Paintball

[Iconic Muffinman]

Hello MCB...

I recently picked up a tank that was advertised as not requiring hydrotesting from a person who has a collection and knowledge of the sport that far surpasses my own.

However, when I measured the outer diameter of the tank with my calipers, it measured 2.3", which is over the 2"x2' rule.

I am wondering if any of the markings on the tank show exclusion from hydrotesing?

The markings are as follows:

Around the top of the tank...

T60082 DOT-3AL/TC-3ALM 1800 PSI/124 BAR M-9201
98/06 98 T 0.64 KG 22 OZ M O.98 KG 34 OZ

And around the bottom...

7081976 823 BSK H

The tank is raw aluminum that was spray-painted black. I removed the black paint. I believe it may be an old thermal tank, switched over to a standard "Repeater" push-pin valve, but I am not sure.

Any help would be appreciated greatly.

[LibertyRadeon]

If it's more than 2 inches in diameter, it must be tested.

[LibertyRadeon]

That being said, unless you're using a gun that requires Co2 or works better on it, or you want a very small tank, I'd just use an HPA tank.

[Iconic Muffinman]

The only marker I regularly play with (that actually uses a tank, and not 12g's) is my trusty SL-68 II.

It hates HPA.

I was kind of hoping the tank would have some kind of hidden exclusion I havent heard of before. I would love to use the old school tank with my old school pump.

[MaD]

Originally Posted by LibertyRadeon

If it's more than 2 inches in diameter, it must be tested.

Not completely true. There were some Fuel branded tanks that had a hydro exemption. The tank would need to still be clearly marked and labeled though as it was an exemption filed for their tanks specifically. I have a 16oz stubby somewhere with the markings and exemption number if anyone wants to look it up.

[Iconic Muffinman]

There are some funky symbols among the markings I recorded above. I just dont know how to type them.

[MaD]

That tank isn't exempt. I just looked it up again and the exclusion was for some specific chromoly tanks only, not aluminum ones.

Locating 16oz "peanut/stubby" co2 tanks?

[HP_Lovecraft]

Is this a 9oz tank? Many I've seen were just a hair over the 2" limit and not exempt.

There is a misconception that since the 10oz is exempt, the 9oz will always be, but there is a big variety among 9oz tanks. (ie flat bottom, round bottom, alum, steel, moly, stubby, etc). Some are not exempt.

The good news is that people practically give away 7 and 9oz tanks. They are the "standard" size in paintball, but in reality, too small for more typical players, and too large for the niche pump and stock players. As players progress, then find no use for them.

[Falcon16]

I'd say with how cheap your average 9 or 12oz tank is why even bother hydrotesting the tanks anymore? Just buy a new one. I can see why hydrotesting makes sense with say CF tanks running up near $200 but with C02 or even cheap steelie tanks why bother. My only exception to that would be a 13/3K which since it's a speciality size I'd hang on to cause who knows if in 5 or 10 years smaller tanks like that will even be produced.

[HP_Lovecraft]

Originally Posted by Falcon16

My only exception to that would be a 13/3K which since it's a speciality size I'd hang on to cause who knows if in 5 or 10 years smaller tanks like that will even be produced.

I'm sure those tanks are actually made outside paintball. Worst case is that you would end up having to make a "bulk order". Thats what the rep from Catalina Cylinders told me about 3.5oz tanks.

I do have a few annodized co2 tanks from the early 90s that I've retested. Some have been retested 4 times already! You simply can not buy annodized tanks anymore, and while technically you could have a new tank done, you are supposed to rehydro after an anno, so its a moot point.