Regardless of your amazing ability to draw some well composed tattoo flash on paper with pens and pencils, there are many different nuances that you need to familiarize yourself with when working with an actual client. Besides knowing the importance of keeping a clean work area, the right amount of pressure to apply, and so on, having basic know how of tuning your tattoo machine ranks quite high up there. Without knowing the workings of your main tool, putting metal to flesh would become a bit of a chore, and you can't afford the extra challenge of wrestling equipment.

Before continuing, ensure that everything is disconnected from your main power source. Remove the clip cord, to be doubly sure. Make sure that when tuning the tattoo machine, the armature bar needs to be held down to set the gapping between the contact ***** and the front spring. Doing this will give you the gapping you are looking for. Setting the machine for finer, detailed line work usually requires about a dime sized gap. For shading, you want the gap between the front spring and contact ***** on the tattoo machine to be about a nickel's breadth apart.

When you've set the gapping to the setting you need, reconnect everything to check your work. Secure the contact ***** to the locking device. Attach the clip cord to the power source and the tattoo machine. Plug the foot pedal to the power source, as well. Remember to keep your workstation as sterile as possible, following the laws and policies governing your profession and the shop.

This can be quite tricky at first, as you have to make the changes on the fly, while working with a client. If everything went right, your tattoo machine should be tuned and ready!

By: Marc Josef Cabanig

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It is fairly common for someone to get a tattoo representing another person. And of course one of the easiest ways to do that is by getting that persons name tattooed. Here are some important points about name tattoos.

1. Boyfriend/Girlfriend names. Some tattoo artists in the past frowned upon and sometimes refused to do names, mainly girlfriend or boyfriend names due to the likely hood of major regret that would come soon down the road. If you want to get a tattoo representing your partner, it's advisable to get some sort of design or object which represents the relationship, rather than a name. That way, when it ends, and relationships usually do end, then you won't be left with a name, you'll be left with a design which can signify not just that other person, but can symbolize your life during that time and the emotions and desires you once felt with another human being.

2. Scripts. Be sure and research all the different scripts, or style of writing that you can have your name tattoo drawn in. With all the various styles now, a name tattoo can become a design of it's own, and can better blend in with another tattoo design.

3. Consider including a design. While a name can be drawn in an artful manner, often times you may want some type of art to accompany that name. This can be a portrait of the individual, an object or design that individual took a liking too, or some sort of artwork that can represent your relationship with that person. Artwork accompanying a name tattoo can strengthen and better tell the story behind the ink.

By: Chess McDoogle

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A tattoo gun is the most central piece of tattoo equipment. If you are serious about tattooing, then your tattoo gun purchase is very important. Whether you are looking for a tattoo gun in order to start practicing the art of tattoo, or you are looking to supply a tattoo parlor, purchasing a tattoo gun is a very big step. Let us show you how to go about it.

The first thing you need to know before purchasing a tattoo gun is the type of materials a good tattoo gun is made of. Tattoo guns need to be made of high quality metal. This will keep them from breaking when you are doing a tattoo. Tattoo guns are traditionally made of conductive materials such as iron, brass or copper. Look for tattoo guns made of these strong types of metal to be sure you are getting one that is a high quality.

The second thing you need to know about purchasing a tattoo gun is what size and variety of gun to purchase. Tattoo guns usually serve one purpose-either "lining" or "shading". Many stores will sell a "lining" gun and a "shading" gun together for one price. On the other hand, some guns are made to be "liners" and "shaders". These versatile machines are usually more expensive and more powerful and should be used by experienced tattoo artists only. This is because a tattoo machine needs to be tuned to switch between lining and shading functions. A tattoo gun that serves both purposes will need to be tuned often.

If you are new to the art of tattooing, you should consider purchasing a tattoo gun in a kit. These kits are available everywhere and are great for tattoo artists who are just starting out. Many of these kits come with a "lining" gun and a "shading" gun as well as a wide variety of additional supplies.

By: Sarah Freeland

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Cleaning the tattoo equipment after completing tattooing is an important process not only for the beauty of the machine, but also a regular basis in order to sterilize them, preventing diseases and infections?

A. The most important factor of tattoo sterilization is the tool. Common tools we need to clean and sterilize a tattoo machine are autoclaves and ultrasonic cleaners.

Before sterilization, the tattoo machines, needles and tubes should be cleaned completely after each use or at least daily. The best and easiest tool to clean a tattoo machine before sterilization is ultrasonic cleaner. It can clean all remaining tattoo ink include any tiny gap and dead angle without chemical reactions to the machines.

But keep notice that although the ultrasonic cleaners performance great in killing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus. But bacteria like HIV could only be sterilized by autoclave sterilizer, that's why it becomes the only professional tool for tattoo sterilization.

B. Clean before sterilizing.
1, Remove the tip, tube and grip of the machine. This procedure of unscrew the parts may vary depending on the brand and model of tattoo machine.
2, Basic cleaning, Wash these machine parts with anti-bacterial soap and warm water.
3, Further cleaning by ultrasonic cleaner
Pour 300ml-500ml water into the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner's tank; Put the tips tubes and grips into the ultrasonic cleaner tank; Turn on the digital ultrasonic cleaner, and set the cleaning time, take the machine pieces out after 3-10mins; Rinse and dry naturally, or use special mull to save your time.

C. How to sterilize a tattoo machine
1, fill a bag with the sterilization of the tubes, one with the tip and one sterilization bag with the grips. Prepare one tray for each bag; Place each bag on a sterilization tray. Close the bag and put each in its own Autoclave sterilizer tray. If there is only one tray in the autoclave, then sterilize one bag at a time, take turns with the others.
2, Fill the autoclave with distilled water. Fill what's right in up the middle. Turn the autoclave on; always take care on the autoclave, as it will take 1-2 hours to clean each bag.
3, Wait until the temperature displaying 0 degrees before opening. Remove bags, or put in sterile bags in a closet clean and dry, at last assemble the machine again.

D. Contraindications and tips of tattoo cleaning.
Do not soak your tattoo machine in water, as the liquid will rust the coils.
Pre sterilized disposable needles and needles with silicon grips need not re-sterilization.

By: Oliva Bo Lee

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