West Aus Filling Facilities

[dYsTrOyA]

I am a nooby to the sport, and am trying to weigh up the adv. and disadv. of air and CO2. I own several scuba tanks - about 4 or 5, and have heard very often that air is much less-wearing on the marker. However, I have also heard that CO2 is more attainable than air. We have a dive shop down the road that fills scuba tanks at a fair price. However, I am trying to work out the added cost of an air tank to CO2 (I believe the cost differences for the tanks are quite significant -correct?), plus the attachements and fittings cost of filling my own paintball air tanks from my scuba tanks. I have also never seen any place in Perth that will fill CO2 tanks, can any one help me find a location, as they are said to be everywhere.

On last question, overall, is air or CO2 work out to be more expensive to put into a tank - (once tank and fittinges etc. have been purchased.) I speak of getting the CO2 filled by a company, and myself filling an air tank.

Thanks for all your help guys, I'm sorry if these questions are really basic.

[I.R.Three]

By far, the comparison of air to co2 is greater in favor to air. The most expensive thing about getting set up is buying the scuba tanks, and by sounds of it, it aint a problem for you. Air is more consistant in markers when shooting paint, and in cold weather the air wont freeze up and turn your marker full auto so to speak. Also, alot of higher end tournament markers these day are made to run on air only.
Usually, here in S.A, scuba tank fills are $10, your tank has to be tested every 5 years because its not for breathable air and your marker tank tested every 3 years. Only thing that you will need to buy is a fill station which is about $100, and I think Action Paintball sell them. Very safe and easy to use.
Scuba Air fills are or should be available from any Scuba Dive shop that rents out bottles. CO2 is usually only available from from places like BOC etc.
Anyway, you answered most of your own questions but heres my 2cents worth.

AIR ALL THE WAY.

[Deadeye]

Deffenitly go with air...it has all the advantages over c02 and you even have a dive shop down the road anjd your own scuba bottles you cant go wrong.

[Rainman]

Air is better for the environment too :thumbsup:

[TheWizard]

I am a nooby to the sport, and am trying to weigh up the adv. and disadv. of air and CO2. I own several scuba tanks - about 4 or 5, and have heard very often that air is much less-wearing on the marker. However, I have also heard that CO2 is more attainable than air. We have a dive shop down the road that fills scuba tanks at a fair price. However, I am trying to work out the added cost of an air tank to CO2 (I believe the cost differences for the tanks are quite significant -correct?), plus the attachements and fittings cost of filling my own paintball air tanks from my scuba tanks. I have also never seen any place in Perth that will fill CO2 tanks, can any one help me find a location, as they are said to be everywhere.

On last question, overall, is air or CO2 work out to be more expensive to put into a tank - (once tank and fittinges etc. have been purchased.) I speak of getting the CO2 filled by a company, and myself filling an air tank.

Thanks for all your help guys, I'm sorry if these questions are really basic.
Air is heaps better I use two dive tanks and I only go through half a tank in one tourney .. ;)

[dYsTrOyA]

awesome guys

Thanks for the help, appreciate the time you guys take to help a nooby like me out.

Jeeze, who would have thought my Scuba Tanks would be useful for paintball! :p

Cheers :)

[dYsTrOyA]

Stuff me, the air tanks on action paintball are like $350-$400!!! This is serious, I may have to look at getting CO2, that is way too much just for a bit better internal wear on my gun. Are there any other places that sell cheaper air tanks? - I am on a strict budget.

BTW, is BOC the only place in Perth you can fill a CO2 tank?

Also, can all guns work on air, or are there only certain models?

[Legs]

Legionaire?

Go to macdevs website.

[dYsTrOyA]

about the tanks from MacDev,

http://www.macdev.net/au/bottles.htm

Are they ready to screw on and go, or do you need to purchase a fitting like the LegionAir?

Also, what size tank would you reccomend? (Prbly the big one, more shots) Does the weight really differ?

[dYsTrOyA]

And in reference to my last post, can all guns work on air or are there only certain models?

[eukanuba]

If you want to run a high end marker, you're really limited to high pressure air.. i.e. intimidator, angel, cyborg, dm4 etc..

If you've got a ' low end ' marker - i.e. a spyder clone etc, you can get a screw in preset that will fit into the standard markers aswell as the co2..

You are right, you can't get co2 fills just anywhere - you're better off getting one of each, and when you don't want to - or can't run co2 ( i.e. on non training days ) switch to air... if u have a couple of cylinders.. you're all set !

There is no difference between co2 or air for powering your marker, they do basically the same job - provide pressure to throw the bolt and ball.. but if you want to get technical - you run air, you wont get the puff of co2 that is common - you'll get a more environmentally friendly marker - and it wont freeze up if you shoot lots of paint - or it's really cold..
( that's the main reason - the liquid co2 - that the higher end guns do not run co2, they can't handle the spikes from the liquid co2 as it boils to gas )

Oh, and another point - carrying a HPA cylinder is LIGHTER than a CO2 cylinder too because there is no need for carrying a liquid filled tank around the field..

[Deadeye]

dont even contemplate getting co2, save for a week or 2 and get a Air system..c02 craps itself in really cold conditions and I dont think it likes the heat either.

[Warpaint]

There are a couple of places you can get CO2 fills from, it depends on where you live in W.A. (basically from a field or field operator). Check with whoever you are buying your equipment from. If you are in the Northern suburbs, pm me and I'll point you in the right direction for local fills. Acquiring a fill station and renting a bulk fill CO2 tank is too much of a pain, and BOC is unlikely to fill your 20oz...

If you are intending to play tournament paintball, don't bother with CO2. A pre-set may set you back around $300, plus $140 for a scuba fill adapter, but you will be better off in the long run. You don't necessarily need the scuba fill adapter, if you join a team or hook up with other players for training/playing, someone else will probably already have one, or you can pool purchase. Make them pay for it if you already have the scuba tanks to supply the air ...

If you are buying a blowback marker, mag, cocker or other mechanical marker where you intend to use CO2, then you should be able to get fills when you go to a field to play.

[Warpaint]

p.s. it will probably work out to around $5 per fill - either your CO2 tank (20oz) , or your scuba tank.

[RobKAOS]

yep throw away the CO2 quick smart :whip:

MOST o-rings these days in MOST markers are designed for use with HP AIR and running CO2 with all its inherent temperature fluctuations will basically ruin them, CO2 went out with the dinosaurs and even new fields setting up rental gear are heading to preset HP AIR setups, Id say in about 5 years there will be hardley any CO2 around at all.

[dYsTrOyA]

A pre-set may set you back around $300

Let me get this straight, a pre-set is like a fitting that allows CO2 stock markers to run on air? If its just a fitting then why does it cost so much? (Does anyone have any pics to furthur my understanding?)
Also, what guns have it on them (is it just the Dye etc. upmarket guns, or do some others have it) Also, is there such thing as a gun that you can use a CO2 tank for one minute, then just screw in an Air tank and keep shootin without any changes in fittings?

[heavyduty1340]

A preset is a reg that is attatched to the air cylinder, CO2 doesnt have
preset regs
The MacDev Legionair is probably one of the cheapest and best set-ups
on the market at present $253.00 incl gst.Thats bloody cheap compared
with anything else on the market and the quality is A1
I just purchased one to put on an electro mech piranha that I play with
every now and then and it craps on the old 20oz CO2 set-up that I had on it
If you unscrew a CO2 set-up off youre marker you can screw an air system straight on without any mods but you will have to re chrony youre marker as the velocity will not stay the same

[Blue]

The MacDev Legionair is probably one of the cheapest and best set-ups
on the market at present $253.00 incl gst.

that was a December special think so price may be back up

[dYsTrOyA]

re chrony?

Quote: The MacDev Legionair is probably one of the cheapest and best set-ups
on the market at present $253.00 incl gst.

Does that include a tank? If not, your looking at $453 incl. a Macdev tank. Thats more than the marker itself! From what I hear the Air isnt even better perfromance, just works better under extreme conditions (of which I dont think I will come across,) the cost to fill is approx. the same and air is apparently slightly better on the internals. for only $53 you can buy a CO2 tank! Am I missing something?

Cheers

[heavyduty1340]

Yes that price includes a tank
Basically Ive been where you are at now
I started with a basic marker and 12oz CO2 as I was only going to play
occasionally then I bought a 20 oz bottle with an on/off set-up
This was fine for a while.Then while playing hard I started to stuff a few
o-rings from liquid CO2 entering the marker
Now Ive switched to air and life is sweet
Also during the process of playing with the set-up of this marker I used a
Cyborg a few times and geez I was hooked-if you havent used a marker of
this quality do yourself a favor and try to as you would probably love it as
well.
It really is worth the extra money if you can take youre time and save for one-- or start with a basic marker on air
A chrony (chronograph) measures the speed that the paintball leave the
marker at . Never exceed 300feet per second as it is unsafe to. Every
time you change something on youre marker you will have to re-chrony it
It is good practice to re-chrony before each game just to be safe

[JJJ]

pre-sets include tanks from Action or Mac Dev.

Air out-performs CO2 in consistency (velocity) & shot numbers (larger tanks) & the weight of air tanks are less than CO2 ones.

If you are going to play rec ball & the field you play at doesnt have air then buy a CO2 tank. If you going to play at a field with air then consider upgrading to air.

If you are going to play any form of comp go air.

[Hardcore]

What JJJ said.

If you think you're in it for the long haul, it is definately better to buy higher-end gear, especially if you think you'll compete.
If you're just after a marker to play social ball with, Co2 is fine.

[Blue]

The MacDev Legionair is probably one of the cheapest and best set-ups
on the market at present $253.00 incl gst.



Yes that price includes a tank

that is not the price guys instead of misinforming each other why not check their website where it clearly states the cheapest price for a 68/3000 tank and reg (ie the Legion Air) is $270 + gst ($297)
or call Muzza the WA Mac Dev rep

[heavyduty1340]

Blue
I purchased one last week from Muzza for $235.00 + gst
Price may have gone up in the new year but there still bloody cheap
so why try to be a smart ass??
You wont find cheaper anywhere even if they are now $270.00

[JJJ]

Let me get this straight, a pre-set is like a fitting that allows CO2 stock markers to run on air? If its just a fitting then why does it cost so much? (Does anyone have any pics to furthur my understanding?)
Also, what guns have it on them (is it just the Dye etc. upmarket guns, or do some others have it) Also, is there such thing as a gun that you can use a CO2 tank for one minute, then just screw in an Air tank and keep shootin without any changes in fittings?

Have you got enough information now to work with or do you need more?

Let me know because I will close the thread if you have enough before the WA guys turn this into a pie throwing contest again :thumbsup:

[dYsTrOyA]

If you unscrew a CO2 set-up off youre marker you can screw an air system straight on without any mods

By air system do you mean a tank and a preset regulator?

[Hardcore]

Yep.

[Doggy]

If you can get HPA fills then go for it. Where we are (out in the bush) there is no easy way to get HPA fills (and I'm not spending $5K on a compressor). So I'm limited to markers that can run on CO2 :cry: Well at least us bushies provide a market for 2nd hand markers.

C ya

Doggy

[dYsTrOyA]

yeh, if you look at some of my other posts, I have access to a dive facility. Cost is alot more for air though than co2 (in the form of bottles,regs etc.)

[Rainman]

But it is well worth it in the long run.If you buy CO2 now and get hooked down the track, you will need to update to air and that means you have spent double the money in the long run.As some have stated, save harder and wait a bit longer to get air, you won't regret it.