CO2 now "unsafe?"

[ghideon]

I was visiting my local shop yesterday, picking up some supplies and air to get ready for the new year. I was also supposed to pick up a CO2 cylinder for a friend's son, when the young lady working the counter informed me they're no longer selling CO2 (or filling CO2 for that matter) cause it's unsafe.

I have heard of the recent tragedy here in CA where a CO2 cylinder killed a woman, but was under the impression that the death was due to user error, not the inherent danger of compressed gasses. The one nice thing about the shop is that they're selling their HPA tanks at cost to get everyone switched over. It was around $65 or so for a 45/3k (steel I think), which is very nice.

Anyone else hear of CO2 being labeled as unsafe? It's been awhile since I've taken chemistry, but 4.5k of HPA in a tank seems a might more dangerous to me than 20oz of CO2 at 800psi (even given the higher PE of CO2 in liquid form).

[-=Squid=-]

Do they sell nitroduck tanks? I might need to get hooked up with an "At cost" tank.

[ghideon]

I think they're either PMI or Crossfire. They were still busy setting everything up for their re-opening (the city tried to shut them down, and the sucessfully petioned against it).

[punkncat]

That shop is quite uninformed.

HPA tanks use a much higher pressure than CO2 tanks are designed to hold.
I guess it is nice that they are offering a deal on the HPA tanks though......

[GT]

i never thought CO2 was all that safe to begin with. Here in the big Tex you always have noobs get FULL co2 fills and leave them in the sun. You can see mid morning to early afternoon temp changes from 85-100 in a matter of hours... Many blown burst disks

[Wes Janson]

It's just nature's n00b litmus test, that's all

[ghideon]

I will say this. I had the hydro date on my tank checked, twice. Once by the gal at the counter and then again when I went to get it filled. Bout damned time people got serious about safety.

[Polish]

Maybe they just got a compressor and dont feel like ordering C02 anymore..

[ghideon]

Nah, that's doubtful. I think they've always had a compressor, and their rentals all run HPA.

[Polish]

How much is a fill for a 20oz at the store? Just wondering.

[deathstalker]

Originally posted by gtrsi
i never thought CO2 was all that safe to begin with. Here in the big Tex you always have noobs get FULL co2 fills and leave them in the sun. You can see mid morning to early afternoon temp changes from 85-100 in a matter of hours... Many blown burst disks

So what you're saying is it's safe. The tanks are designed to vent gas above a certain pressure (like HPA). Because the burst disks blew, the tanks are just fine and the built-in safety precautions did what they're supposed to do.

Besides, because they're leaving them in the sun, it is simply user error that's causing the problem. Might I add that if you, the refs, all other employees of the field, and all the other players see this and do not correct the problem, I would consider ALL of you at fault were an unfortunate accident to occur.

It's YOUR responsibility as much as it is everyone else's to make sure a day of paintball is safe for everyone. I don't think I have played a full day of paintball when I didn't have to tell someone to lower their mask or cover their barrel. And yes, I've told many a player to keep their tanks out of the sun.

[ghideon]

20oz fill for $4 IIRC, been about a year since I've played there (and as said before they don't fill CO2 anymore). HPA is now $1 per 1k PSI (guess that's a new trend).

And Deathstalker is entirely correct. Too many places will give the whole "safety talk," and then let their regulars run around dry firing in the parking lot without barrel condoms. Or see abhorrent safety behaviour from newbies and regluars alike and do nothing to correct it.

This entire industry needs a safety overhaul. Part of the problem is we've got younger ones who've just entered the sport, and they aren't getting the necessary training. The other sports I've taken part in (SCUBA, sky diving, shooting, etc) are much more serious about it. Maybe we need some kind of training program (much like the Hunter's Safety Course)?

Anyhow, enough ranting for now...

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

Personally, I think that they should get rid of co2 all together and really come down with the price of nitrogen. It would eliminate a lot of gun problems, be easier to maintain filling equipment, no n00bs having velocity fluxuations(sp?), ect.

[bryceeden]

This is just another example of people over reacting, wait alittle while for them to realise how much discontinuing CO2 is going to hurt thier buisness, and they'll bring it back. CO2 is safe if set up properly and not tampered with, and very soon every one will forget about the lady being killed and things will go back to normal.

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

I'm not overreacting. I really don't see the danger in co2, nor am I nervous of an incident happening with any co2 related products. But in the long run it would actually be better to phase out co2, especially since most guns work better on nitrogen.