A practical, easily constructed design for a laboratory hydrogen/deuterium halide chemical TEA laser is presented. Typical output energies in excess of 50 mJ/pulse broadband and 5 mJ/pulse on single lines are easily obtained. Isotopically specific oscillation on thev=1→0 band of single isotopes of H35Cl–H37Cl, D35Cl–D37Cl, H79Br–H81Br, and D79Br–D81Br is demonstrated. The ease of conversion from one laser species to the next and the flexible design provide a highly versatile device for laboratory problems in chemical and physical dynamics. Major advances in the development of laboratory HCl and HBr chemical TEA lasers are also reviewed.