How Paintballs Are Made

Mike Lang asked:


Have you ever wondered how those thin yet sturdy shells were made that contain paint and can be shot out of a gun to splat all over your opponent? The process for making paintballs is pretty interesting and you might be surprised at what is used to make them.

Paintballs are made of a thin skin of gelatin that will break upon contact. They are filled with non toxic, water soluble ingredients that are colored by a dye. The paint is biodegradable and will come out of clothing or off human skin with just water. When the paintball hits a person it splats color signifying they have been hit.

Paintballs are made on special machines that aren’t available to the public as the process is too intricate and the machines are extremely expensive. The following process is a rather complicated and lengthy one that only manufacturers of paintballs can do.

To make the hollow shell of the paintball, the gelatin is melted down and other additives are introduced while color is added and blended in. This mixture is run through an encapsulation machine, the same type of machine that drug companies use to make gel caps. The machine forces the gelatin onto a cooled drum which produces a thin sheet of gel called a ribbon. Two ribbons each pass over their own rotating die, or mold, that forms each half of the ball. The dies press against each other as they are rotated and eventually align to meet and seal making a round ball by placing the two half shells together. Once that happens the shells are filled with paint injected into them. You can usually see a seam on each paintball. This is where the dies came together. The paintball is sealed and comes out of the die being dropped out of the machine. The shells are very soft and bouncy at this time. The balls go down a conveyor belt and are then put in trays to dry. During the drying period the gelatin shrinks around the paint making them less soft and bouncy.
The paint that goes inside the two shells is made by combining polyethylene glycol, which is also found in cough syrup, thickened with wax.

Two tone or Dual Colored paintballs are made the same way except there are two colors of gelatin being introduced instead of one. One side will be one color and the other side will be another.

After the paintballs have dried they go through a counting machine and into bags and cartons for you to purchase.

The quality of paintballs depends on the quality of the ingredients used to make them. Some companies make excellent quality paintballs but they are very expensive, up to $100 per 2000 round count. These should be left to those playing in tournaments since it could be detrimental to the game to have a defective paintball break inside the barrel of the gun. Other paintballs can cost around $50 to $60 per 2000 round box and still might be too expensive for practice. Practice balls can be purchased in a 500 count for about $16. That is a little more affordable, but they won’t be the same quality of the ones you pay more for. Find the paintball that is right for you by trying several different varieties.



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What To Know About A Paintball Gun

Riley Hendersen asked:


Whether you want to play paintball yourself or your son or daughter wants to get in on one of the most popular action games these days, you might want to know a little bit about a paintball gun.

But first, the basics. Paintball is a sport in which teams of player try to eliminate their opponents by shooting, to keep it simple, paintballs, at their opponents.

That said, there are a few things you should know about the gun, the first of which it’s not really a ‘gun’ in the typical sense of the word, but a piece of equipment that’s designed to propel the paint balls toward their intended target.

When used with a high-pressure propulsion tank, It can shoot a paintball filled with paint dye around three hundred feet per second. Industry standards, coupled with the design of a gun, don’t allow for anything faster. It may serve to alleviate worries to know that most professional paintball facilities and game field owners lower that speed or velocity to about two hundred eighty feet a second, just to be on the safe side.

To insure safety while active play is not engaged, a paintball gun is now required to come with a ’sock’ or barrel blocking device that will catch any accidentally discharged paintballs, and most new manufacturers install a safety catch on their models.

There are different designs and models and each is determined by need. Players take different field positions, and each of these positions may require a different kind of paintball gun. For example, there are three major field positions; the front player, mid-range player and the rear player.

For those playing a front or advance position, many players prefer a paintball gun that is more accurate and fast. Weight is also a factor in choosing the right kind of device for this position, as is the speed of the air propulsion system. Many models allow for an air tank to be mounted on the gun, but for front field players, a tank worn on a harness, enabled with an air hose, allows for greater speed and mobility.

For players who choose to play the middle of the field, a high-pressure system is preferred for greater distance.

For those players choosing a rear field position, a stream of paint or dye, almost like an old-fashioned flame thrower-type gun is preferred.

Before purchasing a paintball gun, it might be wise to rent one at the paintball facility until you decide which position you’re most likely apt to play on a regular basis. Renting is a very good option for new players and most paintball facilities will rent a one for a nominal fee.

If you’re looking to buy, be prepared to spend anywhere from $100 to $300 for most typical models. A top of the line model can cost up to a thousand dollars, but for most players, the lower price range paintball gun is more than adequate for most playing needs.



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What Paintball Gear Do Players Need?

Candice Sabrina asked:


It goes almost without say, that paintball players need paintball gear. With the variety of gear on the market today, a player can easily pick the gear that best suits personal style of play.

The first piece of paintball gear any player will need is a marker or gun. The type of game that will be played will most likely determine the weapon chosen.

Depending on what type of game you play will most likely determine the weapon you choose, such as if you’re a wood ball player you might be more inclined go with a Tippman these markers are known for their durability and reliability.

Those that plan to play mostly on air ball or speedball fields will need a marker that fires at least 15 balls a second. Any number of guns fit this description. Examples include the Ego made by Planet Eclipse, a Dmc or a Dm6 made by Dye perhaps even a Karnivor made by Worrgames. Some of these guns are what might be considered by some to be “top of the line.”

All of the markers mentioned above do carry a hefty price tag, but there are alternatives, including the Ion by Smart Parts. This gun costs about half the price of the others and can hold its own when used by a good player.

After a marker is chosen, the next piece of paintball gear that will be needed is a mask. There are all kinds of makes to choose from. They come in all sorts of colors and some even have tinted, or colored, lenses. But as cool as some may look, always remember that a mask’s number one just is to protect the face and especially the eyes. Safety is the first concern of this type of paintball gear.

To buy a mask correctly, it is important to make sure it fits securely. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, don’t forget that! If a mask doesn’t fit right, it is not the right piece of gear.

Other paintball gear some players purchase includes optional safety equipment. If the sting of being hit by a ball is too much, there are hard plastic pieces of body armor that can help protected the back, chest, arms and legs. These aren’t required to play, but many players use them.

Beyond safety and the gun, another piece of paintball gear that is a must-have is a device for actually carrying the balls. Most players purchase a special carrying belt that holds tubes that can be filled with paintballs. The tubes generally hold 200 paint balls each. Style of play will determine how many balls need to be carried.

Clothing is also something to think about. What might be needed will depend on several factors, including the climate a game is taking place in and personal choice. The clothing designed for play can be very effective, but it is important for players to wear whatever makes them the most comfortable.

Aside from the marker and balls, the most important purchases on the paintball gear market fall in the safety category. Remember, safety and comfort are far more important on the field of play than looks.



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