Gel blasters are fantastic equipment out of the factory, but sometimes you want to upgrade them to make them even better. It’s like an itch you need to scratch.
Furthermore, the benefits can be substantial if you get around to doing it. Changing your setup improves performance and aesthetics, and can sometimes increase play time.
Unfortunately, the upgrading process is devilishly challenging. Gel blasters are notoriously fiddly, with tiny gears and springs inside. Moreover, you don’t always know what model you own and following manufacturer instructions often requires carrying around a dictionary and thesaurus.
Fortunately, this guide is here to help. You will learn everything about customising and upgrading your gel blaster. By the end, you should know better what to do and how to move forward.
Why Upgrade?
But before we begin, though, it’s worth exploring why you might upgrade your gel blaster in the first place. Why go to the effort?
One reason is to make your blaster your own. Customisation lets you go beyond the manufacturer’s specifications and build something that suits your style. You can change the grip, stock, and rails for attachments like scopes and flashlights. Custom paint jobs are also available.
Another reason for upgrades is performance. Changing the internals can boost your blaster’s rate of fire, range and accuracy. For example, upgrading to a better nozzle can improve accuracy.
Finally, some people like changing their gel blasters to suit their play style. Small modifications like changing the grip or adding new gel ball tanks can improve the experience.
How To Upgrade Your Gel Blaster
This section explores upgrading your gel blaster and enjoying the high-end performance. Here’s what to do:
Prepare For The Upgrade
As always, the first step is to lay the groundwork for the upgrade. You should research to see what’s possible with your existing equipment.
Start by writing down your blaster’s make and model number. Knowing this can help you find upgrades compatible with your device.
Then, make various measurements of your existing setup. See what standards the manufacturer used. (Unfortunately, you can’t always buy generic parts to upgrade your gel blaster. If your equipment is non-standard, these won’t fit).
During this process, be honest about your DIY skills. Upgrading a gel blaster requires in-depth technical knowledge about pressurised systems, springs, pumps, batteries, water beads, and hoppers. Customising your kit should come naturally if you’ve been repairing and working on gel blasters for years. However, it will be hard (with or without instructions) if you attempt it yourself. Tutorials and guides are available, but upgrade work will take a long time.
Lastly, double-check your blaster’s manufacturer’s warranty. Upgrading it with new systems and equipment might void the warranty and prevent you from accessing free repairs.
Find Your Upgrade
Once you’ve laid the groundwork, the next job is to find a suitable upgrade. Many stores across Australia specialise in helping enthusiasts improve their gear.
For instance, GBU offers universal upgrade kits that let you customise almost any gel blaster. Products make it simple and safe to create the equipment you want on your terms. Our Stage 2 upgrade packs include high-flow pistons, enhanced O-rings and power springs, torque motors and gear grease to improve gel blaster rifle performance from 300 feet per second to 330 or more. Stage 3 universal modification kits are even more impressive. These contain enhanced parts, like SHS hardened reverse latches and SHS enhanced selector plates to increase performance from 300 feet per second to 350 or more.
Once you have the required upgrade items, join a gel blaster online community. Reaching out to forums and social media groups connects you to people who understand how to complete effective customisations. Get their advice and learn more about high-value upgrades most people will miss.
Upgrade Your Gel Blaster
Upgrading a gel blaster is never straightforward. You have limited resources and parts can be fiddly – a test of your patience. Instruction manuals can also be technical, preventing you from making as much progress as you might like in an afternoon in the shed.
Thus, to get through this challenge, do the following:
1. Start small
Don’t try to overhaul every part of your gel blaster in one evening. Work toward it in smaller steps to make the task less onerous.
The best way to start small is with a simple upgrade that builds your confidence, like adding new barrels or scopes to your blaster. These changes don’t require fiddling around with the more complex components, but they can help you make your kit unique.
2. Use video tutorials
You should also use video tutorials. Understanding conventional gel blaster instruction manuals is a challenge. All those diagrams – it’s a nightmare.
But with video tutorials, you can get a clearer picture of how to service gel blasters. Experienced professionals take you through each step, explaining it as they go. You can see the process in real-time, avoiding confusion.
3. Be patient
During the upgrade process, be patient. Don’t expect everything to work out how you want immediately.
Treat it like working on a motorcycle or custom computer. It’s fiddly, but it is also a labour of love and by the end of it, you will get something worthwhile out of it.
4. Talk to others in the gel blaster community
Working with others can also help when upgrading gel blasters. Being part of the community exposes you to information you can’t find online.
For example, you can:
- Get answers to pressing questions
- Learn more about the components you require
- Read guides
- Get moral support
5. Use the right tools for the job
Even with the best support and advice, you still need the right tools for the job. As stated earlier, upgrading and modifying gel blasters is fiddly work.
At the very least, you need a precision screwdriver set. These help you undo the nuts and bolts holding the device together, allowing you to get at the internals. A set of Philips and flathead screwdrivers of varying sizes is best.
You also want a hex key set. Some manufacturers use hex bolts on their products, so having a few of these around is also beneficial.
Other items you might require include:
- Needle-nose pliers – Handy when removing springs or positioning small parts.
- Gear grease – Lubrication to reduce internal friction and ensure components don’t stick together
- Tweezers – Helpful for picking up and placing tiny parts
- Punches – Sometimes necessary for dislodging or unsticking hard-to-remove parts
- Teflon tape – Useful for tighter seals
When working on gel blasters, it’s also a good idea to use a work mat with magnetic elements to prevent screw loss and keep everything organised. Good lighting and a periscopic flashlight are handy (for peering inside the gel blaster). A multimeter can be convenient for electrical work (such as upgrading the battery or creating new circuits).
Do You Have To Perform The Upgrade Yourself?
You might think you have to perform these upgrades yourself. But that’s not always true. It turns out,
professionals can do it for you. Simply tell them the gel blaster you want, and they create it for you.
For example, GBU offers professional custom-built blasters to save time and guarantee results. These arrive exactly as ordered, with no pressure or battery issues. You can choose the power source, colour, price and whether you want it now or want to order a fresh design that hasn’t been made yet.
If you don’t want to do that, you could ask a friend or enthusiast to whip something up. Many people build their gel blasters from scratch and can do the same for you.
How To Ensure Your Customised Gel Blaster Is Safe
Once you finish customising your new gel blaster, the final task is to ensure safety. You don’t want it exploding on you.
Start by checking for leaks from the unit. These usually suggest a problem with the air pressure system and can affect performance.
After that, take the blaster to a safe environment for test firing. If there are any problems, they should energy immediately. Check gel isn’t leaking through the chassis after discharging the unit. If you see any dripping, it could be a sign of damage and performance issues.
Also, look for minor nicks and scratches on your blaster. These can look small, but they could compromise the unit’s integrity (particularly if you are pushing it beyond the manufacturer’s specifications).
Maintaining Your Customised Gel Blaster
Once you are happy the blaster is working as expected, take time to maintain it properly. Lubricate moving parts every few sessions and check friction levels inside the unit. If you notice wear and tear when you take the components out, check oil levels and continue monitoring the situation.
At the same time, tighten the screws. Regularly check critical components to ensure they don’t get loose.
If your upgrade items have instructions, follow them to the letter. Adding parts blindly can be risky.
