How to Set up Your Tattoo Machine
Buy a starter kit., Purchase individual parts., Ask a professional., Sanitize your hands., Familiarize yourself with the gun., Assemble the barrel., Set up the needle., Secure the nipple., Adjust the needle., Choose a power supply., Examine the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Buy a starter kit.
Starter kits are great because they offer all the parts you need for tattooing.
These kits aren’t high in quality, but they are great for beginning to operate and maintain a tattoo gun.
Consider the quality of your gun before tattooing anyone.
A set up that is cheaper could hurt or infect someone. -
Step 2: Purchase individual parts.
For those who want better quality parts, purchasing individual components is the path for you.
This can also be a good way to upgrade your starter kit.
Most people upgrade the gun.
Tattoo guns are the most complex piece of equipment in the tattoo machine.
They make contact with the skin, so it’s important to use a nice one., If you have a regular tattoo artist, open up a dialogue about home kits.
Artists who operate out of tattoo shops often have worked from home at some point.
They can offer their input, if they’re willing. , Tattoo guns need to be treated with the utmost care.
Take precaution before handling these machines.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap or wear latex gloves. , The frame holds all the pieces together.
Then you have two electromagnetic coils which provide the power for the machine.
The coils rapidly move the armature bar, which is connected to a barred needle.
The power supply connects to the electromagnetic coils.
All of these components can be removed or replaced as needed. , Inspect the grip of the gun.
There are two sides of the grip for the tube and the gun's tip.
Set these to the preferable length, and tighten the two screws on the grip.
On average the needle shouldn't exceed the tip more than 2 mm and no less than 1 mm.
If there is excessive blood, then your needle is too long., Take a look at the needles you received with the gun.
You should have a few different sizes of needles.
For example RL, RS, M1, M2, RM, or F are all sizes.
Install one of the needles by inserting it through the tube towards the tip.
Be careful not to dull a needle while assembling.
This could lead to a painful tattoo., The nipple, also known as a grommet, secures the needle and grip to the gun’s base.
Place a nipple on the armature bar pin.
Fasten the needle’s blunt end onto the nipple., Once you’ve assembled the grip, you need to adjust the length of how much the needle is exposed.
You can adjust the needle’s exposure by adjusting the tube vise.
The tube vise is the adjustable screw in between the armature and needle., Power supplies vary in specifications and voltages.
When buying a starter kit, a less adjustable power supply comes with the machine.
Your power supply shouldn’t cost more than the tattoo gun. , Check the fuse of the machine.
Make sure you are running the proper voltage into your machine.
Most tattoo power supplies will have a regulated control for the amount of fuse and power going into your gun.
Some of the cheaper models don’t have this feature. , If your machine doesn't come with a footswitch, you’ll need to buy one.
A footswitch is fairly inexpensive and doesn't require a major setup. , Attach your footswitch to the the power supply.
The footswitch activates and regulates the power from the power supply to the needle., You’ll need to connect the gun to the machine using clip cords.
There will be a clear location at the bottom of the gun for the cable to connect to.
There should only be two inputs on the machine itself.
Make sure you connect the cables in their proper location. , Once everything is connected and assembled, you’re ready to test the gun.
If you are worried about testing the gun on yourself, just turn everything on and examine the gun.
The needle should vibrate at a quick speed upon pressing the footswitch.
Start your tattooing exploits! , A good way to practice your art is by practicing on apples or pears.
The skin on apples and pears are similar to the human flesh.
If your fruits become damaged, then you're puncturing the needle too deep. -
Step 3: Ask a professional.
-
Step 4: Sanitize your hands.
-
Step 5: Familiarize yourself with the gun.
-
Step 6: Assemble the barrel.
-
Step 7: Set up the needle.
-
Step 8: Secure the nipple.
-
Step 9: Adjust the needle.
-
Step 10: Choose a power supply.
-
Step 11: Examine the power supply.
-
Step 12: Acquire a footswitch.
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Step 13: Connect your footswitch.
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Step 14: Connect the gun to the machine.
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Step 15: Test the machine.
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Step 16: Practice on fruit.
Detailed Guide
Starter kits are great because they offer all the parts you need for tattooing.
These kits aren’t high in quality, but they are great for beginning to operate and maintain a tattoo gun.
Consider the quality of your gun before tattooing anyone.
A set up that is cheaper could hurt or infect someone.
For those who want better quality parts, purchasing individual components is the path for you.
This can also be a good way to upgrade your starter kit.
Most people upgrade the gun.
Tattoo guns are the most complex piece of equipment in the tattoo machine.
They make contact with the skin, so it’s important to use a nice one., If you have a regular tattoo artist, open up a dialogue about home kits.
Artists who operate out of tattoo shops often have worked from home at some point.
They can offer their input, if they’re willing. , Tattoo guns need to be treated with the utmost care.
Take precaution before handling these machines.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap or wear latex gloves. , The frame holds all the pieces together.
Then you have two electromagnetic coils which provide the power for the machine.
The coils rapidly move the armature bar, which is connected to a barred needle.
The power supply connects to the electromagnetic coils.
All of these components can be removed or replaced as needed. , Inspect the grip of the gun.
There are two sides of the grip for the tube and the gun's tip.
Set these to the preferable length, and tighten the two screws on the grip.
On average the needle shouldn't exceed the tip more than 2 mm and no less than 1 mm.
If there is excessive blood, then your needle is too long., Take a look at the needles you received with the gun.
You should have a few different sizes of needles.
For example RL, RS, M1, M2, RM, or F are all sizes.
Install one of the needles by inserting it through the tube towards the tip.
Be careful not to dull a needle while assembling.
This could lead to a painful tattoo., The nipple, also known as a grommet, secures the needle and grip to the gun’s base.
Place a nipple on the armature bar pin.
Fasten the needle’s blunt end onto the nipple., Once you’ve assembled the grip, you need to adjust the length of how much the needle is exposed.
You can adjust the needle’s exposure by adjusting the tube vise.
The tube vise is the adjustable screw in between the armature and needle., Power supplies vary in specifications and voltages.
When buying a starter kit, a less adjustable power supply comes with the machine.
Your power supply shouldn’t cost more than the tattoo gun. , Check the fuse of the machine.
Make sure you are running the proper voltage into your machine.
Most tattoo power supplies will have a regulated control for the amount of fuse and power going into your gun.
Some of the cheaper models don’t have this feature. , If your machine doesn't come with a footswitch, you’ll need to buy one.
A footswitch is fairly inexpensive and doesn't require a major setup. , Attach your footswitch to the the power supply.
The footswitch activates and regulates the power from the power supply to the needle., You’ll need to connect the gun to the machine using clip cords.
There will be a clear location at the bottom of the gun for the cable to connect to.
There should only be two inputs on the machine itself.
Make sure you connect the cables in their proper location. , Once everything is connected and assembled, you’re ready to test the gun.
If you are worried about testing the gun on yourself, just turn everything on and examine the gun.
The needle should vibrate at a quick speed upon pressing the footswitch.
Start your tattooing exploits! , A good way to practice your art is by practicing on apples or pears.
The skin on apples and pears are similar to the human flesh.
If your fruits become damaged, then you're puncturing the needle too deep.
About the Author
Dennis Clark
Brings years of experience writing about practical skills and related subjects.
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