Consider hydro testing to be the MOT for compressed air cylinders.
New car designs are built to comply with standards and have samples submitted for testing to destruction, they are then legal to be sold and after a period of time are then subject to testing to keep them in use.
A new cylinder from Just Paintball will be EU compliant with a Pi mark to prove it and will be valid for a few years before it is due for hydro testing.
If its an all metal cylinder then it will have a 'born date' stamped in the neck, if it was manufactured yesterday then it will be marked 2016/10 for October 2016. In reality it will be a little older because it will have been passing down the chain from factory to distributor and then waiting in the shop for you to buy it. You can happily use it for approx 5 years (Add 5 to the year)
Though metal cylinders are called 'steelies' it will really be aluminium and in the UK can be used for 10 years (But not every site will let you use one for 10 years)
If you have a small enough aluminium cylinder such as a 13ci then it would be exempt from testing and can be used forever as long as its in decent condition.
Aluminium cylinders can be hydro tested, and used forever, but unless you get a good price then its not that viable as you may as well buy new.
If its a fibre wrapped cylinder (thinner aluminium cylinder reinforced with glass fibre) then it will have a maximum lifetime of normally 15 years, but needs to be hydrotested every 5 years.
A fibre cylinder will have its markings printed on the side with both a 'born date' and a 'final' or 'death' date, e.g. Born 2016/10 Final 2031/10. You would need to retest todays fibre cylinder in 2021 and 2026, then in 2031 it becomes a paperweight.
When retested you get a sticker on the cylinder with details of the test centre, test date, and next due date. Plus you get a certificate with all the details to prove you haven't just faked a sticker.
All of the above is dependant on condition. You can do pretty much anything to an aluminium cylinder and can ignore the loss of any paint. Fibre cylinders should be protected as though the glass fibre is touch any knocks could go into the fibre wrap, and when site staff check the bottle they may reject it.
Put a cover on fibre cylinders, and whatever cylinder you have get a nipple cover on as well.
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