| PCRI Tech
Tips
Welcome to "Tips from the Workbench." This month I will be discussing some
of the finer details of o-rings, seals, and paintgun lubricants.
O-Rings & Seals Tips
If you've taken apart even the most simple paintgun, you've probably seen
several o-rings or seals inside the gun. O-rings and seals come in all shapes,
sizes, and materials. Basically they all perform the same function--to provide
a seal between two or more internal components.
The are two basic types of seals. A static seal is one in which parts do
not move in relation to each other. A good example of a static seal would
be your C02 tank o-ring. It's more of a gasket than an active seal. The function
of the tank o-ring is to provide a non-rigid seal between the adapter and
the tank.
The second type of seal is a dynamic seal. A dynamic seal is one that has
moving parts that move in relation to that seal. The power tube o-ring on
the Automag is an example dynamic seal. When a paintgun manufacturer designs
a gun, they must consider many things when choosing o-ring and seal materials.
For instance, an o-ring that comes in contact with a metal component for
an extended period of time when a paintgun is fired needs to have very strong
tear resistance and abrasive resistance. Teflon o-rings are super durable
and would probably work well in most situations of this nature. On the other
hand, Teflon does not "give" so it will not work well if compression is needed.
Rubber o-rings don't work well on your C02 tanks because they are not resistant
to the cold. The change of phase that occurs when you unscrew your C02 tank
too fast will freeze your rubber o-rings and cause them to crack. Some
manufacturers may use a less expensive o-ring on their gun (especially with
budget priced paintguns) to save money. If you do some experimenting you
may be able to improve a gun's performance by upgrading the o-rings to a
more durable type. To do this change only one o-ring at a time so that you
can see immediate results--good or bad. One very important thing to note
here is that some o-rings will actually hold or store C02. What can happen
here is that your gun may be capable of shooting one paintball even after
you've removed the air source. We've seen this happen in Brass Eagle Stingrays
where the user has changed from a rubber o-ring to the urethane type.
Another thing you may have noticed about o-rings is that there are several
common sizes used in a few different paintguns, or parts of guns. For instance,
the power tube o-ring in the 68 Automag is interchangeable with the larger
on/off o-ring. The bolt/striker o-rings are the same size and type as your
C02 tank o-rings. Be careful here because sometimes o-rings that look the
same are actually completely different.
No matter what type of paintgun you shoot, you should definitely carry a
good stock of extra o-rings. This is especially true if your are shooting
a gun that's a not one of the more popular models. For instance, you're most
likely not going to find o-rings for a TS-1 or an Icon-Z at your local Paintball
store.
Anyway, be safe and have fun. I'll see you at the field.
(About the author -- Rick Muncy is an Airgun Designs certified technician
and works as an airsmith at Pev's Paintball Pro-Shop in Woodbridge, Virginia.)
Fax your questions to Rick at (703) 491-6391.
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