A stainless steel wrapped bottom line is flat out the best way to go when pressure is involved unless you're thinking of a solid aluminum or copper line. Solid line has little flexibility though, so wrapped stainless in the long run is still your all around best choice. Some swear by macroline but the possible cracking and bursting lines have nothing over a plastic tube reinforced with stainless steel webbing. It can easily withstand the pressures from a compressed air tank and even the inconsistent higher pressures of a C02 tank. Unless you somehow pierce, mangle or deform stainless line, it should last you virtually forever. Ok maybe a day or two less than that but a long time anyways. The only problem for some with stainless line is that it only comes in one color, silver and reflective. I am going to help you change that formula and give you a choice of some colors to brighten up your marker or in general, cover up that reflective line.

The Material

The material we will use for this covering is called shrink wrap/tubing. It can be found at some auto parts stores but most prominent at an electronics store. You'll probably find that an auto parts store will offer it in an assortment package in different diameters and colors all in one particular length. A reputable electronics store will offer it in different colors in 3' - 4' lengths or they may even offer it from spools by the foot as well. The colors I have seen it offered in is black, grey, clear, red, blue and yellow. It comes in many assorted diameter sizes and the size I used for the line in the above photograph is 1/2" diameter. There is a raw piece shown coming from under the trigger frame in the photograph. It will shrink to half its original size after being heated. For instance if you use a 1/2" diameter size, it will shrink down to relatively 1/4" after applying heat to it.

Shrinking The Tube To Your Stainless Line

I would suggest purchasing a bit more than twice the length that you need in case you make an error. This will possibly save you a trip back to wherever you got it from. Before shrinking the tube to the line, be sure to remove any plastic or rubber o-rings or seals accessible to avoid any possibility of melting them. Cut the length of the tubing past the length that you want it to be on the line because of course, it will shrink.

There are a few different means to shrink the tubing to the line. The most practical would be a heat gun. An open flame like a lighter can be used but there is a possibility that it may melt if you hold the flame too close since it's made of plastic. Be very careful if you do. Another means is to use a hair dryer but the gauge of the 1/2" tubing is a bit thick and it may take a very long time to shrink it. I used my personal large heat gun in the kitchen, it's called an electric stove. If you use the stove technique, hold the hose at least 9" - 12" away from the burner and make sure to cover your hand with something so not to burn yourself.

Slip the tubing over the line and coupler end. It may be a bit difficult at first getting it past the coupler at the ends of the line but once you get it going it will slide on fairly easy from there. I put a very small dab of silicone oil on my finger and rubbed it on the end coupler which helped make the process a bit easier. Depending on what you choose for a heat source, make sure that you don't let the hose get too hot because you don't want to melt the internal plastic hose or possible rubber or plastic seals in the coupler ends. If it's too hot to hold in your bare hands, it needs to be cooled. You can use an ice cube to chill it a little between heating applications. Once the tubing clings so you can't move it on the hose, you need not heat it any more, it's done. At this point, use an Exacto-knife or single edged razor blade to cut any excess material off the ends. Reinstall the o-rings and you're done.

The Result

The result is a very nice looking stainless line that is very distinctive, non-reflective, impervious to water and paint and of course, colored to your liking. If you shrunk the tubing to the line correctly, there should be no kinks at all on the surface of the plastic when you bend the line.

Technical Information