| All paintball markers require a minimum amount of | | | | paintballs should be stored separately, and you should |
| regular maintenance in order to give you years of | | | | have a decent case for carrying your paintball marker. |
| faithful service. You owe it to yourself and your fellow | | | | Ideally, you should carry your marker disassembled but |
| paintball players to keep your paintball equipment in | | | | packed in an organized way so that it is easy to |
| working order. The specifics vary according to what | | | | assemble once you get to your paintball match. |
| model marker you have, but there are some basics of | | | | Be cautious with the barrel of your paintball marker |
| marker maintenance that apply pretty much across | | | | because if it becomes even the slightest bit bent, it can |
| the board. | | | | cause a misfire that can make a pellet burst |
| The first task isn't that exciting, but you should do it | | | | prematurely and potentially ruin your entire weapon. |
| anyway: read the owners manual for your paintball | | | | Keep it away from extreme temperatures, particularly |
| marker. It will tell you what paintball marker | | | | for long term storage. If you were to leave a paintball |
| maintenance has to be done regularly, and how often | | | | in the chamber, it could burst when the temperature |
| it has to be done. You'll get a good, basic grounding in | | | | falls below freezing or when the temperature |
| how your marker works and how to care for it | | | | becomes too hot. |
| properly. | | | | Remember that the sooner you wipe paint off your |
| Regular oiling is an important part of paintball marker | | | | marker, the easier it will be. While the dried paint on the |
| maintenance for most models. To oil your marker, | | | | exterior of your marker is mostly just a cosmetic |
| remove the tank and barrel and take the paintballs out | | | | problem, cleaning burst paintballs from the inside of |
| of the chamber. You don't want to get oil on the | | | | your marker is a crucial part of paintball marker |
| pellets, because it affects their trajectory. Remove the | | | | maintenance. |
| marker's hopper and elbow and put a drop or two of | | | | You should do this after each time you play, thoroughly |
| oil onto the adapter where the CO2 cartridge or | | | | clean out the insides of your marker before storing it. |
| compressed air tank attaches. Spread the oil around | | | | After you have the routine of maintenance |
| to cover the adapter completely. Some people use a | | | | memorized, it's a good idea to assemble a small tool kit |
| toothpick to do this. Put your paintball marker back | | | | so that you can repair small problems as they happen |
| together again, reinstall the tank, then, without paintballs | | | | and prevent small problems from becoming big |
| in the chamber, fire it several times. This ensures that | | | | problems. |
| the oil reaches the parts that it needs to. | | | | Regular paintball marker maintenance is an investment |
| One part of proper paintball marker maintenance is a | | | | of time more than anything, but it can save you plenty |
| simple matter of proper storage. The marker and the | | | | of time and money over the long haul. |