Paintball Tank to NPT for Medium Pressure Reservoirs
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:55 pm
Been searching, and have seen a lot of posts with people suggesting to others to either force a 3/8" pipe nipple into the end of the bottle or use a drill and pipe tap to tap the end of the cylinder.
There's an easier way, although I've yet to try it.
The internal threads on a paintball tank are 5/8"-18tpi (unified fine threads). These are the threads exposed after removing the pin valve.
Now, you may be at a loss for how to convert these threads to NPT threads, but take a look at this:
It's a simple 45 degree SAE flare adapter, for 3/8" OD tubing to 1/4" NPT male. Less than 2 bucks, and should be a fairly common part. The flared side is 5/8"-18tpi UNF.
Problems:
Thread engagement is shorter than the pin valve used, so I would personally limit pressures to somewhere mid-range, around 400-500 PSI max.
Orifice through the fitting is rather small so it would be best suited as an air reservoir.
That's about all I wanted to say. Rather limited application, but slightly useful nonetheless.
There's an easier way, although I've yet to try it.
The internal threads on a paintball tank are 5/8"-18tpi (unified fine threads). These are the threads exposed after removing the pin valve.
Now, you may be at a loss for how to convert these threads to NPT threads, but take a look at this:
It's a simple 45 degree SAE flare adapter, for 3/8" OD tubing to 1/4" NPT male. Less than 2 bucks, and should be a fairly common part. The flared side is 5/8"-18tpi UNF.
Problems:
Thread engagement is shorter than the pin valve used, so I would personally limit pressures to somewhere mid-range, around 400-500 PSI max.
Orifice through the fitting is rather small so it would be best suited as an air reservoir.
That's about all I wanted to say. Rather limited application, but slightly useful nonetheless.
Albeit limited to 500 PSI until you find a better connection (longer thread engagement).