equipment to easy to get?

our industry has made alot of progress and evolved conciderably in the last 25 years, and most of it has been for the good, the only bad I have seen come from all our advances is that tattoo equipment has become too readilly available, to explain a bit further; A few days ago I had a local kid (hes 19 or 20) come by bragging about the tattoo work he has been doing, and asked my if i would give an opinion on his work. I politley shot the shit with him and said sure. he came by today with some other punk kid and showed me what he did, I am certain he was offended when I asked what it was, I was told it was a phoenix, but it looked more like a chicken that had just been hit by a semi. Everything you can possibly think of, was wrong with it, blown out lines, spotty color, double lines, scarring, and HEAVY scabs. I WANTED TO SMACK HIM AND MAKE HIM GIVE ME HIS EQUIPMENT. first I asked him what equipment he was running, his responce was tattoo equipment (haha) after explaining what I meant he wasnt sure, he bought it from an ad in a magazine spent a whopping 150.00. so I did what he asked I gave him my opinion, I tried to be nice and political about it, but my true nature showed through and I laid in to the kid pretty hard, basically told him he wouldnt make a pimple on a real tattooists ass, I know that was probobly wrong, I almost made him cry, I should have been a bit more encouraging and tried to find something good to say about it, but it was a really shitty piece, some of the worst ink I have ever seen. I guess my point here is that anybody and thier mother can go get cheap ass equipment, and start mutilating the general public. The supply company I use does not sell to the general public, but there are sooooooo many that will sell to anyone. There are $40 machines on ebay for anyone to buy, yes there is no quality to those particular machines, but for 40 bucks how many people can get fucked up? I know this subject has been touched on in other discussions. I just wish there was something that could be done. It would be a major advancement to the business if suppliers could be more selective about who they sell to, there needs to be a standard set, for instance, suppliers should only sell to people who have been recomended by artists they currently supply to. would anyone be bothered if I petetioned congress to set up industry standards? I know that would be a long hard road, but I think I have enough sand to do it.

Electricians and Plumbers have to be certified competent by the state or county ,the state wants to know that they know the ins and out of thier trade ,how to wire properly or plumb....etc. So they dont fuck up some wiring and burn a house down . They are not just handed a licence if they know how to keep thier tools cleen, like us .

Electricians and Plumbers have to be certified competent by the state or county ,the state wants to know that they know the ins and out of thier trade ,how to wire properly or plumb....etc. So they dont fuck up some wiring and burn a house down . They are not just handed a licence if they know how to keep thier tools cleen, like us .

sorry

You could try to get equipment taken off the market all u want but in my opinion its pointless. If someone has the desire to learn and there is no possible way to buy a machine legally they will either find someone willing to sell them second hand or they will just make their own like they do in jail. If the hunger and the desire is there then you cant stop them....... If you really want to do something I think it would make more sense to fight to try to get information on health risks and safety issues and cross contamination just as available as the equipment if not more........ A bad tattoo can either be fixed or covered up in most cases but a disease isnt as easy to get rid of.. I am partly for having tattoo equipment available to anyone because I was that kid that walked in the shop and had an artist treat me the way you treated that kid but I didnt let it discourage me. And luckily I had the equipment available to me so I could continue to improve my craft.....

i have a few home tattooers that come to the shop. they have scared the hell out of me with there ideas of safe and clean. I for one would also like to see some kind of change in how easy it is for anyone to get there hands on equipment. So far, any new standards that have been set on this trade have only been good for all of us.... to the best of my knowledge.

Legacy...what you are failing to grasp is that not all people are you...in fact very few have your dedication...my God man look at all the people who buy their little kits on ebay, proceed to fuck people up and just give up....thousands man...I truly regret that the day is gone where if you wanted to be a tattoo artist you had to prove your dedication and persistance for years in the hopes that someone in the biz would either hand down equipment or show you how to make some...that day will never be again and its a shame. For every person like you there are a thousand that revel in being a amateur skin grinding no talent idiot...and another thousand who just don't give a flyin fuck. Maybe you just aren't giving yourself enough credit or you are giving too much credit to this sewer of a human race...think about it...TAz

I do see the point and purpose of having the Government step in, and if it were all done in a legitimate and fair manner, it would work out fine, but there would definitely be cons to this as well. We have all seen or know someone first hand that got screwed one way or the other by Government politics when they played fair, or even worse, the Government would have to hire someone to represent them that is knowledgeable on tattoos and training, and lets face it, I'd say that the way things are, there would definitely be a buddy helping a buddy out situation there, so in the long run, if someone is not "in" with whoever is in charge of this, it could really turn around and bite them in the rump. I know used car dealers that were denied licenses for the dumbest crap but the real shady guys in plaid suits keep on selling lemons- Apparently the right connection was made, either financially or other. I've also spoken to other tattoo artists in the past that were denied licenses because of the fact that their health department didn't know what to look for in their own guidelines, but there was no punishment done to a scratcher opening up his own shop having no intention of getting licensed. It's a pretty twisted road to travel down, and for some, it may not be worth it. Lets face it, we all know of some form of tattoo shop chain that is owned by a wealthy individual that is in it for an investment only, and they'd be able to get a license because of their deep wallets, and then there is the guy who is totally legit, an incredible artist, completely certified in Preventing Disease Transmission, 1st Aid, CPR, Anatomy, Physiology, OSHA BBP, ABP, Degrees in Dermatology and everything else you can think of, but if he doesn't have the $$$ that Tattoo Chain guy has, you can bet his life will be a living hell.

I was gonna post but cant find a thing to add to what Krystoff said.

Ditto!..Just like the state next to mine..to aquire a tattoo license you have to be approved by the"tattoo board" ...the board is made up of tattoo artists...I have seen people denied licenses because of bad blood between themselves and a board member...and people getting licensed just because their buddy was on the board...Its a two edged sword fellas!!...T

We dont need a board ..we need a standardized federal or county or state run test of a tattooers knowledge of not only sterility but competence

What if a scratcher organized a tattoo party and nobody came... I still maintain that the most effective way (note: didn't say easiest) is by doing what concerned pros and enthusiasts are doing around the world, in shops, and on this board... Raising the bar and educating. The pros that take the time to do the best damned work they can and tattoo with proper sterile field and proceedure and take the time to explain to potential clients and the up and coming wannabes why doing otherwise is dangerous, wrong and just plain stupid and disrespectful. As well as the enthusiasts who take the time to learn what a good and safe tattoo is and who bother to try and educate anyone around them. People still smoke cigarettes, yes, but when everyone really knows that scratching is at least as unhealthy and stupid as smoking there will be fewer takers when a scratcher starts grinding. Love it or hate it, this is one of the good things coming out of miami ink...middle 'tv watching' america is learning what a truly beautiful quality tattoo can look like. Hopefully, when their friend comes over with their e-bay special and asks if they'd like a tattoo like "this one here, I did it myself" they say Gee, thanks, but I'm saving up my money and my skin for a sleve something more like the one that garver did on the tube last week...When the bar is raised, and there are fewer willing victims, access to equipment will be less of an issue. Like for most "bad" behavior, the true solution is by education not legislation.

cheers caribou! Ok, let me be a snob here for a minute (ha!). Tattooing is an art that will be with the client for the rest of their life. Till they die. On their deathbed. While practitioners of any art need to learn about and respect their mediums to do a good job, tattoo artists for obvious reasons need to take particular care of their canvas and make sure that they execute their art as perfectly as possible the first time. Anyone who scratches on their friends before they are ready has no excuse except for a lack of drive and dedication. DONT confuse being eager and tattooing before your time for dedication or drive. PATIENCE is what drives the tattoo world to better places, NOT rushing. That kid you bitched out deserved every bit of it. Its karma. You put bad tattoos on people you have no one to blame but yourself if you get reamed a new one. If you respected the art you would never apply a tattoo without the guidance of someone very talented. Talented tattoo artists who learned by trial and error on friends know how many mistakes they made and how they didnt *really* learn to tattoo until they wiggled their way(or got brought) into the industry. Hindsight is 20/20 and most realize if they spent the time they spent scratching painting and drawing and pushing their art they would actually be farther ahead and have less friends and family (or worse the public) walking around with shitty tattoos representing them. Why would any self-respecting tattoo artist want work done on someone that is of poor quality??? There are far better ways to learn. I am definitely the kinda guy that wants to see the bar raised, I want the rest of the art world, as well as the public, to look at tattooing and say "holy shit, look what those people are putting on skin, they are true masters of an art that by its very nature is sacred." Teenagers who buy equipment and hack on friends either do not know enough or care enough for the art, and I feel no sympathy for them when they get bitched out. As far as government intervention, you all know how much I trust the man... :-) I am not against government regulation on a theoretical level (indeed, the government exists to protect the public it serves and when the population is getting the ripped its our jobs to make sure we get a safe fair shake) but Im not convinced its practical. Stepping in line with my radicle left wing progressive politics (hey, were talking government here I cant get in trouble!) I believe education is the solution and we cant wait for the government to step in (and I dont want it). A two pronged assault on the stupidness of the public is the solution. Teach the public the true potential of the art of tattooing, and teach tattoo artist wannabees the proper way to prepare for their life's journey (Its fun! Get great tattoos and draw your ass off(for years and years)!). To paraphrase caribou, with many issues no matter how hard you try to legislate them, education is always cheaper, more ethical, and more effective in the long run. I hope that as the industry leaders raise the bar on what goes into making tattoos great, the public will wisen up and there will be a large separation between the scratchers and hack pros and the truly talented artists applying unique creative tattoos. There really is a disconnect with what is possible and what the general public thinks is possible. This is a great opportunity for the industry to grow by leaps and bounds, and if we are smart we can hustle and solve our own problems better than any government can. Unless, of course, talented industry leaders become our liaison to that government, but that doesnt seem to be the trend... One thing that is true about all aspects of tattooing is that with patience and learning comes the knowledge to give and receive amazing tattoos.

I have personally purchase equipment from both Huck Spaulding and Superior. I have also at the age of 14 used thread and needles from moms sewing machine kit. All three were mistakes but on the other hand got me where I am at today. I am still considered a scratcher. I was lucky enouph to be offered an apprenticeship and did so for three months untill my mentor decided to kill himself. After that I continued to persue my dream and also purchase shitty equipment from the above manufactures and then one day I decided to contact David Vidra. I took all the required courses, First Aid, Blood Bourne Pathogens/Disease Transmission Prevention and Adult First Aid. I did not take these courses so that I could open a shop, I took them for the knowledge. Two years later I am still chasing my dream. I have aggervated the shit out of every tattoo artist in town and finally was lucky enouph to meet another cool and talented person. This person has not offered me an apprentinceship but has gave me a few very good pointers, some very nice tattoo's and now after seeing some of my work has offered to come to place and whatch me do a few pieces and walk me thru them giving me pointers along the way. I have suffered the humiliation of giving someone a piss poor tattoo, I purchased a piss poor camera and in return put together a very ugly portfolio. I have taken the required classes so that I am sure not to infect my clients or myself, I have purchased an autoclave and have it spore tested once a month, I also purchased an ultrasonic cleaner, and also have built my own machines. I draw all my flash and continue to build my skills so that one day I will be an awsome artist. I have the drive,the skill and some knowledge and I do not think I would be on the road I am on today if hadnt purchased that shitty equipment off of the internet.

exactly

Charlie...sounds as if you are really tryin to do it right man and props to you...if I can help in any way just drop me an e-mail... [email removed] Tattooing!!! and thanks for the post!...TAz

>>"I have personally purchase equipment from both Huck Spaulding and Superior. I have also at the age of 14 used thread and needles from moms sewing machine kit. All three were mistakes but on the other hand got me where I am at today."<< My guess is that if you are doing anything right today it is surely because of your apprenticeship and interactions with sympathetic pro tattooists and dispite your earlier mistakes, not because of them.

I think the usual disclaimer applies here (and to several other topics): "Do not try this at home. These are trained professionals."