Tattoo Needles – They Are The Point Of The Whole Process
March 11, 2010 by Adriana Noton
Filed under Tattoos
There are many items that a tattoo artist needs to continue with their work. Most of the pieces and parts that they will use are disposable, while others will be interchangeable along the way. Among those things is the machine that they use, the brands of ink they choose, and let’s not forget the tattoo needles that they will need to get the job done.
Before an artist even starts to deal with the actual tattoo needles, the machine itself has to be put together. It comes in three main parts. This includes the coil wrap, the grip, and the tips that hold the needles. To keep everything together and running smoothly, rubber bands, rubber rings, and grommets will also be needed.
To even be able to use the machine, there are other items that are needed. There is the power supply and the foot pedal. These come in many varieties to choose from. It really depends on what the artist’s preference is and what the have become comfortable with. The artist will also have to make sure that all of the cords that come with the pedal and the power supply are long enough for their needs.
While disposable, the tattoo needles are a very important part of the machine. They must always, always be sterilized. Because of the risk of infection, many artists opt to buy pre-packaged needles that come in pre-sterilized packages. There are ways to sterilize the needles before use, but this is the safest way to make sure that your customer will have the lowest risk of infection possible.
Experienced tattoo artists will actually incorporate two machines into the process. The first machine is used for the lining process while the other machine is used for shading. Using two machines simplifies the process and makes the process more efficient as well.
An artist will use the liner to trace the outer edge of the tattoo, much like you might trace the outer edge of a picture in a coloring book. The shader is then used to fill in the image. Typically thee liner needles tend to be smaller than the shader needles.
There are various sizes of needles for both the liner and the shading. The size of the needles that are used will depend on the details in the image. There is also an option of using flat needles or round ones.
Professional tattoo needles will come labeled as what they are intended for. RS and RL for round shader and round liner. A round setup is where the needles are grouped together to form a cylindrical shape. FS and FL are also used for flat shader and flat liner. With a flat setup, the needles are lined up in a single row, or they also come in multiple rows stacked on top of one another. Each type of setup varies in size starting from a single needle up to nine or even more.
The artist creates the image and is responsible for the overall appearance, but without tattoo needles the process would not be possible. The needles are like a paint brush without it the artist can’t create the image. It is also important to remember that the needles should be thrown away once they have been used.
tattoo needles to a company that distributes tattoo information and tatto supplies, they are sure to have the quality tattoo machines and tattoo ink required for your business.
