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It -does- depend on the color of the balloon and the ambient temperature, but the cheapest would probably be what's generally known as a Ruby-crystal YAG LASER (yttrium aluminum garnet [fake ruby crystal]). Prepare to spend over $1000 for a used unit that is the size of a shoebox. They do not make laser 'pointers' that pop balloons. LASER pointers use LASER diodes which operate in the 5-50 milliwatt range, as opposed to the cheap YAG/Ruby-YAG at 500W, not to mention the LASERs actually used these days (Neodymium; Yttrium, Aluminum, Garnet) If you want a -real- LASER, buy a noble gas unit, like an Argon or Xenon ($20,000+).
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you can get one for $199.00. there are many videos out there, on utube, showing laser pointers popping balloons, and yes they certianly can because we bought one for this price and it pops them - really. you have to get one that is at lest 95 mw. infiniti is good.
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All you need is an old dvd burner. The lasers in even the oldest dvd burner are completely capable of bursting a balloon. I found one at a pawn shop for 10 bucks. You can also buy the laser online for 25 to 50 $ depending on where you order them from. Below are a few websites that have detailed instructions for making one: instructables, make magazine, life hacker, metacafe, youtube, and tons of others! Just do a Google search for "dvd laser balloon" and you wont have any trouble finding some answers. Good luck, have fun, & for Gods sake BE CAREFUL, don't go pointing it at anything living!
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