I have been shopping around for a HPA tank, and amidst the usual 4500 carbon fiber tanks I've spotted a few "glass" tanks. Heres an example:

http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcUYnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=4OvAqArbEssAAAEGq9jbl38v - http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/S tore/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcU YnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=4OvAqArbEssAAAEGq9jbl38 v

Whats the deal with these? How can they make a tank out of glass? Wouldn't it be far more fragile than carbon fiber? Anybody know anything about these?

hansolo8221 wrote: I have been shopping around for a HPA tank, and amidst the usual 4500 carbon fiber tanks I've spotted a few "glass" tanks. Heres an example: http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcUYnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=4OvAqArbEssAAAEGq9jbl38v - http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/S tore/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcU YnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=4OvAqArbEssAAAEGq9jbl38 v Whats the deal with these? How can they make a tank out of glass? Wouldn't it be far more fragile than carbon fiber? Anybody know anything about these?

Fiberglass! All the wrapped tanks contain fiberglass. Some add a layer of carbon fiber and others may use Kevlar. Some use all three. Most of the tanks that are commonly referred to as carbon wrapped aren't unless the DOT identification label says so. Color provides no clarity of which type of textile threads are use in fabrication of the tank.

Nearly 100% of all tanks used for paintball HPA start with a thin aluminum tank which cannot hold the thousands of pounds of pressure  that will be put into them eventually. They are then rotated and wrapped with fiberglass thread that is impregnated with wet epoxy. The layers may alternate kinds of thread, as I mentioned above or can be the same material from start to finish. A tank wrapped with carbon fiber can have thinner layers thus producing a lighter tank. Some tanks may have a Kevlar layer as the last one to provide resistance to abrasion and impact.

After the layers are finished additional epoxy is added and the tank may be vacuum bagged to assure that no bubbles or voids remain below the surface. Air bubbles and voids in the epoxy fill may leave a weak area  which may rupture after many refills. Some tanks have been recalled due to voids the the wrapping layers, which lead to failure of the tank.

At paintballgear.com, they have the "glass" tank I posted above; they also have the same tank (Crossfire 45ci 4500psi high output) but not listed as "glass" for $5 less.

http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcUYnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=S0SsFAY7sJkAAAD312elA_2t - http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/S tore/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Tu4n5yqLcU YnN2l_Z0fnTyAtXCwu-6s6TTs=?ProductID=S0SsFAY7sJkAAAD312elA_2 t

Why the two different models? Which would be better?