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- Thread starter Smith1975
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Cannonfodder
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Aluminium is fine. I got my tank, regulator and line in a bundle from highpressureairsoft.co.uk
- Oct 7, 2017
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Cannonfodder
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Only on my M870
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For Airsoft use, and also for typical paintball use, the generic standard 3000psi 48ci aluminum cylinder does the job, and it’s cost per capacity per lifetime always wins
In Airsoft of course there is the added cost of a lower pressure regulator, which may be inline with your remote line etc - and that’s an extra cost whether you buy a basic aluminium or fibre
First - does it have enough capacity to keep you in game between fills?
If the site has a compressor fill station then it only needs to last while you are in game. If not, or if the site does not want to run their compressors all day if there are only a couple of HPA Airsofters then some investment in capacity may be worthwhile to last a day - bear in mind you can often buy 3 aluminiums for one fibre
The old argument used to claim that a fibre was lighter - but that argument was made by players using a 68ci fibre wrapped aluminium, which at the time was a bigger bulkier cylinder weighing the same as the basic aluminium
(Newer ultralight designs have the capability of even thinner aluminium which will be lighter - but at more expense)
A fibre 4500psi can take 50% more air than the equivalent 3000psi - but only if the fill station provides 4500psi fills
A little known fact about aluminum 3000psis is that under the legislation / standards they can be used for 10 years from manufacture before they need hydro testing. (But often the manufacturers markings say 5 years, so a site that actually checks should reject a 6 year old bottle - unless the painted marking had rubbed off)
Technically you could submit an aluminum for hydro testing getting an extra 5 years at a time, but for the cost you could buy new (note that aluminum cylinders do not have a final death date so could theoretically be used forever subject to their condition and regulator condition
Compact cylinders such as a 13ci aluminum 3000psi come with the bonus that they are exempt from hydro testing, so can be used forever subject to condition
Fibre wrapped typically has a 15 year maximum lifetime, and 5 year test cycle - so the new purchase cost should be taken into account with ongoing lifecycle maintenance with the cost of two hydro tests
Their true benefit lies in the wide ranges of shapes and sizes, complete with the curved base. That means they can contribute to ergonomics when used attached on gun.
Use the curved base as a stock to roll it in your shoulder for smooth movement between targets, and the different shapes and sizes to match your arm length
True ultralights provide a weight advantage when on gun - but as Airsoft uses ‘real gun’ looks with stocks and the cylinder will be in a pouch then the weight is negligible
In Airsoft of course there is the added cost of a lower pressure regulator, which may be inline with your remote line etc - and that’s an extra cost whether you buy a basic aluminium or fibre
First - does it have enough capacity to keep you in game between fills?
If the site has a compressor fill station then it only needs to last while you are in game. If not, or if the site does not want to run their compressors all day if there are only a couple of HPA Airsofters then some investment in capacity may be worthwhile to last a day - bear in mind you can often buy 3 aluminiums for one fibre
The old argument used to claim that a fibre was lighter - but that argument was made by players using a 68ci fibre wrapped aluminium, which at the time was a bigger bulkier cylinder weighing the same as the basic aluminium
(Newer ultralight designs have the capability of even thinner aluminium which will be lighter - but at more expense)
A fibre 4500psi can take 50% more air than the equivalent 3000psi - but only if the fill station provides 4500psi fills
A little known fact about aluminum 3000psis is that under the legislation / standards they can be used for 10 years from manufacture before they need hydro testing. (But often the manufacturers markings say 5 years, so a site that actually checks should reject a 6 year old bottle - unless the painted marking had rubbed off)
Technically you could submit an aluminum for hydro testing getting an extra 5 years at a time, but for the cost you could buy new (note that aluminum cylinders do not have a final death date so could theoretically be used forever subject to their condition and regulator condition
Compact cylinders such as a 13ci aluminum 3000psi come with the bonus that they are exempt from hydro testing, so can be used forever subject to condition
Fibre wrapped typically has a 15 year maximum lifetime, and 5 year test cycle - so the new purchase cost should be taken into account with ongoing lifecycle maintenance with the cost of two hydro tests
Their true benefit lies in the wide ranges of shapes and sizes, complete with the curved base. That means they can contribute to ergonomics when used attached on gun.
Use the curved base as a stock to roll it in your shoulder for smooth movement between targets, and the different shapes and sizes to match your arm length
True ultralights provide a weight advantage when on gun - but as Airsoft uses ‘real gun’ looks with stocks and the cylinder will be in a pouch then the weight is negligible
Cannonfodder
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Well I learned something new today, I use a 13ci tank. Is there any reason why?
The short answer is that Garage told me, then Trevor of HPAC confirmed that it must be smaller than 48ci and only for 3000psi
In the US their rough guideline is 2x2, that it must be no longer than 2’ and no wider than 2”
But if you want something stinger than a bloke on the internet said so…
As it all falls under “transporting pressure vessel” safety regulations / legislation, it comes down to the risk level of the pressurised gas
eg cylinders have to have the applicable transport approval markings US DOT Department of Transport, TC Transport Canada, EU Pi marking from TPED Transportable of Pressure Equipment Directive, and to keep things simple we have the “Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations” aka CDG, which post Brexit dictates the Rho marking
TPED sets its threshold of pressure vs volume at 50 bar litres.
A 3000psi at 13ci is 206.843 bar vs 0.213 litres
Or for some comparisons 4500psi 310.2641 and 48ci is 0.787litres
206.843 x 0.213 =44.0576 bar litres
Which exempts 13ci at 3000psi
Standard 48ci 3000psi would be:
206.843x0.787=162.785
The ‘new’ 4500psi compact types are typically 15ci
be:
310.2641x0.246= 76.325 and is not exempt
If we reverse engineer the 50 bar litre threshold …,
50/206.843=0.242 litres which are 14.768 ci
Therefore 13ci is fine at 3000psi, but if it tipped up to 15ci would exceed the threshold
That exemption does mean you can happily keep using your 13ci, but keep it subject to visual checks, eg if you find it in the back of the shed in 10 years then perhaps give it a second thought.
But look after it, keep a nipple cover on and keep an eye on general condition of the regulator and give a thought to how old the burst disk gets because that is what will ultimately fail
(“All” that a burst disk failure does is ‘rapidly discharge’, so keep bare skin away from the burst disks and change your pants if it bursts at close proximity)
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