Paintball in NYTimes article - Page 6

stevedavidson · 10-22-2007, 11:23 AM

snowdawgy -

have you ever seen a HP fill hose get away from someone?

Its like a steel whip moving at supersonic speeds.

I've had to dive in twice to try and grab ahold of it (go low and go fast!). One time - problem solved. The other time the sucker banged the heck out of the back of my hand and I couldn't move three fingers for about a week and the whole hand remained numb, tingly and sensitive for over a month.

No way would I lasso myself to a bottle (or anyone else for that matter).

If you want to really be "safe" (and this is ridiculous), no one should be allowed to disassemble their bottle from their marker except in a sealed room.

Practical solution? A. put that lipstick/permanent marker on your tank and valve. B. ALWAYS watch it when removing the tank. C. remove the tank AWAY from other people. D. make sure the bottle is pointed at the ground when removing it.

Schmitti · 10-22-2007, 01:53 PM

Also to add to your safety thoughts.. using a bottle with a diameter that you can retain a positive grip on... ie NO 16+ oz tanks as most players can't wrap their hands fully around them.

E

stevedavidson · 10-22-2007, 02:51 PM

its funny 'bout the steel whips. I don't mind going in to grab them for two reasons: there's actually (usually) a pattern to the way they fly around and, while it hurts to get hit, the only really vulnerable thing is my head and, since its a flexible whip, anything in its path (like my arm) is going to immediately deflect it upon contact.

Don't get me wrong - its definately dangerous, but volunteering to be the one to get it under control is not all that a heroic a gesture...

Schmitti · 10-22-2007, 02:54 PM

Reminds me of when a lab partner in High School chemistry knocked over a lit bunson burner and the hose came loose... with the tip on fire... it was a race between my friend and I to slap the valve off... I won... with no burns.. that sucker was flipping all over the place!

E

stevedavidson · 10-22-2007, 03:13 PM

OT but,

one of my favorite tricks in chem lab was to douse my hands and set them on fire (a quick flick puts it out).

All of a sudden from the back of the room "OMG! my hands are burning!"...

10-22-2007, 01:53 PM	#52 (permalink)
Schmitti Red=Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schen. NY	Also to add to your safety thoughts.. using a bottle with a diameter that you can retain a positive grip on... ie NO 16+ oz tanks as most players can't wrap their hands fully around them. E __________________ Gone fishing

10-22-2007, 02:54 PM	#54 (permalink)
Schmitti Red=Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schen. NY	Reminds me of when a lab partner in High School chemistry knocked over a lit bunson burner and the hose came loose... with the tip on fire... it was a race between my friend and I to slap the valve off... I won... with no burns.. that sucker was flipping all over the place! E __________________ Gone fishing

10-22-2007, 11:23 AM	#51 (permalink)
stevedavidson Active Member Join Date: Aug 2007	snowdawgy - have you ever seen a HP fill hose get away from someone? Its like a steel whip moving at supersonic speeds. I've had to dive in twice to try and grab ahold of it (go low and go fast!). One time - problem solved. The other time the sucker banged the heck out of the back of my hand and I couldn't move three fingers for about a week and the whole hand remained numb, tingly and sensitive for over a month. No way would I lasso myself to a bottle (or anyone else for that matter). If you want to really be "safe" (and this is ridiculous), no one should be allowed to disassemble their bottle from their marker except in a sealed room. Practical solution? A. put that lipstick/permanent marker on your tank and valve. B. ALWAYS watch it when removing the tank. C. remove the tank AWAY from other people. D. make sure the bottle is pointed at the ground when removing it.

10-22-2007, 02:51 PM	#53 (permalink)
stevedavidson Active Member Join Date: Aug 2007	its funny 'bout the steel whips. I don't mind going in to grab them for two reasons: there's actually (usually) a pattern to the way they fly around and, while it hurts to get hit, the only really vulnerable thing is my head and, since its a flexible whip, anything in its path (like my arm) is going to immediately deflect it upon contact. Don't get me wrong - its definately dangerous, but volunteering to be the one to get it under control is not all that a heroic a gesture...

10-22-2007, 03:13 PM	#55 (permalink)
stevedavidson Active Member Join Date: Aug 2007	OT but, one of my favorite tricks in chem lab was to douse my hands and set them on fire (a quick flick puts it out). All of a sudden from the back of the room "OMG! my hands are burning!"...