures up to the value of your item as specified on the customs declaration, so this was indeed very risky.
I was particularly anxious, but Sanwu was able to confirm that they had received it 16 days later. That was a painful 16 days. Nevertheless, they were able to fix it and send it back to me with a tracking number. Professional. I also requested that they correct the information on their Red Guardian page, which they did. However, when I received the Red Guardian, I noticed that the threads in the copper where the tailcap goes had been slightly damaged. The tailcap still screws on but needs a lot of wiggling to make it horizontal. I'm going to be very careful with screwing the tailcap in the future.
So I have the Red Guardian now. A review is coming! Don't you worry guys.
As for the red laser pointer, Sanwu's website says it takes a 18650 battery, which I thought was strange considering its low power output. When I received the laser, I realised that it's a different model to the one on their website, but I had already bought the battery. It arrived with a big scratch down the host. It has the text "Laser Pointer JD-850". Turns out it takes a 16340 battery: Sanwu told me this in an email. That's £8 plus postage down the drain. It could have been more clear exactly which laser pointer I was going to receive.
I won't properly review the red laser pointer but I will inform you that it's pretty okay but lacks an adjustable focus. The metal construction feels very cheap, and I would have preferred if the button was on the side rather than the bottom. The laser dot is always very bright but the beam is only slightly visible, even at night.
So the moral of the story is: nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody's gonna die.