Tattoo Machines
When it comes to creating a tattoo, whether it is your first or your 500th, as a tattoo artist, you will need to know a fair amount about the tools you are using.
Luckily, over the last 50 years, there haven’t been any major changes!
Of course, if you are keen to learn a bit more about tattooing in the hope of becoming an artist, it is best to start with the basics; the guns or machines.
Tattoo machines, also known as tattoo guns or tattooing devices, are an essential tool used by tattoo artists to create permanent body art. In tattoo parlors across the world today, there are two types of tattoo machines: rotary machines and coil machines.
So, to give you a breakdown of both, this article seeks to explore each type in detail below.
Rotary Machines
An essential piece of tattoo equipment, rotary tattoo machines use a motor to drive the needle up and down in a rotating motion. They are known for their smooth and quiet operation, as well as the minimal amount of force that is needed from the artist to leave their mark.
Eccentric or Rotary?
Breaking it down a bit further, there are two kinds of rotary machines that most tattoo artists will use. Direct-drive rotary machines have a motor directly attached to the needle assembly. The motor’s rotation directly translates into the movement of the needle, providing precise control and accuracy.
Next, there is the eccentric wheel machine. Eccentric wheel machines have a motor that drives an eccentric wheel, which, in turn, moves the needle. These machines offer adjustable stroke lengths, allowing artists to customize the tattooing experience based on their preferences and the needs of the design.
Coil Machines
More recently developed and a bit more commonly seen in tattoo parlors is the coil pen or machine. Coil tattoo machines use an electromagnetic circuit to move the needle. These are characterized by the distinct buzzing sound produced during operation.
They can leave bold lines and can also be great for when you need to do some shading, with minimal force and discomfort for your client.
Liner, Shaders, and Color Packers
Coil machines are available in various configurations.
The first is a liner machine. Liner machines are designed to create clean and precise lines. They typically have fewer needle groupings and a faster needle movement, allowing for crisp outlines.
Being exactly what it sounds like, shader coil machines are used for shading and coloring larger areas of a tattoo design. They have more needle groupings and slower needle movement, which facilitates the even distribution of ink and gradient effects.
Finally, color packer machines are a combination of liner and shader machines. They have a higher number of needle groupings than shaders but provide faster movement than liners. These machines are used for filling in solid color areas and packing pigment effectively.
In recent years, hybrid machines combining features of rotary and coil machines have emerged in the market, offering artists more flexibility and versatility.
So, in order to provide their customers with the best outcome and to be able to offer the widest range of options, most tattoo artists have all of the machines mentioned above.
