It is essential to clean and keep your paintball gun in good condition after every game. Leaving it dirty for long will result in jamming, misfunctioning, and ultimately, an early death. A neglected paintball gun will always have a shorter lifespan than one which is properly cleaned and oiled.
So, can you clean a paintball gun with water? Yes, you can clean a mechanical paintball gun with a wet towel or some water. You can remove every part and rinse it in water if needed. However, never rinse an electronic paintball gun in water under any case. And if you do, make sure to take out all the electronic parts first and dry it off completely when done.
Thus, it is safe to clean a mechanical marker with water. This post will further discuss how often and how to clean a paintball gun properly so you don’t run into any problems.
How Often Should You Clean A Paintball Gun
To answer this question, we need to analyze what sort of game you play. For example, I regularly play paintball twice a week, mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. On every Sunday evening, I disassemble my gun, wash them with water and dry them off. Then I apply lubricant to every part and assemble them back.
This is my routine, and I’ve been using the same gun for the last five years without any issue or corrosion. From my experience, regular cleaning is very beneficial for a paintball gun’s life.
Regular Player: If you are a regular player, you should clean your marker after every two games (1 day = 1 game). I’ll even go as far as to say that if you have the energy, clean it after every game.
Hobby Player: If you play once or twice a month, then it is better to clean it on the same day you played. Leaving the paintball gun dirty for one week or more will significantly increase the chance of corrosion. I would say never leave it uncleaned for more than three days after a game. This will keep your paintball gun safe and smooth for a long time.
How To Clean A Paintball Gun
Reminder: this post discusses mechanical paintball guns, you should not rinse electronic ones in water unless you disassemble them carefully and take out each electronic part.
Before we talk about the steps of cleaning a paintball gun, let’s see what supplies you need to complete the process.
Supplies Needed
- Hex keys
- Schematic diagram of your paintball gun (probably in the manual)
- Soft cloths
- Paper towels
- Squeegees
- Warm water
- Oil or lubricant
Now on to the steps!
Remove Gear
First, remove any additional gear connected to your gun, such as a CO2 tank, hopper, etc. Then place a few rolls of paper towel on a table. Before you disassemble, it is always safe to put a white covering on the table to avoid any lost O-rings or other small parts.
Clean Outer Body
Clean the outer body with the help of warm tap water or by spraying water using an empty Windex bottle. Let the water sit for a few seconds, then wipe it off with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Check Schematic Diagram
Refer to your markers schematic diagram to get an idea of where the screws are and where each internal part is.
Remove Screws
Now remove each screw one by one and keep them safely in a container. Then remove the upper cover of your marker.
Disassemble & Clean
Remove every part and keep them aside (it’s good practice to keep them lined up in a specific manner, so it’s easier to reassemble). Now clean the inner body of your marker with a soft cloth rinsed in warm water. Similarly, clean the individual parts. It’s better not to use straight tap water at this point.
Use Squeegees
Use squeegees to remove any chopped paintballs that might’ve been left behind in the barrel.
Dry With A Towel
Use a dry towel and go over every part to dry off any excess water.
Lubricate Internal Parts
Apply oil or any lubricants on every individual part with the help of a soft and thin brush. Since most of the internal components are metals, lubricants will protect them from corrosion.
Assemble Your Gun
Follow the schematic diagram, assemble the internal parts back, then use the Hex keys to tighten the screws back to their respective holes.
Let It Dry
Finally, keep the paintball gun out in an open and warm space (not direct sunlight) for one to two hours to dry any potential excess water.
Bonus: How To Clean A Paintball Squeegee
You can easily clean a paintball squeegee. Simply let it soak in warm water for 2-3 hours, then let it dry off in the sun for a few hours.
Conclusion
As discussed in this post, you can clean a paintball gun with water. And, regular cleaning of a paintball gun will help it work properly and efficiently for a long time.
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