How Are Paintballs Made? (Jan-2023)
“What are paintballs made of?” you’ve undoubtedly wondered. You’re not alone, either! Paintball paint is water soluble, allowing it to be readily removed from players’ clothing. It’s also harmless in case a player is struck in the mouth and eats the paint by mistake.
Mineral oils, food coloring, calcium, ethylene glycol, and iodine are the primary ingredients in the paint. The paint is contained within a gelatin-based bubble. This is the same stuff that goes into encapsulated medications like pain relievers and liquid vitamins.
Paintball interior and exterior
A paintball has two parts. Its outer component and its inner component. Typically, the exterior shell is constructed of gelatin, cellulose acetate, or another kind of plastic. The ideal paintballs have an exterior shell that is sturdy enough to handle being shot from a gun while still being soft enough to break on contact without causing damage.
Color is typically added to the gelatin shell so that it may be seen more clearly on the field. Depending on the company of choice, several colors commonly yellow, orange, or red may be used. In addition, water-based, liquid color is included within the paintball. Food-grade, non-toxic materials are used to fill the ball.
It also contains dye extracted from dietary sources. paintballs are not bad for the environment because, when left where they land, the balls will break down over time and the paintballs will begin to dissolve. Both casing and fill are made of natural materials, which re-enter the environment harmlessly. They don’t leave dangerous, toxic residue behind.
Manufacturing
The machines that manufacture paintballs cost millions of dollars. First, two broad strips of softened gelatin are fed into the machine to manufacture the capsules. Two counter-rotating drums transport the strips. The paintball casing is formed by pockets or dimples on the inside of these drums.
The machine automatically injects a precisely defined amount of paint into the cavity when the gelatin is pressed into the dimple. It also seals the two strips together mechanically, encasing the paint. Furthermore, the freshly created balls are soft, and if they aren’t entirely dried out, they will lose their shape. In a tumbling machine, the balls are then cooled and toughened. The paintballs are gently shaken by this device. The tumbler’s revolving movement spins the paintballs, making them evenly round as they dry.
After this, the paintballs are then left to air dry. The time duration depends on the formula as no manufacturer will reveal the whole list of ingredients since it is considered a trade secret, so it varies from factory to factory. Once the paintballs have thoroughly dried, they are moved on for packing. The machinery packages paintballs by their weight.
Storage
Now that we know how paintballs are made, how exactly do we store our paintballs? The easiest approach to keep unused paintballs safe is to keep them in a cold, dry location. Paintballs may be kept at room temperature for several months without deteriorating too much before being used.
Refrigeration will considerably slow down this process, preventing spoiling. A paintball that is not stored properly is vulnerable to damage and can rapidly become useless. Paintballs are susceptible to temperatures, humidity, and daylight; incorrect storage is the most common cause of a damaged paintball set.
Safety
But are paintballs really safe for us? Seeing that it goes through so many processes in the industry, one might question if it’s safe for us. Paintballs used to be produced with oil paints, which were toxic to humans.
Recent makers and producers, on the other hand, are using water-soluble chemicals to make these paintballs. Mineral oils, food coloring, ethylene glycol, and iodine are currently utilized in the manufacture of paintballs, making them fully safe for people.
In the case of consumption, they won’t kill you. When a paintball comes into touch with your skin, the outer shell is generally composed of gelatin, which cannot be digested or absorbed into your system. However, because these shells do not disintegrate when chewed, they do not give any nutritional benefit.
Paintballs should be avoided on both internal and exterior menus! In truth, the major reason paintballs are engineered to be edible is in case you get any paintball in your mouth while playing, such as if a paintball splatters across your face after hitting your goggles.
It’s vital to remember that dogs shouldn’t be allowed to play with paintballs since their digestive systems can’t break down the gelatin, which can lead to major complications. Furthermore, these paintballs are easy to remove from your clothing and will not leave any permanent stains. Paintball paint may be readily removed from clothing. You will also be oblivious to any odors or smells.
Simply soak the garments in warm water with a small amount of washing detergent. Wash the clothes in your washing machine as you normally would. Avoid using hot water since it will make removing the paint from the cloth more difficult. This is also why it’s not a good idea to clean your clothes with bleach or strong chemicals.
Read More:
How Old Do You Have to Be to Play Paintball?
Conclusion
In the end, paintballs are completely safe. They’re produced with food-grade components and may be properly stored in a cool, dry location for extended periods of time without losing quality or effectiveness. Paintball is a safe and enjoyable method to increase your adrenaline levels. We’ve covered all you need to know about paintball bullets, including how they’re created and why they’re reasonably safe, as well as how to wipe the paint off.
