Converting a CO2 tank to HPA
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: Paintball Equipment
Forum Name: Upgrades and Customizing
Forum Description: Trick it out!
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=160813
Printed Date: 21 February 2026 at 5:26pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Converting a CO2 tank to HPA
Posted By: The Guy
Subject: Converting a CO2 tank to HPA
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 7:04am
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Ok, the name says it all. Whats involved in converting a brand new CO2 tank into an HPA tank? just screw an HPA tank reg on it, and make sure i have burst discs for a 3k tank? ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site 
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Replies:
Posted By: pattison
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 9:31am
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noooo
most co2 tanks are only 1800 psi good luck getting the right (1800) burst disk (to avoid dying) good luck getting >200 shots out of one. good luck trying to convince someone to fill it to 1800 psi. ------------- Eat The Brisket |
Posted By: pntbl freak
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 10:15am
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Never heard of doing this before so I cant really help. But if you do it, let us know, this is interesting.
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Posted By: Bruce A. Frank
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 11:44am
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Most aluminum CO2 tanks are rated at 1800 psi working pressure and carry a 3000 psi burst disk. Yes, switching to a HPA style valve and marking the tank as limited to 1800 psi fill pressure should work just fine. -------------  
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The Guy wrote:Posted By: 8-Ball
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 1:14pm
| how many shots would you get and has anyone done this successfully?? |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 4:50pm
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ahhh, i thought the tanks used for 3000kpsi were the same materials as CO2 tanks.
------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 6:33pm
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They might be, but the tanks are not rated for 3k. I've seen it done. Take the valve off, screw an HPA reg on, fill to 1800 or less. |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 10:41pm
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i'd say bad idea there is a good chance you will hurt yourself ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 10:46pm
Not many, but then I only carry 145 rounds for it. ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: Bruce A. Frank
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 2:13am
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The operating pressure of the tank is stamped into the shoulder on all my 20 oz tanks. It is 1800 psi on all I have. Burst disks are a last chance safety devise and should be 3000 psi for an 1800 psi tank. You are not going to get into any danger by making this conversion. You fill it to only 1800 psi just like you'd fill a 3000 psi tank to only 3000 psi though the source may be a 4500 psi line. Addition of a tank gauge is an absolute necessity to assure no accidental over-fill. -------------
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Posted By: DeTrevni
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 2:22am
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The only use I can see this having is maybe for pump play. Semis would suck through that in a couple hopperfulls. ------------- Evil Elvis: "Detrevni is definally like a hillbilly hippy from hell" 
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Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 11:02pm
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yeah i got the tank gauge on the reg still. Sounds like i might have a plan then. Do you have to be certified in any way to make your own tanks? So if I take a CO2 tank and wrap it with carbon fiber and apoxy. And then send it out to get hydro tested? Would that be legal? ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: Bruce A. Frank
Date Posted: 20 October 2006 at 2:07am
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No, it would not be legal and I doubt if you could find a certified tester who would touch it. There have been incidents where owners have faked the marks on cylinders so the tester would submit them to the test process. When the tank blows, even in a test facility, it can do damage. But, a hydro test is done with water and the "explosions" are minor. A tank that goes when fill with gas is literally a shrapnel bomb. Nice thing to happen on the fill line at your local field. Even the certified manufacturers of wrapped tanks get it wrong sometimes. In general, tanks aren't just wrapped with fiberglass or carbon fiber cloth. The tank is rotated on its axis and strands, wet with epoxy, are tensioned as they are laid onto the tank. Essentially those fibers are "pre tensioned" to limit expansion of the tank. The wrap adds strength from the beginning of the fill. -------------
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Posted By: StormyKnight
Date Posted: 20 October 2006 at 4:04am
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By the time you got done doing all your modifications (for naught I may add) you'd end up spending enough for an HPA tank. Lose the idea, plunk down the money and get an HPA tank. Converting a C02 tank to HPA is sheer folly. ------------- 
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Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 20 October 2006 at 2:33pm
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i'm specifically going for a small size HPA tank. I already have an 88ci tank.
------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 20 October 2006 at 6:28pm
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I sure thought you were smarter than this. |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 2:37am
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What?? I am talking about modifying a tank to hold more pressure and then having it properly tested before getting it filled...
------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: pattison
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 7:23am
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you might look at these. http://www.wevopaintball.com/3000psitanks.html - http://www.wevopaintball.com/3000psitanks.html
if you already have a reg, the tank is only 36 usd ------------- Eat The Brisket |
Posted By: RoboCop
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 9:08am
| One big difference between co2 tanks and HPA tanks that are not fiber wrapped, co2 tanks are alluminum and HPA tanks are steel. |
Posted By: JohnnyCanuck
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 11:42am
Posted By: UV Halo
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 2:46pm
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I'm holding a Crossfire Aluminum 3000psi tank in my hands and IT IS HEAVY. Aluminum tanks are much heavier than your standard CO2 tank because they have much thicker walls. Steel tanks might be a little lighter because you can use thinner walls but, the steel also weights more. Fiber wrapped tanks are usually made from an aluminum cylinder wrapped with fiberglass and coated with epoxy, which works to reinforce the aluminum. Carbon Fiber tanks are premium because you can use an even thinner walled aluminum cylinder due to the fact that the carbon fiber is stronger than the fiberglass. However, if the fiber on either of these tanks get damaged, consider it to be dead. Because if you don't, you most likely will find yourself dead. ------------- M98C- W/QwkStrpCut Comp Air & Palmer Fatty Stab Gas-Thru Stock Lapco Sight Rail W/ADCO 30MM EDOT Qloader W/ CMS Freak SS W/Stif-Tip * Flatline * Armson Stealth |