Howdy, gel blaster geeks!
Ever wondered if gel blaster bullets (or, gellets) truly dissolve on impact, as manufacturers claim? Do the beads simply disappear into thin air? Well, not completely.
However, if you’re worried about the cleanup afterward, I have some good news for you. In my years of experience, I’ve discovered that gel balls eventually dissolve, but they leave behind some residue. But, does it imply a problem in disguise?
In this article, we shall embark on an investigative journey, peeling back the layers to understand this phenomenon. Let’s dive into the truth and unravel the mystery of Orbeez bullets together.
Do Gel Blaster Balls Dissolve On Impact? A Closer Look
Squelch! When you fire the bullets from your gel blaster gun, they seem to dissolve upon hitting the target, leaving only a watery splatter mark. Picture this: water beads, about 7-8 mm wide, hurtling through the air until they hit a surface. But where do they go?
These magic gel beads mostly consist of water, with just a small amount of super-absorbent polymer. When they lose their hydration, they shrink to the size of small pellets. That’s the secret!
When the gellets dissolve, they don’t leave behind a messy trail because it’s the water content doing the trick. So, rest assured, you can blast away and enjoy the excitement outside without worrying about a trail of Orbeez gunk.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what happens when you shoot the ammo with a gel blaster:
- The gel balls break down (but do not melt) immediately upon impact.
- Most of the water content disappears, taking some of the polymer material with them.
- Some visible residue is left splattered at the spot where the gel blaster bullets struck.
- The residue includes both water and polymer. Once the water evaporates, the polymer material is left behind and dries up on the surface.
- The polymer material is biodegradable and eventually breaks down and dissolves. However, this may take a few years.
However, if you have mistakenly dropped Orbeez beads in the drain (sink, bathtub, etc.), they do not easily dissolve in water. The balls soak more moisture and get fluffier over time. This can result in clogging of the drain line, which may turn into a serious plumbing issue.
Summing up, it’s safe to say that gel balls do dissolve, but not immediately and completely. The amount of residue left behind depends primarily on their quality. The higher their quality, the easier they would disintegrate and vanish!
How Long Do Gel Blaster Bullets Take To Dissolve?
The time taken for gel blaster ammo to dissolve completely depends on several factors (explained in the next section). It’s all about their quality, velocity, and the environment they encounter. Now, assuming you’ve got a powerful gel blaster and some high-quality gellets, they should pretty much disintegrate right on impact.
Most of the residue tends to break down once the water evaporates, leaving behind a bit of dried polymer. When playing indoors, I strongly recommend cleaning up gel blaster bullets before they have a chance to dehydrate completely. Trust me, it becomes a real challenge to remove once it’s dried and stuck. While it’s not harmful, having dry Orbeez residue splattered everywhere isn’t exactly fun.
But if you’re playing outdoors, well, you can let nature do its thing. Those gellets will gradually dissolve into the soil and biodegrade over time. It’s all part of the outdoor gel-blasting experience, and it won’t cause any harm.
Dissolving Gel Balls: The Key Factors
The Quality Of The Gellets: High-quality gel balls dissolve faster and more effectively. This is because these splatter gun bullets are made of a material that can easily break apart upon impact. When they hit a surface, the material starts to break down, allowing the squishy beads to break down quickly. On the other hand, lower-quality gellets may not have the same composition, making them slower to dissolve.
Water Temperature: Gel balls soaked in warm water (105-115°F) are softer and tend to dissolve faster. This is because the higher temperature causes them to expand by loosening up the molecules and polymer chains.
Muzzle Velocity: The velocity at which the water beads strike the surface strongly influences how quickly they dissolve. The harder it hits the surface, the more effectively it disintegrates and decomposes. This is why Orbeez gun ammo shot from less powerful blasters or longer distances tends to leave more residue. For this reason, I recommend using 170-260 FPS gel blasters. (Learn More: Gel Blaster FPS range)
Environmental Conditions: Lastly, it’s harder for the gel bullets to dissolve in an indoor environment. Not only does the water take longer to evaporate, but the residues of the polymer material don’t vanish magically, either. However, the great outdoors offers a different story. The impact of air temperature, humidity, and natural elements accelerates breakdown, letting the gellets vanish effectively over time.
Is It Safe To Let The Gel Beads Evaporate Outside?
No worries! It’s perfectly safe to dry out and evaporate gel blaster balls outdoors. While it’s true that the Orbeez polymer is ultimately a kind of plastic, it’s biodegradable and breaks down naturally.
In fact, it’s best to play with gel blasters outdoors unless you’re playing at a dedicated arena. Unlike when playing indoors, you won’t have to worry about a post-game messy cleanup.
The gel blaster ammo does not usually carry harmful chemicals, so allowing them to evaporate outdoors won’t pollute the environment either. Besides, direct exposure to sunlight will enhance the evaporation process significantly, minimizing residues and allowing the gellets to dissolve faster.
How To Dissolve Gel Blaster Ammo Faster?
Orbeez are designed to absorb water and do not dissolve like soluble substances. However, if you want to remove or shrink them faster once they have expanded, you can try the following methods:
1. Choosing A Dedicated Playground
Unless you’re planning to play at an arena, choose a dedicated outdoor area where the Orbeez bullets would evaporate and disintegrate more easily. It’s best to choose a space where the beads would automatically end up in the soil, such as at a park, garden, or in your backyard.
2. Remove The Accessible Beads Manually
If you have no choice but to play indoors, make sure to clean up the Orbeez as soon as possible after the game. Allowing the residues to dry up makes them much more difficult to discover and remove. All you have to do is mop or wash the floor and wipe the walls or other surfaces clean.
3. Applying Warm Water
Soaking Orbeez in warm water can speed up the process of water absorption. Replace the cold water they were initially soaked in with warm water. Stir the Orbeez gently to help them release the excess water they’re holding. Repeat this process until they have shrunk to the desired size.
4. Using Saltwater
You can try adding a small amount of salt to the water in which the Orbeez are placed. The salt can disrupt the water-absorbing properties of the Orbeez and potentially cause them to release water and shrink more quickly. Be cautious not to add too much salt, as it could damage the Orbeez or make the water too salty.
5. Using Chemical Cleaners
Now, you should never pour gel blaster balls down a sink as they may pile up and clog the drain. In case you messed up and already have a clogged sink drain to deal with, don’t worry – you can still dissolve the Orbeez. Pour some bleach or a chemical cleaner like Drano into the drain to break down the gel beads quickly. Alternatively, a solution of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda would work pretty well too.
6. Using Powerful Orbeez Guns
A powerful Orbeez gun not only enhances your performance and gives you an edge but also reduces the necessary post-game cleanup. As I mentioned earlier, a higher muzzle velocity allows the gel balls to dissolve more effectively as they strike against the surface with greater force and break down.
The Conclusion
In the end, it’s now evident that gel blaster balls truly dissolve. With good gellets and a powerful blaster, they vanish quickly, leaving a tiny bit of residue. Cleaning up outdoors is no hassle as the leftovers break down in the soil.
This applies not only to the bullets of gel blasters and Orbeez guns but also to all splatter ball guns. In such a case, using a good quality splatter ball gun with certified ammo is a real game-changer.
So, let’s celebrate this enchanting gel blaster magic that not only rules our battles but also blesses the ground we play on! Keep enjoying the fun and leave no worries behind!
