Darren McGregor

I have not done extensive
testing on tattoo machine metallurgy to measure resistance and
magnetic field changes, nor would I really care to. With that being
said, there are a few organizations out there that have

A lot of artists will use different machine frames for different purposes.
Typically a machine frame is made of iron, steel, brass,
aluminum, a metal-ceramic polymer, and even plastic. It is arguable
that the

Tattoo machines work off of an electromagnetic coil. It is usually
agreed upon by artists that the coil has to run in a horseshoe
configuration to achieve synchronized pull. This can only
be achieved if the cores

Metal is all over the tattoo machine. 90% of the tattoo machine
is made of some type of metal, and the type of metal will
determine a lot of things about a specific machine. The most
prominent part of the tattoo

Mechanical or Electrical, which comes first? This is another
classic example of the chicken or the egg question that plagues
humanity. If you are articulate enough, then it is very possible
to claim either. I like

No matter what you call the parts of a tattoo machine, how they
all function is the important thing to analyze. Each component
has an important role. Some components can be argued to
be part of a larger set of

Buyer Beware. There are a lot of tattoo scams on the internet.
The only way you can make sure you are buying
a quality real machine is when you buy it from the dealer.
You get what you pay for, and most reputable

There are limitless companies that sell lower end materials and
gear, however this text will not go into that aspect of the mainstream
tattoo supply chain, instead it will focus on what I feel are
a few basic

A wise old-timer tattoo artist once told me that a good tattoo
maker should be able to tattoo well with any machine, if given
enough time to tinker with it. You will see your game improve by
leaps and bounds if

The vast ocean of tattoo gear available is almost unimaginable
these days. You, as a beginner are probably familiar with the
advertisements in the back of your favorite tattoo magazine or
have seen the web banner

A tattoo artist’s inks or pigments are the best kept secret in the
tattoo industry, aside from the tattoo machine tuning. More and
more distributors are hitting the markets with just as various
colors. Each vendor

Surprisingly, not a lot of people know how a tattoo machine puts
the ink in the skin. It is also not very widely known that the “tattoo
needle” is actually a grouping of multiple needles. Whether it
is just

The tattoo process requires power. While it is possible to run a
tattoo machine without a proper power supply (as in the actual
power supply device), it is not suggested. You could very easily
hook your tattoo

The tattoo machine has come a long way since its inception, but
surprisingly it has really not changed too much. The basic concept
is the same and even the general build is the same. The
major differences are that

“Appropriate disinfectants include:
• A diluted bleach solution (usually diluted 1:10 with water).
• EPA-registered anti-microbial products.
• Tuberculocides (List B).
• Sterilants (List A).
• Products registered

The best method is to pull out 20% more ink caps than required
for the job, and pour 100% more ink than is required for the job.
This way you should never have to go into the cold zone while
you are in the middle

Hot zone:
Once the needle breaks skin the hot zone is established.
The hot zone consists of the client, the machine, and any item
that has bodily fluid on it.
This includes ink filled caps that have been dipped

Warm zone:
All materials that are sterilized will be kept in your cold zone.
The cold zone will be sealed off from your warm and hot zone
by means of closed drawer or cabinet. Prepping your work area,
or warm zone

The cold zone is defined as an area that holds your sterile materials.
This area is not to be touched during the tattoo process
at all. For our purposes, the tattoo process begins once the skin
of the client has

It may not have crossed your mind, but while a tattoo is in progress
thousands of tiny splatters of bodily fluid and ink will hit the
artist. Some of these microscopic spatters will hit the artist in the
face.