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Marker maintenance
A well-maintained paintball marker will last longer and be more reliable. A paintball marker should be disassembled and checked for problems routinely. For example, it is not uncommon for O-rings to break, or for paintballs to break inside the barrel. The latter problem can be solved temporarily when the player is \"in the field\" by using a pipe-cleaner-like tool referred to as a squeegee. However, it is important to disassemble the marker after the game and properly clean out any affected parts with the marker company\'s recommended material/solvent (such as a special cloth, or lubricant) and a paper towel. After cleaning, the marker should be lubricated with commercially available paintball lubricant. Firearm oils or lubes should not be used near internal seals or O-rings, as these are petroleum-based and will dissolve the rubber or silicone fittings. The technician should then ensure that the marker is unloaded before firing several shots to blow out any remaining paint and dry out the interior. Replacements for broken parts should only be sourced from the manufacturer of the marker. Please note that disassembly and reassembly of any paintball equipment can be hazardous and should only be attempted by a qualified airsmith, as improper reassembly can void warranties or cause serious safety risks that can include, but are not limited to injury to yourself and/or others and damage to the marker.
Mask maintenance
If the mask\'s lens are covered in paint, it is important not to simply wipe the paint off, because doing so may cause debris to scratch the lens. The player should leave the field and clean off the lens using water and a towel or a piece of cloth.
When thermal lenses are used, water or anti-fog treatment should be applied only to the outer lens, as moisture of any kind between the 2 lenses will ruin the lens system. The interior portion of a thermal lens is also quite soft and should only be wiped clean with a microfiber lens cloth designed specifically for cleaning glasses or goggles without scratching. Products such as Windex or other glass and spectacle cleaners should never be used, as they are designed to be used on glass rather than polycarbonate. Doing so could damage the anti-fog treatments, or compromise the integrity of the lens, putting the player at risk of serious injury.
A convenient method is to use a cheap small spray bottle to spray water onto the lens rather than pouring it on. Another good lens cleaning agent is a 50-50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. After it is mixed it should be put into a spray bottle for use. Use only a clean cloth on the mask; paper towels will scratch the lenses. Anti-fog spray is also available, which coats the lens in a temporary fog-resistant film. Some new lenses will come \"pre-treated\" by anti-fog, or the lens will say \"fog-resistant\" — with these lenses, it is advised that anti-fog chemicals are never used as the chemicals can damage the lens beyond further use.
Lenses should be replaced once a year as their strength is adversely affected by exposure to sunlight. If a player is hit in the mask the lens ideally should not be used again until it has been checked for damage, especially if the shot was from less than ten meters.
Paint to barrel matching
Paintballs generally change shape or size due to differing temperature or humidity. If a paintball is larger than the barrel, it might break inside the barrel and cause inaccuracy until it is cleaned. If the paintball is too small for the barrel, air will escape around the paintball when firing causing a drop in velocity and accuracy. Correcting for this by adjusting the velocity adjuster on the marker could cause a lack of air efficiency.
To check for a good paint-to-barrel match, remove the barrel from the marker and insert a paintball into the barrel. If the paintball simply rolls through the barrel, then the paintball is too small for that barrel. If the paintball does not roll out, then attempt to blow the paintball out of the barrel using your mouth. Ideally, you should be able to easily blow the paintball out, however, if this is not possible and the paintball becomes stuck, then the paintball is too large for the barrel.
Because of the varying sizes of paintballs and barrels, many people opt for an adjustable bore barrel, commonly called a barrel system, or barrel kit. These barrels allow for the user to adjust the internal bore of the barrel to allow for a perfect match for the paint being used. The kits may use pieces called \"backs\" to adjust bore size, or inserts, which are used in the Scepter barrel kit. Such examples of an adjustable bore barrel are the Sly Dualcarbon barrel system, Powerlyte Scepter, MacDev Matchstick, Smart Parts Freak Barrel, and the Stiffi Switch Kit.
Tank Hydro
Since the propellant tanks used by players are subjected to high pressures and stresses, they must be tested in accordance with the laws of the country the player operates in. In the United States, the United States Department of Transportation requires that tanks undergo a hydrostatic test at certain intervals, depending on the manufacture date, exemption certificate granted to the manufacturer for the tank, and tank size.
As a general rule, aluminum tanks have a five year hydro cycle (meaning they must be tested every five years) and an unlimited service life. Steel tanks must be hydro tested every three years and have a 24 year service life. Fiber wrapped or carbon fiber tanks (also known as HPA tanks) have either a three or five year hydro cycle with a 15 year service life. It is illegal to fill a tank that is outside of its hydro date. Tanks that have been abandoned, damaged, or are out of service life should have a hole drilled into the bottom of the cylinder to prevent pressurization.
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