scuba tanks and HPA

Fiestyboy wrote: scuba tanks are nothing but giant 3000psi compressed air tanks that  cost less (for the size atleast) than HPA tanks and they both run off compressed air. So why are HPA tanks so epensive? and is it possible to hook a paintball gun up to a scuba tank ( im not planning to run around with one but me and my friends are going to make a turret with it ).

With adapters it is possible to run off a scuba tank. Metal tanks, aluminum or steel, are extremely inexpensive. But when you get into the realm of light weight fiberglass, carbon-fiber and Kevlar wrapped tanks you are into a very different category. They require more care to manufacture and also require several different steps to produce.

Wrapped tanks that sell for more than $150 are pretty much a ripoff. Some fancy electronic regulators or impressive brand names may push the price to $400 with little value received for the money spent.

But let's take a critical look at the actual cost of paintball wrapped tanks vs. scuba tanks. You do realize that once you have bought that $80 to $100 scuba tank that you will still have to buy a fairly high tech $80 to $100 regulator to use it for scuba diving.

The wrapped paintball tank comes with the regulator built into the valve. The wrapped tank with no regulator runs about $80 to $100. The paintball valve/regulator costs $45 to $65.

What you can do to do to save money is buy used. And, even on the use market, avoid those tanks that cost 3 times normal just because they have a widely known brand name on them.

All high pressure cylinders have to meet specific DOT mandated regulations. There may be some tanks that have special features that make them worth the ultra-high price to the buyer. But still, basically, all the tanks are the same. I bought mine on Ebay for less than half of the new price with 4 years left before I have to go the cost of a new hydrostatic test.

Fiestyboy wrote: sweet. i should just try and find smaller scuba tanks and use those for my main air cuz i dont really care about the weight since i usually play defense. http://www.scuba.com/shop/product.asp_Category_200_page_1_ recs_10 EDIT :they have a 3 pound 6cubic feet 3000 psi tank for like $83! edit: what kind of hook ups would i need.

I have seen adapters available on Ebay and other on-line stores that allow connection between the scuba valve and the paintball style valve.

Ask chronic future  how  he did it.

All you need is:

1.) The SCUBA tank

2.) Your HPA tank and gun

3.) A Fill Station

4.) Remote line preferrably with slide check

With the fill station on the SCUBA tank, hook the HPA tank to the fill station, and then take the remote line from the tank to the gun, open the SCUBA tank valve and the slide check and make sure if you have an ASA that its screwed in, this will keep a regulated amount of air to your marker and it gives you about 8 times more air than the regular tank.  Of course this is only worth it if its mounted on a vehicle or a stationary turret, but it works great