Spider

nah you can’t print them out but if you shoot me a pm I can email you the files if you want them to print out.

@BeginnersLuck wrote:

I don’t tattoo on the carpet, I do it in the kitchen where there is tile, and I always sterilize the floor before I tattoo.

I can honestly say that those words make me cringe a little. And before you hit the reply button and start yelling “you gotta start somewhere” let me just say, On a personal note, it’s not just the…[Read more]

The sad thing is that some many “artists” have grown so used to the way things have been for the last 20 years, shops being basically in the same categories as outlaws, bikers, criminals, and so on that it’s hard to find a clean artist to work in a shop. I have had no less than 20 applicants since I opened never come back because I have zero…[Read more]

Honestly, unless ur using very very very cheap needles then you shouldn’t have to change you needle out at all, even on long sessions. From my experience when you are having issues with the needle not going into the skin it comes down to operator error. Meaning that you are not stretching the skin enough. The only times in the 11 years I been at…[Read more]

@motleystan wrote:

when tattooing some 4 over an hour should i change the needle?????? 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Are you using the same needle? I mean you should be using different needles for different things basically. And unless you are beating the ink cap bottom a needle should be fine for one sitting. But if you are only using one single…[Read more]

I recently changed my main colors over to a brand called Solid Ink. I also have a few select colors of Mom’s, nuclear, and fusion. I stopped using Eternal because I hate the way it gets a hard top on the color after it’s been sitting for awhile. So far Solid hasn’t done that with any color that I have. I still have some radiant colors as well,…[Read more]

I have found that different springs depends on what machine I have, My damascus runs much better with high tension springs, usually the black alloy ones. My vol runs better with softer springs, one of my cheaper shaders runs beautiful with no o-ring on the spring. I also use steel contact screws instead of copper or brass, the point lasts longer…[Read more]

True, however, with the constantly outdated info out there and the seemingly last minute changes places put into effect thats a whole lot of homework…. ATL for example has it for some reason that you MUST regitster with the Atlanta polices department

Might help, this link should still be good, http://www.darkcarnivalink.com/tuning.html It’s not a bad beginning tuning guide really.

@einvalentine wrote:

Thanks guys!
Pennsylvania is not yet regulated, but some cities have established their own protocol…
Philadelphia: http://www.phila.gov/health/pdfs/Body_art_regs.pdf

Not sure adding specific municipalities would be too much or not. For example, in my area there is a ban on any and all Dermals. No real reason just someone…[Read more]

That’s actually a great idea einvalentine: there should be a thread started in which the links to the pdf or file documents for each state and countries Health dept regs on tattooing are posted as they are different everywhere. No post means no regs.
Here is Alabama, United States.http://www.adph.org/foodsafety/assets/BodyArtRules2007.pdf

Welcome, and don’t over rate the “pros”
Ceaser the Hun is a admited completely self-taught “pro” and imo one of the absolute best black and grey realism artists around and now the “pros” are taking tips from him! Funny how that works in this business..LOL>…

@Spider wrote:

And about the peeps.. YES, I was too nice… I need to be a bit more firm. Talk to the client, not the onlooker… Got it

NP man, and yeah sometimes we have to come off a bit d**kish, but considering that we are working in the most permanent art field in the world, a little a**hole goes a long way to ensuring that we are doing our…[Read more]

As I stated before, I welcome anyone in my shop. I’m not some flashy hip a** place, but I feel we do good work and have good customer service that keeps regulars coming back and is getting more peeps to drop the other shops around here and come thru my door. Some days it’s slow as molassis in a blizzard, some days the door chime doesn’t stop going…[Read more]

Try using a flat for fill instead of a mag. While mags are great people underestimate the efficiency of a flat for shading and fill color. On most of my larger tribal work I go with a 11 – 15 flat not a mag for fill. When filling make sure to go back to the fill area after a few minutes to let the redness go down some (witch hazel mixtures help in…[Read more]

Yep had those, and still have those, since I don’t ride the tube with my liner a wobble or shake is so very easy to do in my line work. And I have had those moments. I’d recomend if you ever get that again, just call a break and walk away, go for a smoke, a drink of water, or just a rest. Take some deep breathes, do not think about the piece, the…[Read more]

That would be cool Infamous. At least the people here are actually interested in learning something. I’m guessing that since I am so perticular about sanitation, customer service, and the willingness to be a bit humble at times it’s gonna take me forever to find an artist to fill that 3rd booth I have. But ah well. Right now I am in negotiations…[Read more]

If you can find the right girl(s) or guy(s) it works out great. We make em sign a contract that specifically sets out our agreement with them, inlcuding ink we will and won’t do, Attendance at public events we goto, photo shoots and shcedules for new ink. The contract is for 6 months, we pick the ink and usually it’s stuff we just want to do and…[Read more]

We keep 3 different cleaning solutions here.
1. General sanitation which we use a product called Quat 64. Hospital sanitation recommends using 8oz per gallon, we use 10 oz per gallon of distilled water and it get used on everything, walls, floors, counters, and every surface we have.
2. Pre clean of the proceedure area we use 8 parts water, one…[Read more]

I have gone to flat rate prices on larger pieces, $300 per session, sessions start at 3 hours until they yell stop or we are done. Tap-Outs. Customers feel they are getting a great deal, in reality not many people can go past the 4-5 hour mark. And the few that do is worth the lower income in terms of how long it took for the increase in word of…[Read more]