Paintball repair in Houston, Texas
paintball repair and maintenance
You’ve done it, you’ve purchased some paintball equipment and officially joined the paintball community of players; you’re probably excited to get out there and put that new equipment to good use. In this post we will go over how to prevent breakdowns, what you can fix yourself and the best paintball repair shops in Houston you can turn to when you run into trouble or need parts.
routine maintenance to prevent repairs
Like a car, a little routine maintenance goes a long way to prevent any major downtime or repairs. Here are 4 things every player should be able to do on their own:
- Wipe the marker down with a microfiber after playing.
- Apply a fresh coat of lubricant to the bolt system.
- Clean the inside of the barrel with a squeegee.
- Install a fresh battery if you’re on an electronic platform.
Paintball is a messy sport and the best way to keep your gear running is to clean it after every use. Your equipment will appreciate a wipe down at the end of the day and pay you back with good performance the next time you hit the field. Preventative maintenance, for the most part, is easy to learn and simple to do, rarely requiring special tools.
Mechanical & Electronic Markers
When choosing between electronic and mechanical markers, keep in mind that the cost of parts for electronic markers will be much higher than repairing the parts of mechanical markers. Mechanical markers are recommended for beginners because they are easier to tear down, clean and reassemble and have no tricky electronic parts to diagnose.
Maintenance resources
There are plenty of repair videos online for almost every make and model. If you have an electronic marker, make sure you store the manual and review maintenance guides for your specific paintball marker before you begin any type of maintenance or repair. There is plenty of information on YouTube about repairing most major brands like Planet Eclipse or Tippmann, but you’ll want to have your exact model handy when you go searching for support.
Air System Maintenance & Repair
Air systems are a major component in any paintball setup. We do not recommend casual users engage in any repairs or maintenance on high pressure air systems (HPA) or CO2 tanks.
Leave it to professional technicians to handle because working with high pressure air systems can be very dangerous if you’re not trained to repair them. We'll be releasing a blog post titled “compressed air tanks for paintball” for more detailed information about how those air systems work.
5 things every player needs to repair gear
Do-it-yourself is great for many routine maintenance items. You’ll want to have a few things on standby:
A paintball tech mat helps protect both the surface you're working on as well as the equipment itself from scratches.
Lubricants are essential. Most markers use grease, but many mechanical markers use oil. Check your service manual for lubricant specification.
A squeegee is also mandatory. If you want to shoot accurately you’ll want a clean undamaged barrel. Cleaning any paint or debris from your barrel is a breeze with a swab and there are plenty of good ones on the market.
Every paintball marker has o-rings that wear out. Replace them as they break down for better efficiency and performance. Keep a small kit of your marker’s o-rings so you can swap them quickly without having to order and wait.
Your specific marker’s manual will have the solutions to common problems, troubleshooting tips, and part numbers. Keep your manual handy.
Professional Repair Service
Unfortunately, even the best players can't fix everything. When you run into something that’s beyond your skill level, don’t mess around, go for professional expertise. As of this writing there are 3 stores you can visit for paintball repair in Houston.
Always check ratings
Be sure to check the ratings and reviews of any store before you entrust them with your expensive paintball gear. While we do not vouch for any particular repair center, customers in the Houston market seem to have strong opinions about where to take their gear for repair.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Conclusion
Your gear can last many years if well maintained. We recommend you wipe it down and clean it after every use, lubricate it at regular intervals, and seek expert advice when you run into problems you are not capable of fixing. Whether you’re planning to repair your gear yourself or entrust it to professionals, Houston has the resources you need. Lean on YouTube, local professionals and the thriving paintball community in Houston.