Tattoo Tool Shop

So you've decided to get tattooed. Wild methods, like thread and paste from a pen, you, as a reasonable person, do not consider, and you understand that you will need some kind of minimal set of equipment and tools for a tattoo. What should it be? All novice tattoo artists are asked about this at the dawn of their activities. Let's try to help.

tattoo machine

The main tool of the tattoo artist. Hair clippers are rotary and induction. The design of the rotor machine is simple to the point of primitivism - an electric high-speed motor and a simple crank mechanism that converts the rotation of the motor rotor into reciprocating motion of the needle.

It is easy to work with such machines, they are most effective when drawing a tattoo contour - they easily achieve high accuracy in drawing a tattoo line. Due to the high speed of movement of the needle, the level of pain is reduced, and literally after 15 minutes of work, the client simply ceases to feel them. Additional advantages of rotary tattoo machines are relatively low weight, low vibration and noise levels. It is convenient for them to work for several hours in a row.

Another advantage lies in the principle of operation of the electric motor - the frequency of operation of such a machine is easy to adjust by changing the voltage, and to do this in a fairly large range.

The disadvantages of rotary machines are also known. Often they are not as powerful as induction, and sometimes you need to "pass" one section of the picture twice. And the lower the voltage, the lower the frequency of movement of the arrow - the lower the power. It is not always efficient to use such machines for dyeing. However, modern models cope with this task.

The induction tattoo machine is a kind of “classic of the genre”. One or two coils form an electromagnet that attracts a plastic armature attached to a spring. The needle connects directly to the anchor. The machine is equipped with an adjustable contact pair, the settings of which determine the mode of operation of the machine.

Depending on the design and settings, induction machines are divided into linear (for lines) and shader (machines for drawing, “work on areas”). There is a desire for universalization - but it is better for the master to have these machines separately.

The only disadvantage of induction machines is a fairly strong vibration compared to rotary ones. Here the master will discover endless possibilities for perfection.

Holder

The part, the purpose of which is clear from the name - so that she holds the tattoo machine, and also inserts the bar for the needle. To the back of the tattoo machine holder, the tip is inserted in front. When the machine is turned on, the needle begins to move in the holder, flying out of the tip and returning to it - this is how the tattoo pattern is applied. Another name for the holder is influenza.

In general, holders are divided into disposable and reusable. Metal reusable needle holders are made from various alloys. A special coating makes it easy to clean and repeatedly autoclave (disinfect) these elements of tattoo machines. Most pen diameters range from 13mm to 39mm. The weight of the holder depends on the material from which it is made: steel, aluminum, various alloys.

Metal reusable holders are good for their durability, but this turns into certain disadvantages. Reusable holders must be washed, cleaned and disinfected. They do not dampen vibration - so you will need a bandage bandage.

Plastic and nylon holders - disposable, sterile, supplied in sealed packaging. Reuse is prohibited - so plastic holders are more practical and safer.

As a rule, the handle of disposable holders is made of a soft material - most often rubber. Such a holder perfectly dampens the vibration of the tattoo machine, makes the work of the master more comfortable, prevents deformation of the joints and other occupational diseases.

Disposable holders also have a drawback. Like any disposable means, they must be available with a certain supply, which still tends to end at the most inopportune moment.

A separate type of holders is modular. These holders are designed for use with Cheyenne Disposable Needle Modules and equivalents. The use of such holders allows the use of needle cartridges on any tattoo machine, which allows you to get rid of the tip as a separate part, greatly simplifies assembly and adjustment, and increases the quality of the gi.

It must be remembered that the holder is an anatomical thing, it is behind it that the tattoo artist keeps in the process of his work. Which one is better and more convenient is determined only by you, and only by experience.

Functions

Sheds, spouts, watering cans - all these are feather-shaped tips, inside which the needle moves when applying a tattoo. The main difference between the tips is the shape of the exit of the needle. It is clear that the shape and size of the hole must match the shape and size of the needle - only in this case the needle will move in a strictly straight line, and not damage the pattern by transverse vibrations. Like holders, tips are disposable and reusable - they are made of plastic or steel, respectively.

Steel tips are designed for long-term use - the needle is unlikely to “break”, directing its “nose”, and the tip itself can withstand repeated sterilization. They are supplied both individually and in sets. Plastic nozzles - disposable, sterile, supplied in individual blister packs. They do not need to be cleaned and sterilized - but you always need to have a certain supply.

The choice of tip, like the choice of tattoo holder, depends on individual preferences. Masters are advised to have both types - regularly sterilized reusable and disposable. Over time, you will determine which nozzles and holders are more convenient for you to work with.

knitting needles

The main consumable for a tattoo artist. It is their quality that determines what will be the result of all efforts to get a tattoo. The needle repeatedly pierces the top layer of the skin and injects the pigment.

Tattoo needles have different sharpening and different diameters. There are three types of sharpening needles: long, medium and short. Sharpening is determined by the length of the "cone" of the needle. Their diameter ranges from 0.25 to 0.4 mm. Needles with long sharpening are suitable for contouring, medium sharpening is considered universal, short - for shading. Needles of maximum diameter and with a short sharpening leave a thick point on the skin. Thin needles with a long sharpening, respectively, leave the smallest point in the skin. Elements of different diameters and with different sharpening soldered into bundles form different types of needles - this determines their purpose.

It would seem that a tattoo needle is a tattoo tool perfected over many years of use, and it is impossible to reinvent it. However, Cheyenne succeeded - indeed, they made a kind of revolution in the tattoo industry. The company proposed to combine a needle and a tip in one cartridge, creating a disposable module, while protecting other components of the device from liquid ingress with a special membrane.

This invention changed a lot. The holder has changed - from a tube to a handle, it has become a module lock and a guide for the pusher. Assembling a tattoo machine has become much easier, there is a real opportunity to easily change needles in the process. The process of applying tattoos has become much more hygienic. The tattoo drawing turned out to be much more accurate, since the needle and the cartridge body are optimally adjusted to each other in size. But the main thing without which this system would not have taken root is that the proposed approach was much more convenient than the classical scheme.

Bandages, sealing rings

An additional element of the “needle-tip-tubing-holder-holder” ligament. Used to fix the horizontal stroke of the needle, reduces the swing of the needle to the sides. This is necessary not only for more comfortable work, but also for a better drawing of the picture. In general, when assembling a tattoo machine, a fairly large number of various rubber products can be used. It would be useful to read the instructions, listen to the advice of experienced colleagues.

Supply voltage

The task of the power supply is to convert the mains voltage into a current with characteristics suitable for the operation of your tattoo machine. A suitable, and most importantly, high-quality power supply is the key to the health of your tattoo machine. Blocks are of two types - pulse and transformer.

Impulse blocks are more compact, and modern technologies for the production of components have made them even more reliable. Typically, a switching power supply provides a current of 2 A, which is suitable for most tattoo machines.

The transformer power supply is larger and heavier - it is more of a stationary option for a tattoo parlor. Such a power supply can "give out" a current of 3 A or more - it all depends on the characteristics of a particular model and your needs. The disadvantage of such units is that transformers do not react well to the “jumping” load characteristic of tattooing.

Regardless of the type of block, it must have a voltage regulator, ideally an output voltage indicator, and various protections - from overheating or overload, as well as short circuits. The main requirement for the unit is the minimum "drawdown" of voltage when connecting the load - this makes the operation of the machine more predictable and easily customizable.

It should be remembered that for powerful machines you need a powerful unit, as well as high-quality cords with good bandwidth. So, if your machine has stopped "buzzing", do not panic. Better to figure out what the problem is first. Maybe your unit simply does not have the strength, or the wires are damaged somewhere.