wrathone11

Good job

Hey, just going to throw and some ideas out the for you, I’ve seen them work.

You could go in and pack some flesh tone or white on that, make sure you don’t go too deep or scar it let it heal completely then do your cover up. It can really mute out that black and make your area easier to cover with a new design. Some artist will say not to do…[Read more]

I’ve seen several techniques and read a bunch about different techniques for getting different shades in your colors, but I aint no expert so take it all with a grain of salt.

Watering down a color should change the dilution of the color but not the color itself, the only way I can really explain that is taking a yellow marker and putting it on…[Read more]

I forget where I read it and I forget which artist it was, but I was reading an interview a few years ago with a really famous really good Japanese artist and he was talking about his apprenticeship. In the interview he talked about how he used to use his mentors tools at night doing exactly what you’re talking about, he would sit and tattoo his…[Read more]

Looks like you’re doing well so far, keep working and try going all disposable. If you like the weight of metal grips you could try disposable tubes that go into regular steel grips. You’ll still have to sterilize the grips but the tube is disposable. World Wide Tattoo Supply makes a product called EZ-grip which is a steel grip that twists tight…[Read more]

Just starting out I’d go with some good coil machines. I have a rotary I tried out and liked it for packing color, but can really see where if you didn’t know what the needles should be doing and how a machine hits you could really tear up some skin. I think learning coil machines and how they work and how to tune them is important in knowing what…[Read more]

I love tattooing, but honestly I think I’m a better machine builder than I am a tattoo artist sometimes. Building machines is a lot of fun, if I couldn’t tattoo I think I’d be just as happy building machines. I’ll keep everyone posted on the guide, I think I’m just going to go ahead and write it and see what happens. Worst case I’ll have a…[Read more]

@Tarantula wrote:

I think the clue might be in the tips and tubes cleaned with ultrasonic might be a clue. If you can’t autoclave use disposables, ultrasonics do not sterilize.

Exactly, ultrasonics do not sterilize. Go disposable.

I’ve got three brands in my pallet now, Skin Candy (which I like for their blues), Mom’s (I still like their red), Waverly (friend suggested it and the white is really nice). Actually I’m wrong I’ve got four brands because I’ve got some Eternal in there too. I think you have to find the colors you like and go with that and each brand has a…[Read more]

I just responded to your other post too. LOL

The only things I don’t make are the coil cores, screws and washers, wire and capacitors (if I could make those I’d be making more money I think, lol), and springs. I like Flying Irons shorty coil cores both 5/16″ and 3/8″ so I buy them and wrap them with 24 wag wire (green or red, depending on what…[Read more]

I don’t have any for sale right now, I’m in the process of building 5 machines right now though. Four kids a wife and the Army make it hard to find the time to build sometimes, but I’m hoping to have them ready in a couple of weeks. I’ll dig up some pic’s of machines I’ve built and try to post some of them. I’m also thinking about possibly adding…[Read more]

Dude, that’s just bad. I’m not saying you getting a kiss was bad, sounds like you had your head on straight about that whole thing. The “apprenticeship” was BAD!!!!

I truly don’t understand the “hazing” attitude that goes on in tattoo apprenticeships, I’m 40 and I can tell you if someone threw a steel tube at me they would regret it immediately.…[Read more]

Be safe, shoot first and remember the phrase I was in fear for my life. If the military has screwed up the rules of engagement over there as bad as they had by the time I did my third tour of Iraq you’ll need that phrase if you wind up shooting someone even if the bastard is emptying AK mags and firing RPG rounds at you.

Stay Safe and keep up the…[Read more]

The type of paper towel you’re using can make a huge difference in how much wiping hurts, I only use Viva paper towels as they do a great job of wiping ink away first wipe and they’re really soft on the skin even wet. The real issue though is that it’s a tattoo, it’s going to hurt some and wiping or dabbing is part of the process. Tell your buddy…[Read more]

Yeah that’s Erick Alayon’s book, really good one too. I’ve already got several artists using my machines and had many interested in getting into building machines that’s why I’m curious if anyone else out there was interested. Thanks for the reply, I’ll keep the forum posted if I do write the guide. It won’t be a book, it’ll be a one off deal that…[Read more]

I’m really not trying to start an argument or get anyone stirred up, but I really am a little bothered by the fact that everyone thinks that an autoclave is the “only” way to sterilize tubes to FDA and medically approved sterilization standards. I have an autoclave I use for my steel grips, I use disposable tubes that slide into the grips. I like…[Read more]

Well the first question I have in order to try to help you out is, are you talking about a front spring that you’ve cut yourself or bought from somewhere and the spring is currently flat (no bend at all)? The reason I ask is that if you have a front spring that already has an angle bend to it I would not recommend bending it any further as most…[Read more]

There is no rule as to what machine/coil/wrap is used for the tattooing process. What you find is best to push a 7mag for coloring may not be what I choose to push the same needle. You are mentioning old school rule of thumbs, they are good to know and very useful. However, as you progress if you limit yourself to these set rules you will find it…[Read more]

Yes, your armature bar should be making contact with the front coil, but should not touch the back coil.