Have you ever wondered why just about every tattoo shop you go to is using different tattoo machines?
Shouldn’t tattooing be like being a rockstar? You just pick up a Gibson Les Paul like everyone else and start shredding. Sadly, tattooing isn’t that simple. Let’s look at what makes a tattoo machine and how the minute differences in parts effect its overall function.
Power Supply
Tattoo Power supplies come in many shapes and sizes. Almost any tattoo machine will run on a standard tabletop DC power supply. Power supplies can have quite a range in price, varying between $40-$400.
The exact specifications of the power supply is pretty much up to the tattooist. All you need is an uninterrupted supply of DC voltage. Some of the more expensive power supplies have extra functions like digital readouts that can measure volts, Hz, duty cycle, follow through and more.
When you increase the power on your power supply the needles don’t go up and down any faster, the magnetic field is increased, which draws the needle down harder and allows the skin to be punctured more easily. This is what appears to make the ink go in faster.
Coils
Coils create a magnetic field that move the armature bar. Coils are usually rated by the number of wraps or layers of wire around the core. Typically tattoo machines use three different types of coils. 8, 10, and 12 wrap.
The 8 wrap coil is used mostly when doing an outline with a 1,3,4, and a 5 needle outliner. It is not recommend to use an 8 wrap coil outliner machine when doing larger outline work such as when a 8 or 14 needle outline is called for. You would have to increase the voltage by turning the power supply up, which would in effect increase amperage. When you increase amperage more power is being used and an 8 wrap coil is to small to dissipate the heat. This condition would make the tattoo machine run hotter and possibly cause the machine timing to break up, causing an uneven outline.When you are going to use a 8 or 14 needle outliner, I would recommend using a 10 wrap coil tattoo machine.
Housing
The aesthetic appearance of a tattoo machine can vary widely. When selecting or building a machine, care must be taken in selecting the proper materials. 99.9% of all tattoo machines have a frame made of solid metal. The metal frame not only provides structural support for the machine, but conducts the electric current needed.
Some tattoo machines use a bulky frame, others a very minimal and light design. The choice is really up to you and your personal style.
Springs
Springs hold down the armature bar at both ends to move the needle when the magnetic filed is cycled off. Different spring lengths, size, and weights are all considerations when choosing your springs.
Your spring choice, just like every other aspect of your tattoo machine, will be unique to your situation and design. Changing springs will effect the performance of the armature bar which drives your needles. Finding the perfect springs can be a long process of trial and error.
Capacitor
There is a capacitor placed parallel with the coils. The purpose for the capacitor is to both cut down the spark generated by the magnetic field turning on and off, but to balance the frequency of the circuit. What does that mean and how does it work? I’m not a physics professor so if you want to learn more about the intricacies of a tank circuit, look here.
To keep it simple you must know that changing the capacitor value will change the performance of the tattoo machine. If you are keeping your voltage at a constant, changing the value of the capacitor will cause the tattoo machine to run faster if you decrease the uf value of the capacitor and slower if you increase the uf values of the capacitor.
Needles
Needles are the end of the line when it comes to a tattoo machine. A tattoo needle is actually a group of needles soldered to a needle bar, together in a pattern. Round patterns are used for outlining while shaders are usually arranged in straight lines. The exact number and configuration of needles is dependent on what the tattooist is trying to accomplish.
Some tattooist make their own needles while others prefer to buy manufactured needles from tattoo supply companies. The choice is yours.
What’s The Bottom Line?
A good tattoo machine should be well balanced and tuned to the persons need and skill. Each machine will run different than another tattooist machine. With a well balanced machine you should have the tool you need to improve your skills.
Handmade tattoo machines are usually of superior quality than production line machines since the craftsmanship and attention to detail is much better.
15 responses so far ↓
1 luminus // Aug 8, 2011 at 11:06 pm
correct good stuff mate people gotta be carefull theres alot of dodgy tatt info flying around the place
2 St Greg // Aug 13, 2011 at 9:03 pm
” The metal frame not only provides structural support for the machine, but conducts the electric current needed.”
This is actually a common misconception. The frame does not conduct electricity at all. The circuit is completely contained within the other components. One could even build a tattoo machine with a frame made of wood, glass, plastic, ceramic, or even stone. So whenever someone says that so and so metal is more conductive, whereas that may be true, it has no effect on the functionality of the the machine.
3 Legendtattoo // Aug 27, 2011 at 11:03 am
Actually St. Greg,
what you said is only partially true. you’re actually both right. if the frame is made of conductive metal, it does just that and joins the two coils to make a horseshoe of sorts. while you are right in saying that a frame can and is often made from non-conductive material including brass which is quite common, you have to implement a yoke to connect the two coils.
4 tim // Sep 29, 2011 at 12:31 pm
st gregs, comment is true, but, you would need a yoke on those machines . low carbon steel or iron frames ,need no such yoke,but the coils connect electrically through the frame itself.
5 rade // Oct 10, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Can someone tell me where can i get specific measures for tattoo gun frame, and from what metal is spring made(metal alloys or pure metal)? I have all needed electrical parts i just need these two.
Thank in advance!
6 Will // Oct 23, 2011 at 4:52 am
Uuum…So how does the current flow from the clip cord and make it to the contact point? It doesn’t touch the rear spring so my guess would be that it flows through the frame and then through the springs. Of course the frame conducts electricity. Some frames do not conduct magnetism, hence the yoke. I have got to see the machine not made of a conductive material work. It would only happen of the spring shelf was made of conductive material. St. Greg’s comment is totally UNTRUE.
7 Babble // Nov 25, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Actually Will, Current travels from clipcord to contact screw, then travels down a small 20 gauge wire to capacitor, as well as the second wire attaching to the BOTTOM of the coils. One coil positive, one negative. Vtech machines are very popular and are made of plastic with no yoke. But instead of a cap it has diode, and has a power supply that controls cps and depth, as well as tell temp and other stats.
So Will, I suggest you pick up a tuning book or two before you speak so confidently..
8 Rebechka // Dec 16, 2011 at 4:16 pm
And where would you get such a book…?
9 Ryan // Feb 5, 2012 at 10:24 am
If you’ve ever looked closely at all the components you’ll see that the coils are connected only to the front and rear binding posts which are generally speaking insulated from contact with the frame by plastic spacers. As long as you have a conductive yoke to connect the two coils, the material of the frame is irrelevant. In the case of non-ferrous (non-magnetic) frames the yoke is essential for dual coils to complete the magnetic flow from North to South at the tops of the coils from front to rear respectively. Otherwise both coils remain polarized north to south from top to bottom independently and the machine will not run properly because the magnetic pull will be cut in half, evenly dispersed between north and south
10 giliegil // Feb 22, 2012 at 3:55 am
i’m loving this ………. 8)
11 frosticus74 // Jun 11, 2012 at 2:42 pm
the coils are magnetized when contact is made between the contact screw[that long pointy thing sticking out the top of the machine] and the front spring[that pointy springy thing bolted to the armature bar]. current does indeed pass through the arm bar. technically not the frame. but it does make contact. another clue-you need to insulate all wires to keep them from coming into contact with the metal frame and shorting the circuit.
12 tattoo parlors Charlotte NC // Jul 5, 2012 at 11:41 pm
For those who makes tattooing a means of earning money, it is important to maintain the good condition of their tools and equipment. The health of those who are getting tattoos is also at stake if the machine is not properly cared for.
13 Steve // Jul 24, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Good job making trade secrets public you morons. No wonder we have so many hacks in this industry now. Keep your mouths shut
14 Michael Godsil // Aug 7, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Funny stuff about the Les Paul bro…if you think grabbing one and being a rockstar is less complicated than the workings of a tattoo machine..then you are sadly mislead..and actually have never even played twinkle twinkle little star on any instrument..I own a Les Paul..and numerous tattoo machines…and they both require quite the skill to build..repair..or operate one efficiently…
15 Curt // Aug 8, 2012 at 9:30 am
Michael,
I’m sorry if you didn’t catch the sarcasm in that statement. I myself own several Gibsons and all the bells and whistles that go with them.
The statement was to make people think, obviously you don’t just pick up a guitar and become an instant rockstar.
You brightened my day with that comment, thanks and best wishes.
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