[mass destruction]

Originally Posted by Nick Brockdorff

I'd like to know why so many are dropping their dwell?

In any gun I've ever shot, increasing dwell made it gentler on paint, while decreasing efficiency..... and vice versa.

So, my thinking is, that while the gun may "feel" softer in the setup many recommend (with the lower dwell), it is actually harder on paint.

Why not run the setup suggested, but instead increase dwell?

Feel free to set me straight, if the Axe is different, and decreasing the dwell actually makes it softer on paint (which frankly would surprise me, and I'd like to understand why).

Don't think anybody ever answered this question yet.
First off, changing dwell will have varied effects based on the type of marker in question. There isn't a universal rule of thumb that applies to every marker, at least not in my experience.

In stacked tube poppets, where FSDO and stickage isn't as much of a concern, lowering dwell will definitely make the gun smoother. However if your marker isn't broken in then you should leave it at the stock setting until you've put more paint through it or you may get poor consistency due to less consistent valve lift. Remember, as you decrease the force on the moving parts friction becomes more of a concern. If you have to raise your pressure to compensate for lowering your dwell, you should probably leave it stock.

In poppets raising dwell tends to make them kick more because the ram/ bolt assembly are moving faster and the poppet valve will be opened longer, allowing more air though and causing slightly more pneumatic recoil. It can also increase consistency, due to more consistent valve lift.

Unbalanced spools react to dwell adjustments vaguely similar to poppets, but you'll have to worry more about fsdo.

In balanced spools raising dwell simply raises the amount force used to cycle the bolt and doesn't affect the amount of air being released like poppets and unbalanced spools. higher bolt speeds will be rougher on paint.
That being said, the best dwell in balanced spools is the lowest setting that will allow you to consistently overcome static friction, as this will exert less force on the bolt and therefore the paint. This value will also change from one marker to the next depending on how broken in they are and the temperature they are being used in. Obviously colder temps necessitate higher dwells.

The axe/mini use a very different operating system with a different solenoid, so they react differently. In my experience, assuming the same operating pressure is used, raising dwell will increase the bolt speed, making the marker handle paint rougher. However, because a higher dwell will let you run a lower pressure, it may be smoother and not handle paint MUCH rougher, but there are better settings for paint handling. A lower dwell setting will allow the minimum necessary force on the ball, assuming you keep your marker clean and well lubed.

You have to remember that the manufacturer has to account for all the mechanically disinclined people and kids that will inevitably end up purchasing their product and not properly maintaining it, so all axes/minis leave the factory set at a much higher dwell/pressure than what is actually needed, so that when you have more friction due to neglect the marker still works.

Sorry for the enormous post, wanted to answer that though . This is all what I've noticed in my experience, it may not be universally true.

[Buster Hymen]

^...As a new Axe owner this helps a lot...thank you!!!

[98Pro]

Dwell does not affect anything if everything else stays constant. If you're pressure and back cap timing are the same lowering your dwell will only help efficiency. Same in a DM or something else, if everything else stays constant (pressures and FPS) lowering your dwell will only increase efficiency.

[TheRealSpyro]

Bump* worked very well

[Bellamy803]

almost cross eyed reading this whole thread just now. Going to give this a try sunday! Thanks for the post.

[Lane821]

Alright, I'm going to do this to my Axe tomorrow, I'll post up results.
But I was wondering after doing this, when I go to chrono with different paint, as in going into a event. Do I adjust the FPS through the Reg or the back cap, or do this whole process again?

[MyJTRox]

Originally Posted by Lane821

Alright, I'm going to do this to my Axe tomorrow, I'll post up results.
But I was wondering after doing this, when I go to chrono with different paint, as in going into a event. Do I adjust the FPS through the Reg or the back cap, or do this whole process again?

Should be fine just adjusting the reg.

[Nick Brockdorff]

Originally Posted by Lane821

Alright, I'm going to do this to my Axe tomorrow, I'll post up results.
But I was wondering after doing this, when I go to chrono with different paint, as in going into a event. Do I adjust the FPS through the Reg or the back cap, or do this whole process again?

I do the whole proces when I change paint - when you get used to it, it only takes a couple of minutes.

[fireguy84]

Nice method! Thanks!

[Slayer-NWI]

I picked up a used (stock) mini. I don't oun a crono and wont be able to spend alot of time on the one at my local field messing with the settings. Yes, I've read the sickys but I'm not seeing anything about running this gun stock and tuning for consistency. We can only shot simi caped 10.5bps and efficiency isn't something I'm worried about. I reset the board to stock, Whoever ouned this befor me put the psi at 190-200 and the back cap almost all the way out so obviously they didnt know what they were doing.

Any advice as to where I should set the psi and back cap to a good starting point?

[Nick Brockdorff]

Originally Posted by Slayer-NWI

I picked up a used (stock) mini. I don't oun a crono and wont be able to spend alot of time on the one at my local field messing with the settings. Yes, I've read the sickys but I'm not seeing anything about running this gun stock and tuning for consistency. We can only shot simi caped 10.5bps and efficiency isn't something I'm worried about. I reset the board to stock, Whoever ouned this befor me put the psi at 190-200 and the back cap almost all the way out so obviously they didnt know what they were doing.

Any advice as to where I should set the psi and back cap to a good starting point?

If you read my posts in the thread, you will see I run my Axe stock with the suggested tuning method (except I increase dwell, rather than decrease it, as it gives me a smoother shot).

So, go ahead and use the method described on your Mini, should be about the same, though possibly a little higer operating pressure for the desired results.

[Captain!]

This is amazing! I used this after dropping a techt bolt and spring kit in. My axe has never shot smoother.

[KibishiiBaka]

I recently changed my settings to tune with the boss bolt and I thought it was really easy. I gotta buy a chronograph so I can check my FPS so that I don't have to further tune on the field.

[Tears]

Are you guys all using Boss' recommended settings w. this? Besides the dwell changing w. step 6?

[Tr@ns@m Joe]

This method helped me this wkend with both my axe and the mini! Amazing what 20 mins tuning can do overall to a marker.

[blueshifty]

Originally Posted by Tears

Are you guys all using Boss' recommended settings w. this? Besides the dwell changing w. step 6?

Boss even tells you that what he recommends are just starting points. Since each gun varies, I use this method and start from scratch.

[joshuadobie]

I lower my pressure to about 140 and put my dwell around 15 blinks it shoots like butter nice and quiet i chrono around 290-295

[98Pro]

Revised the first post to help eliminate questions and concerns with Boss and Lurker bolts and make it easier to use.

[TrueTexan43]

Just ordered my Axe! Can't wait to use this method!

[Steve M]

Looking to do this to my Axe this weekend.

[ironyusa]

I usually go .25 turns in after sweet spotting just because it seems to improve consistency. Pressure is usually relatively unaffected, and dwell is also about the same.