100pct reliability is easily achieved for far less. - Buy a 20# or larger tank. Make sure it is filled before battle. Bring it to battle. Fill your ship off of it. A 20# tank swap is still under 40$ last I checked.
as the others have said, this is basically a standing issue with 20# co2 tanks and siphon tubes. I've never been able to draw more than 15# liquid out of them myself.
I wish we knew how much CO2 is left in a 50# tank. In my opinion we have rented too many tanks for NATS It may be that the club has spent $5,000.00 more in gas, over the years, then we used.
Dosent matter how much is left. If ya can't get a fill the tank is useless. If you use a non siphon tube take you will use more left in the tank BUT, who wants to try to flip a 50lb tank upside down? Not me.
The tanks can always be weighed before & after the battles(s), could be marked & dated with a Sharpie (wipes off easily w/acetone) I even weigh the 12g CO2 I use for airsoft, LOL. 80+% of the last batch of 100 I bought had 12g but some had 11g and others had 13g. -Which I started doin' after the last box of 40 from Wallie world had 2 empties in it. Of course, I mark their weight on each bulb. -In airsoft it is a known thing to load/charge CO2 grenades & shotgun shells with the charging device nozzle down (upside down) for best results.
If I was ever able to flip a 50# tank, I can't do it now JUST Weigh it before battle THEN use it NORMALY , after you have gotten all the USABLE CO2 out weigh it again. I would suspect the tank would weigh about 40# LESS.
My purpose in knowing is not just theoretical. If I knew how much CO2 we use in a 50# tank, I have a formula that can compute how much CO2 we would use at NATS. This could save the club about $700.00 $20 per attendee
Well I swapped CO2 tanks today. The weld supply store thought the siphon tube in my old tank might have broken and offered a new one, but I decided not to risk it. I got a tank without a siphon tube, and I will be mounting it upside-down for filling. See you at the battle!
that's pretty much what I had in mind. Gonna go by the hardware store tomorrow to get the parts I need.
We need to put a pole like that at our pond, instead of using a tree Joe and stop using the dip tube we will get more gas.
Well here's my solution. I used a garage bicycle hook to support the tank and a ratchet strap to hold it in place. I then added a pair of wheels so I can roll it around. I can strap the post upright to my workbench in the garage, or the porch railing at the local pond, or a tree or park bench at other ponds. My only regret is not bringing the tank to the hardware store when shopping. There was a much better garage tool holder that I didn't get because I wasn't sure if it would fit or not. As a result, it is somewhat awkward to swap tanks. Hopefully I won't be swapping tanks as often, now.
