Cylinders are used to fill the markers with compressed gas. Most often they are made of aluminum, although Kevlar containers are considered lighter and more reliable. When filling cylinders, you should take into account its volume and observe safety rules.
To pump cylinders, 2 main options for compressed gas are used:
Recently, a company tried to introduce propane as a fueling system for markers. The result turned out to be quite surprising - more than 50,000 shots can be fired from one cylinder without refueling. However, propane was not received widespread, since it can only be used in special markers that have a low rate of fire.
To refuel game markers, they usually use cylinders-receivers, which are also called transport ones. They can be purchased from different characteristics volume and maximum pressure. It is not worth buying immediately cylinders designed for a maximum of 350 atmospheres, since problems with blowing may arise, especially in small towns.
The filling of the transport bottle is carried out using a compressor. Therefore, the main task is to find a place where the same compressor is. You can buy it, of course. However, such an acquisition may only become expedient if a paintball club is opened in a city with a population of at least 500 thousand inhabitants. Otherwise, the compressor will take a long time to pay off.
So, the main places for refueling cylinders:
It should be noted that having just one refueling point is imprudent as compressors often break down and having one gas supplier can lead to long downtime.
Gas stations are used to pump compressed gas from cylinders-receivers into play stations. Their main disadvantage is that they often break down and even those models that are made of expensive materials by the most reliable manufacturers. Therefore, you should always have a set of spare rubber bands ready. It is impossible to use plumbing parts during repairs - only those that are designed to work with high pressure... To prevent breakdowns, the station must be periodically lubricated with VD-40 liquid.
A fun game like paintball requires constant refueling of the cylinders - the main source of energy for the marker. It is the strength of the gas (compressed air) with which the paintball cylinder is filled that determines how fast the ball will fly out of the barrel. Have you ever wondered how paintball cylinders are refueled? Perhaps you have never asked such a question in your life, and perhaps you, in fact, do not need this information, however, if you are on this page, it is probably not just an amateur interest that brought you here.
Especially for those who think, then once seeing how they refuel paintball cylinders with gas is quite enough to do such a manipulation yourself - you are mistaken. You may have understood the basic principle of how to refuel a paintball cylinder, but without certain knowledge (and practice as well), it is not recommended to do this.
We will not bore you with the details that are made of high strength composite materials or aluminum; that there are both disposable and reusable cylinders, that the last paintball tanks are larger in size, and one refueling of them can be enough for several hundred shots. Let's focus on the main thing. So that with each subsequent refueling of a paintball cylinder, there are no questions about how to refuel a paintball cylinder according to elementary safety rules, remember a short guide to action that will help you do such manipulations on your own or will give you the opportunity to monitor the work of a specialist who does this professionally.
As a rule, the refueling process lasts no more than 2-3 minutes. You can check how much the cylinder is filled by the readings of the pressure gauge on it.
And finally - take good care of your paintball tanks. Do not hesitate if you notice deformation of the seals on the cylinders, ruptures or deterioration - change them immediately to avoid unpleasant and possibly even dangerous situations. As with any weapon, in a paintball marker, all the components and mechanisms must work harmoniously and clearly.
Paintball is one of the most active types of recreation. And the more actively you play, the faster the pressure level in your tank drops. Without the proper level, the ball will not be able to reach its target. You will pull the trigger, but you will not get the expected result. To avoid this on the "battlefield", it is worth checking the level of the gas mixture during breaks.
Coming to playground, the first thing that catches your eye is a tank-receiver. From this container, paintball guns are refueled. In practice, two types of gas mixture are used: carbon dioxide and air itself. Other mixtures are impractical to use for paintball, because they do not have the desired qualities. It is also important to take into account that filling a cylinder with air or nitrogen will have completely different costs.
Most often, you can find ordinary atmospheric air filled in cylinders. The ideal oxygen to nitrogen ratio gives excellent shooting performance with a paintball marker. The air is pre-compressed. This can be done in gas stations where there is a high pressure compressor. That is, it is clear that in domestic conditions, it will not be possible to "charge" the cylinder. Depending on the compression of the air, the pressure in the cylinder is different: 3000 psi or 4500 psi. If we translate these values into atmospheres, it turns out that a pressure of 3000 psi corresponds to 204 atmospheres. In a paintball gun, you can always see the level of gas pressure in an aluminum cylinder on the pressure gauge. The marking of the pressure gauge bears the inscription x1000 and an arrow with numbers, from 0 to 5. Multiplying the figure by a thousand, you get the value in psi.
Usually, when playing paintball, the cylinders are filled only by the club employees, observing safety precautions, and also referring to the fact that the player should rest and have fun. However, if you decide to fill your own cylinder, it is better to study some aspects of this process in more detail in order to organize full air cylinders for yourself and your friends with the air of a connoisseur!
You will need to go to a filling station that includes cylinders-receivers. It is necessary to create an airtight connection between the game cylinder and the liquefied air cylinder. This is done using a not at all cumbersome conductor, which is initially attached to the cylinder-receiver valve. In addition to the conductor, the gas station contains other elements.
On the other side of the liquefied air cylinder is the foster. Foster is the second guide. The pressure in the tank-receiver is very high, and if the air comes out with a poorly secured nipple on the cylinder of a gun with a foster, then the cylinder can literally snatch it out of your hands. Nobody needs extra trauma, especially during rest. To do this technical procedure correctly, you will need to slide the top of the foster towards the refueling bottle. By doing this, you will expose the bearings, with the help of which the filling nipple of the play cylinder will be well fixed.
The next step is to return the previous part of the foster to its original position. This action will ensure a firm grip between the nipple and the cylinder. Everything must be tight and tight. This paragraph concludes preparatory stage refueling the cylinder.
All the conditions have been met to let the compressed air from the receiver cylinder through the nipple. Just one movement, and you will hear a slight hiss, which will indicate the transition of air to the small cylinder due to the pressure difference. The pressure will gradually equalize until the playing cylinder is filled with air to the full. The valve of the receiver is responsible for this movement. On average, 3000psi is enough for normal play. Therefore, manual control of the cylinder filling is required. If you fill it with air to the level of the maximum mark, then you can get some discomfort from the game - the balls will fly a little not where you are aiming. Also, do not forget that the balloon can be damaged if the air is over-pumped. In the event of such damage, material damage will be caused not only by the game cylinder, but also by the regulator of the cylinder-receiver.
Having looked at the arrow of the pressure gauge to the figure determined by the technical passport of the cylinder, it is necessary to begin to reduce the air supply. Then you need to manipulate the filling nipple of the cylinder, disconnecting it from the foster of the receiving cylinder. The last point cannot be completed immediately.
There is no rush here. There is still equal pressure between the game tank and the station, in other words, there is pressurized air in the system. This will prevent you from simply picking up and disconnecting the cylinder. It is necessary to bleed the air by finding a lever or button (depending on the receiver cylinder), which is responsible for releasing air from the intermediate part of the system. By pressing the button / lowering the lever, you will hear how excess air comes out into environment this usually happens from the back of the gas station. Only after this point can the foster be moved to its original position and the filler nipple removed. The cylinder is filled and ready for new game paintball.
Novice players often ask us the same questions. Therefore, we decided to release a series of videos for beginners in paintball with answers to the most popular questions. We also recommend subscribing to our channel, where there are many useful videos (SUBSCRIBE).
Paintball Videos for Beginners Part 1
Paintball Videos For Beginners Part 2
An abbreviated text version of the answers is also provided below.
1. Will the accuracy increase if I put an even longer barrel?
No, it won't rise, barrel length NO WAY does not affect accuracy. More information on technical specifications paintball barrels can be read in this.
2. Is there a difference between a rifled barrel and a smooth barrel?
Some manufacturers make longitudinal or spiral rifled barrels. The main idea in the manufacture of such barrels is to reduce the contact of the ball with the walls of the barrel. When using such barrels, the air consumption increases. And there is a difficulty in manufacturing, since it is rather difficult to make the rifling on the barrel correctly (of the same depth throughout the barrel). In the production of spiral-cut barrels, the goal is to slightly twist the ball, but there is little point in doing this.
3. Are expansion joints and silencers effective?
No. Basically, they just add entourage.
4. What is the difference between air and CO2?
CO2 is stored in liquid form and has a lower pressure but a higher coefficient of expansion than air. In this regard, the main problem when using CO2 is its instability and increased sensitivity to weather conditions... The second problem is that because of the causticity of the gas, the gaskets and other elastic parts of the marker deteriorate much faster. Also, most electronic markers DO NOT WORK with CO2.
5. If you screw a high pressure cylinder to the marker, will the marker continue to shoot?
The winter ball has thicker walls due to the fact that it becomes more fragile in the cold. A summer orb in winter will most likely just shatter when fired.
9. Can I play paintball with an airsoft mask and vice versa?
The airsoft mask is designed specifically for airsoft, where the muzzle energy is of the order of 1-3 joules. In paintball, it is about 12.5 joules. There is a high probability that the ball will damage the airsoft mask. You can play airsoft.
10. How often should the marker be taken apart?
Ideally, lubricate and clean after each game. In fact, at least once every 3-4 games, if the marker does not prick.
11. Does the marker not shoot or does it shoot poorly?
Change the battery first if it's an electronic marker. Then check if the marker is clean, remove and lubricate the bolt group. Check the condition of the main gaskets.
12. The marker is poisoning, what could be the problem?
In order to find out what the problem is, you first need to determine where exactly your marker is poisoning from. Based on this, it is already possible to understand which assembly or gasket needs to be replaced. If you yourself cannot figure out what exactly needs to be replaced, then you must at least determine the place from where the marker is poisoning. It will be easier for a technician to help you.
13. What batteries should I use for my marker?
Duracell, Energizer, Paintball Energy.
14. What is the difference between a budget marker and an expensive marker?
The price of a marker depends on the accuracy and efficiency of all its mechanisms, material consumption and manufacturability. Roughly speaking, an expensive marker shoots an order of magnitude better.
15. What sight / bipod / rail / forend should I buy for?
Any upgrade is installed by a person according to his PERSONAL preferences and vision of the game. Just think about what you need and whether you need it at all.
16. What is the difference between a tactical marker and a sport marker?
Appearance, firing modes, the ability to install additional equipment(lights, headlights, optics).
17. Can the WD-40 be used to maintain a marker?
The marker uses a fairly high pressure. A flammable liquid plus high pressure equals an explosion. And the WD-40 gaskets kill very quickly. So only in the very last resort and at your own peril and risk.
18. Can the marker be washed with water?
Yes, but undesirable as water can cause corrosion. It is strictly not recommended to wash electronic markers with water.
19. Do all masks sweat?
Any thermal (double-layer) lens will sweat an order of magnitude less than a single-layer lens. Lens fogging is aggravated by constant exertion (profuse sweating), by drinking alcohol, or in cold or damp weather. Expensive masks are expensive because they have the best possible ventilation, which also allows the mask not to fog up for a long time.
Yes, but just be careful not to let water get between the two layers of the lens. Otherwise, the lens will be damaged.
21. Is it possible to fill a cylinder with an automobile compressor?
No, since the pressure that can fill an automobile compressor is 50 times lower than required.
22. Harness or Unloading?
In sports paintball, this question is not raised, because it is prohibited. If you carry on yourself, in addition to tubes, any other equipment, it will be advisable to purchase due to the huge number of pockets, pouches. If you do not burden yourself with carrying special stages, then your choice can be stopped at harness.
Paintball enough active view sports where Consumables(balloons, air or gas) constantly require replenishment. If it is required to fill the feeder with balls after each game, and in sports, and several times in one round, then the cylinder is filled with air much less often. The rate of gas or air consumption directly depends on the intensity of the fire.
Today, in the clubs of our city, cylinders are filled with compressed air or carbon dioxide. If other variants of gases are used, then only for the sake of experiment, without participation in public events.
In order to fill the cylinders with air, we need a receiver (station). Refueling should only be carried out by specialists who know the theory of refueling. It would seem, what can be difficult or dangerous? But difficulties and danger also exist here, especially for those who do not understand the readings on the pressure gauge.
Pressure gauge markings are psi. In the center is the number 1000, and in front of it is the multiplication symbol. This means that if the arrow points to the number 3, then this is not 3 atmospheres, but 200 (3000psi), which is a high pressure in the cylinder. In our club, they refuel until the moment when the gauge needle points to 2.5 (2,500psi). This is enough to participate in 2 - 3 games.
Every gas station has a foster, which is needed to clamp the refueling nipple. It is imperative to fasten the nipple and check its reliability. To do this, you need to remove the foster bracket, thereby freeing the bearings and starting the cylinder nipple. After that, return the foster bracket to its original position, which in turn will fix the bearings, and they will clamp the nipple.
Station on an air cylinder, the nipple is well fixed in the foster, now you can refuel an empty paintball marker. Having opened the valve of the air cylinder, you will hear a hissing sound, this is moving air from one vessel to another, under the influence of pressure. Pay close attention to the pressure gauge needle and do not be distracted if you raise the allowable rate, you can damage both the marker cylinder and the regulator.
After the required value on the pressure gauge is reached, it is required to stop the air supply and disconnect the cylinder. If there are no problems with the first item, then there is one nuance with the second. Despite the fact that the air was blocked, there are residues in the gas station. While it is there, it is not possible to pull off the foster bracket and remove the nipple. But it doesn’t matter, a special hole with a bleed valve was invented to remove the residues. The valve is opened by pressing a button or a lever, depending on the station model. After everything has been vented, you can easily and calmly move the foster bracket and disconnect the nipple. This completes the refueling of paintball cylinders, and you can safely join the game.
Carbon dioxide in paintball clubs is used much less frequently than air, and there are objective reasons for this. It makes no sense to list everything, you can name a few of them, these are the requirements for the storage, operation and transportation of carbon dioxide cylinders. Although carbon dioxide has a good advantage over air, it is consumed less per shot.
Summarizing everything written above, it turns out that in order to refuel cylinders, you need a gas station and some knowledge of refueling and safety techniques. You can't do without it.
