Close Call, Saved by the Macro Line.

[Mav D MagMan]

You're right ACE, unless it's on a cocker's 3-way, you shouldn't use microline on your paintball equipment... why?

1. Lower flow rate - restricts your air flow, which leads to shootdown etc.
2. Lower burst pressure - Nt2004: You should be afraid, it'll blow at much lower pressures than Macroline would.
3. Macroline is just plain better (but still not as strong/durable as steel lines, it's just easier to work with!)

Mav

[SIGSays]

dam dude... if you got hit by the valve... hot damn...

[Prairie]

My dad brought home some Parker 4 years or so ago, from his work.

Great stuff, been using it ever since.

[GoatBoy]

Guess I should rattle this stuff off in order...

1. The twist lock on the valve should have held it there. Presuming you were not foolish enough to forget that lock PLUS the field strip screw. I believe that's one of the reasons why they did put the twist lock on there.

2. Unless you've actually seen the specs on the PSI ratings of the lines first hand, all of you are simply basing your numbers on hearsay. I haven't been able to find the ratings on the lines or the fittings. It seems you guys can't even keep from confusing the the cocker 4-way lines and the stronger, thicker type of microline.

3. I'm betting ttoad4000t bought colored microline, and/or was running CO2 and left the gun out in the sun. Or he damaged his microline somehow like putting a kink in it or bending it too much. Oftentimes people leave out some rather pertinent details in these little anecdotal stories.

4. Someone out there needs to seriously prove whether microline (not the kind you use on the 3-way, but the normal harder stuff used like regular line) at 850PSI or thereabouts really "leads to shootdown". Sounds like bunk if you ask me.

5. As far as the micro/macroline safety debate, I believe the macroline actually has a lower working/burst pressure than the microline. Again, this is from trying to find these numbers online.

Considering how pressure works -- POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, the "square inch" part refers to surface area. The more surface area the tube has, the more pressure it's going to feel. So which one has more inner surface area, the microline or the macroline? Or worse yet, which fittings appear to have more inner surface area, the microline fittings or the macroline fittings?

I do believe that in any case, we are running these plastic lines outside of working range, but within burst range, barring stupidity with CO2. Which one would you rather run out of spec, the smaller line, or the larger line? When you start having to bend the line as I have seen a lot of people do, which one would you rather bend, the micro or the macro?


So uhm... No, I would not say "macroline is just plain better". Not without actual proof, or better insight.

[Catch22]

Cocker Pneumatics don't use microline. It's different. Micro is like a hard plastic line. The line used on most autocockers is a softer plastic. Well at least it should be. I don't know if microline would even fit over those barbs on the LPR and ram n' stiff.

[Mav D MagMan]

OT
Okay okay, had that one comming good post GoatBoy, you could be a little nicer about it... :\ -->

Anyways, yes I am aware that that isn't true microline on the pnuematics of an autococker, however it is similar is it not? And even then it's only operating at what *LOW* psi so I'll shudup?

I did some resarch as well, and fine I may have made a mistake on the type of microline offered for paintball use. I've found plenty with the same burst pressure rating (which was determined by multiplying the operating pressure by four, not too exact of a science).

If I'm wrong, please post the difference in the actual operating pressure of the two plastic lines, maybe the difference will help prove our points, I would like to see numbers along with opinion.

You do have a point about the psi pressures on the plastic lines (based on size etc.) but on the topic of flow, if you show me the inner diameter of that plastic line being wider than that of the hole in an ASA I'll stop claiming it's a restriction to flow.

If it is smaller, I'll still stand by my claim, it's a restriction to air flow and therefore will cause shootdown etc. If it's wider, it definitely is not, and I'm wrong (it isn't like it's the first time)

I'll stick with my macro, although you have shaken my faith in the plastic lines! Lol

Mav

(BTW I would still say Macrolines better, you don't have to, it's my darn opinion, which is hard to change but still possible!)

P.S. Please PM me to continue this, I don't want to clutter up the thread, we're way off topic!

[magnj]

I ran SS on my mag cuz I was scared of my mag lol. I run Macro now, and its fine.

The stupidest thing I have done. I needed to see the output psi of my Raptor tank, so i bought a brass splitter at home depot. I didn't even look at the Rating I just threw 1000 psi into it to run my mag!

[Clockwork_Orange]

I'm a bit skeptical on using a macroline, how realiable is it? I first used one (I'm not to sure if it was micro or macro) about 4 years ago and it kept bursting on me everytime I moved my drop. Don't get me wrong my setup was I little past the lines tolerance, so if I moved my cradle up an inch or back an inch it would just burst. Since then I changed the entire setup and look of my marker and stood with ss.

I would really love to switch to a macro especially a clear one, but I'm hesitant to do so. How are the Paraflex hoses? Do they come in clear?

[paintball man 222]

i have macro line on my minimag, i use it from my foregrip to the bottom line, after reading this post i apprehensive about using it, since it very old(3 years) should i get some new stainless steel lines?

[SG Avenger]

Originally posted by paintball man 222
i have macro line on my minimag, i use it from my foregrip to the bottom line, after reading this post i apprehensive about using it, since it very old(3 years) should i get some new stainless steel lines?

I dont know about changing your setup to Stainless lines, but after 3 years, you may want to at least pick up a new strand of Macro line.

If you do choose SS line, think about what upgrades you may want in the future, since you'll have to buy entire new lengths of the hose, instead of cutting off what you need.

What decided it for me in the end, was style...

[Catch22]

I personally love the look of the Hard Lines on the old Mini's and the RTpro's. I think that the look is very clean and defined with hard lines. But IMO Macro looks way better than stainless. and it's more flexible.

[Matt_mg]

I beleive in macroline!

It CAN hold 800-900 PSI, I used that on my cocker /shrugs and it worked fine.

For all you bursting guys, have you ever though that pulling on a pressurised gas line might not be a good idea ? Seriously though macro need to be ALL THE WAY IN the fitting to work at 100% and still have some room to play in case you snag it...

SS is really too ugly, if you know your macro it will NEVER burst hardline is really classy but you can't cut/modify it...

All hail macroline!

[Derman2k]

Originally posted by Clockwork_Orange
I would really love to switch to a macro especially a clear one, but I'm hesitant to do so. How are the Paraflex hoses? Do they come in clear?

If you do get clear macroline...DON'T order it from Actionvillage..I ordered 2 feet, used it in 3 pieces, One went on my friends cocker. All 3 pieces blew. Friend bought some for his spyder, his blew too.

[Grasshopper]

My macroline blew last time I played (Saturday). It was brand new, too. And I made sure it was all the way in the fittings. Ruined my day

[NJPaint]

Microline can have a pressure rating as high as the 1200 psi... Its sometimes stronger than macroline. The biggest difference between the two is the air flow. Other than that they are just plastic. I'm pretty sure cocker 3 ways don't have microline on them...