Nightliner

[Nightliner]

run your machines a little slower and yes the skin is thinner on the top of the hand, so watch your depth.

[Nightliner]

before mags became popular there were flats and rounds. Mostly old timers stuck in there ways still use flats. there are so many better shaders now. Although I have learned through the years that everything has a place and a time; so maybe play around with it and see what you can do. How do you think new things are discovered?

[Nightliner]

I’ve been using 1″ for 10 years or so and my hands are kinda small. I use it cause to weight seems to balance the machine out and my hand doesn’t cramp up from holding a grip that is too small.

[Nightliner]

Do you use vaseline or a&d ointment when tattooing? It helps the ink bead up, and gives you cleaner wipes that dont hurt as much. Make sure the skin is really tight, thats important; when the skin is tight you will “feel” your needle popping into the skin. Take your time, and whether you do small circles, or brush type strokes, or a combination of both you need to do small sections, make sure they are solid then move on, and dip a lot-keep your machine inked up, don’t try to make the ink ‘stretch ou”. try Tattooing at a slight angle if you’re not already. Well, hope that helps some.

[Nightliner]

huck spaulding has one that’s a little cheesy, but it has a lot of fundamental info.

[Nightliner]

Different shops supply different supplies to their artists, and some don’t supply anything but the space to tattoo in. So, if you want a list of everything , here goes (and remember I’m old and forgetfull,lol)

Machines- at least two, four would be better.
gloves – latex and non-latex for the alergic people
ink cups – #9, #16
Inks – black and an assortment of colors
witch hazel – for doing B&G
paper towels – somethng without prints on them, and soft white is good
power supply and pedal and clip cord(8 foot)
green soap
speed stick or dettol
trace carbons
#12 rubber bands
a stainless steel tray is handy
plastic wrap for barrier film
HB wipes are good for clean up
a jewelers loupe
needles – at least 7 liner and 7 mags in boxes of 50
tubes – permanant or throw aways
grips – i recomend 1 inch
spray bottel
some misc tools – to adjust your machines and put your tubes together
pliers
Q-tips and oil
vaseline
tongue depessors
optional stuff – clip cord and machine barrier film
a case to put your stuff in
plastic cups – to rinse your tubes and small ones for mixing a larger grey wash

Well I know I forgot something, but that’s a pretty good start.

[Nightliner]

I’ve always did the grey work first because colors should be put in, where possible, in the dark colors to light color order. If you do it this way, your light colors will come out brighter.

[Nightliner]

There’s a girl named lisa kylin who sells on ebay (kylin tattoo machines). Well she’s from china, but don’t get scared cuz its from china. The machines are made in iron, brass, bronze, and damascus steel. I recommend the bronze machines. Her machines run from around 50 – 75.00 each. Now most of the crap that comes out of china is really poor quality, but this girl has a connection for some really decent machines. And not just because the price is so low. I really thing that once more people start buying her machines that the price is going to go really high. I think they are probably worth somewhere around 200.00 -275.00 range right now. So, I would get one of hers if I were you, you won’t be disappointed. The 20979S/L is a shader / liner set for $139.00. It’s for sell on ebay right now. Take a look. anyway, good luck with your search.[attachment=0:kfbvdamj]kylin.jpg[/attachment:kfbvdamj]

Mark

[Nightliner]

Send me a hundred bucks and I’ll tell you how to build a machine step by step.

[Nightliner]

[attachment=0:21qqe0ax]jimmy.jpg[/attachment:21qqe0ax]

This was done a few years ago on my son in law. I don’t get to tattoo much anymore cuz of kidney failure, but I dug this one up. Not the best I’ve ever done, but it’s alright.
7 liner, 7 mag, fantasia colors, talens drawing ink for the lines, black fill, and whip shade.

[Nightliner]

Just thought I’d mention that you can’t shade with a gun.

[Nightliner]

I mix down with witch hazel; seems to keep the redness down so tone values show up better,imo. Set out 5 #16 ink cups. pure black in the first one, #2 75% or so, #3 50%, #4 25%, #5 pure witch hazel. That’s not the way I do it, but it seems to work for a lot of people who like to pre-mix tone values. Good luck.

[Nightliner]

Voltage isn’t what you should be controlling your machine speed with. Spring gauge, and tuning, i.e. hz determine speed. I run most of my b&G machines at between 90 and 110 hzs at 45-55 duty cycle. 16 ga. rear spring for grey washs, and 18ga. for color. I run my liners at around 130 -145hz.

I mix a soft mid tone black in a small dixie cup, then full strength in a #16 ink cup, and mix down a few tones in 2 more ink caps. I mix down with witch hazel, sometimes distilled water, but witch hazel seems to help keep the redness down so the tone values are more apparent.

[Nightliner]

Most needle manufacturers do put the loop opening on the left, very few put it on the right, so look at the needle grouping and put the soldered on group against the back of the tube so the needles can have better access to the ink. Set up you machine so the speed matches the speed you move you hand, and generally keep the needles pressing against the back or sides of the tube for better ink access. Just basic rules that work for me.

[Nightliner]

If I need more ink, I take off my gloves, reload, and put on a clean pair; I mean, they’re cheap so why take chances. I admit to adjusting my power supply with dirty gloves, but everything gets wiped down and cleaned before the next customer anyway. And I’ve had to make minor adjustments to the contact screw for one reason or another, just clean it when you’re done.

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