JMJ Concepts

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JMJ Concepts’ Vortex Impeller
by Bill Mills

In 2001 players hit on the idea of heating eVLution impellers, bending their arms upward and using them as agitating paddles in Revolution loaders (CLICK HERE to learn more).  In the WARPIG Ballistic Labs Loader Lineup test these modified impellers were found to have similar performance to standard Revolution agitators when the loader was nearly full.  Like the Revolution paddles, the bent impeller arms agitate the mass of paintballs breaking up jams, and allowing for smoother feeding.

However when the loader neared empty, the testing showed the modified impellers to provide more consistent feeding than the stock agitator.  Through observation, it appears that this is due to the modified impeller “throwing” balls straight to the feed neck area of the loader, rather than batting them up and away from it like original agitator.

ViewLoader quickly caught on to this, and with a large supply of eVLution loader agitators that weren’t selling, they began modifying them and installing them as a Revolution upgrade at paintball tournaments.  Their press release announcing this upgrade first offered at the 2001 NPPL Paintball World Cup even cited the WARPIG Ballistic Labs test results showing the advantage of the new custom agitator.

John Jelsma at JMJ Concepts of Mead, Colorado also recognized the advantages of modifying the impeller into an agitator and using it in the Revolution, but took things a step further.  Already in the business of machining injection molds, and of injection molding plastic products, Jelsma thought that making a more efficient agitator for the Revolution that didn’t need modifying was a natural product for his company.

Enter the Vortex Impeller.  While it performs as an agitator, and not a true impeller, the Vortex draws its name from it’s shape mimicking that of a bent eVLution impeller.  Installation into a Revolution loader is simple and straightforward.  The screws are removed from the two halves of the loader, and the two halves are separated.  A single screw is removed from the center of the stock agitator, and the agitator is lifted up off of the motor.  The Vortex is dropped on the agitator motor and the screw returned to secure it.  Then the hopper halves are reassembled and secured with their screws.

On the field, the Vortex Impeller delivers the same performance as a modified eVLution impeller.  These agitators are available in four bright colors, and for those who happen to find the JMJ crew at a paintball trade show, “clearing shots” are available.  These are paddles that have unique and individual swirls of color formed when the colors of plastic are changed on the injection molding machine.  With a suggested retail price of $7.95, though some dealers are selling them as low as $5 to $6.  It is an easy and inexpensive upgrade for Revolution loaders that has a noticeable impact on their performance.  
 

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