Traditional Filler (or Solid Color) Setup

There will be a time in almost every tattoo where you are trying
to pack in ink. It might be a solid black tribal piece or it might be
solid color. No matter what type of ink you are packing in, you
need to use a different setup to get it in quick and solid. I prefer
to use a long stroke hard hitting machine. The speed is variable
depending on the size of the piece I am working on. This configuration
can be achieved by trying to get as long of a space
from the rear deck of the frame and the back of the armature
bar as possible, and by using a longer front spring. I like to use
pretty stiff springs as well for this setup. I also prefer to use a
frame where the upright is closer to the front of the machine as
opposed to a cutback style of frame. The frame geometry for
this type of machine is usually the best way to configure it. What
I mean by this is that it is possible to get the same effects using
a cutback frame, and rotating the contact point so that the
angle from the contact screw and the front spring is less than 90
degrees. I do not prefer to setup my machines this way though.
I like to try to keep a solid 90 degree angle. This means that I
rely on the frame’s geometry to guide me in the tuning process.
I feel that in most cases the frame maker has setup the machine
to run a certain way, and it is best to use that as a starting point
when tuning. Tuning your machine is all a matter of preference,
as long as you understand how to control the variables that are
involved to achieve the desired effects then you will be well on
your way to understanding and quickly resolving issues that you
will face during the course of your tattoo session.