First tattoo gun

I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion on what would be a good first tattoo gun

Ideally, you'll want to seek out an apprenticeship with a quality top notch tattoo artist in your area (or relocate if possible), then during your apprenticeship, your mentor will advise you on what type of machine you should use.

Man that was polite...the right answer too!

And when you find your apprenticeship, call it a machine, not a 'gun'

i say you should get a shot gun for your first one and put it to your head then simply pull the trigger!BLAMO your a tattoo artist.

I need to kno how to make a tat gun 4 someone so could u plz e-mail me [email removed]

Well to make a tattoo gun...first you must commit a felony so you are sent to prison..then just ask your bunkmate...hee will be sure to show you for something in return..... Please people this is a forum of professional artist and aspiring artist and you will only get slammed for asking such questions!!!! M

i really like the desert eagle 44 mag glock 9 mm is a great gun also but for that deep tissue penetraiting stoping on a dime kinda action i highly recomened the barretta af 92 model. just simply take your ammo and dip them in latex base paint let them dry load up and bang the hell out of your friends it will be a permanent fix and piece for sure. pros refer to there equipment as what they are A MACHINE SAY IT WITH ME M.....A......C.....H......I......N.......E!!!!!! OK ! machine class 101 is now over and thankyou for the day

SAY DUDE, GET ON E-BAY AND FIND A "SUPERIOR" GUN, THEY ARE QUALITY. THE MICKEY SHARPZ ARE WAY TOO $$. AND BTW, THESE FUCKING PRICKS HERE WONT TELL YOU SHIT, ITS LIKE ITS A BIG FUCKING SECRET, ALL THEY SAY IS "ASKYOUR MASTER" ,"FIND AN APPRENTICSHIP" FUCK ALL THAT STUPID SHIT , JUST CAUSE THEY ARE TO STUPID TO START TATTOOING ON THERE OWN, THAT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYBODY ELSE IS!!!

SAY DUDE, GET ON E-BAY AND FIND A "SUPERIOR" GUN, THEY ARE QUALITY. THE MICKEY SHARPZ ARE WAY TOO $$. AND BTW, THESE FUCKING PRICKS HERE WONT TELL YOU SHIT, ITS LIKE ITS A BIG FUCKING SECRET, ALL THEY SAY IS "ASKYOUR MASTER" ,"FIND AN APPRENTICSHIP" FUCK ALL THAT STUPID SHIT , JUST CAUSE THEY ARE TO STUPID TO START TATTOOING ON THERE OWN, THAT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYBODY ELSE IS!!!

Beretta does make a fine gun! I have a Beretta 12gauge and its nice!!! Also,if you do go with a 9mm,go with a Smith&Wesson.Very good craftmanship and they shoot good too.

FUCK THAT MAS. I GOT WHERE I AM ON MY FUCKING OWN IM SELF TAUGHT! IVE HAD TO GO LONG distances sorry damm caps to get where i am this cocky attitude u have here is not going to get u any fucking RESPECT thats what the moral fiber of this art is. it has to be earned oh never fucking mind ya wont listen to us u know it all . by the way superior machines i dont and wont own one too inferior of a product

Sure its possible to buy good equipment on Ebay but its rare...most of the stuff there is very low quality indeed....do your research...kits just suck!...TAz

[IMG]http://www.inkednation.com/images/user_albums/44/50/caribou/2006146154818.jpg[/IMG]

Junebug, Buzz, Trey Antley ,Aaron Cain,Rusty Relics,Rick Siveria ,Seth Cifferi all sell regularly on ebay and may disagree with that statement .......mabye. Then there is a ton of crap on there also.

And like I said...You CAn find good stuff on ebay...but if you don't know anything about what you are buying you can get screwed real quick....yes junebug and adam and all those guys sell on ebay....but most of these people wouldn't have a clue as to who those people are if they are not in the biz or close to it.

i agree with taz if you're not in the industry you won't have a clue who bj soba is, or junebug. that why this stupid fuck thinks superior is something great.

Hows your week goin Junk?...You and me gotta get together and commit some felonies pal...Oh and good job on gettin the power supply...what did ya end up payin for it?...T

ha ha ha, what a moron, saying all these people that are too dumb to learn on their own...... then putting your post in twice, classic! also saying sharpz are too expensive, would you be happy going to a pro shop to get some ink and the guy was using some cheap crap to do your tat. i don't think so

MANICURE13 likes to crash the party doesn't he? Too bad no one cares what he's saying. Okay, maybe 1 in 100 cares.

My first machines were two huck pumas,the 500 kit with the easy bake oven power supply,i remember when i got the two machines ,i was like wich ones a shade wich is liner,so i just picked one and went with it,their are guys in prisons kicking out awesome artwork with cassette motors and guitar strings,kinda like a pencil,its just p[iece of wood with lead but what u can create is limit less,its all up to u,and what u make of it,trey antley

Antley, while I too have seen some awesome work done in prison and/or on the streets with cassette motors, bic pen 'tubes' and guitar strings for needles, I'd like to point out I read an article I believe was put out by the CDC that stated they have found approximately 76% of the people tattooed by them to be carrying the Hep C Virus. Something I think folks might want to be aware of...Doc

oh yes,that is a very important point,it is also funny to see so many nurses and emt cross contaminating,even doctors too,i have been to many hospitals and noticed it,i often wonder who the guy is thats in charge of cleaning surgical tools and sterlizing them is,the guy you never see,he holds the next persons fate in his job,did the auto clav complete its cycle,was he smoking pot that day and completely forget to turn it on,hep is more than just a prison tattoo prob,most proffesional tattoo artist i know are more sterile than most doctors and nurses i have come in contact with,trey

The CDC ( centers for disease control) estimate that over 70 % of all "serious"infections are contracted from medical staff in hospitals doctors offices etc!! THINK ABOUT THAT!!! In my last visit to the hospital the very worst culprits were the doctors themselves followed closely by nurses. I was in the local emergency room two nights ago ...I saw a male nurse opening some eyedrops for a guy who had a splinter in his eye...this nurse had been to two rooms before hand (and probably more) WITHOUT washing his fucking hands! Then opened the box and when he opened the eye dropper it was in a cellohane bag, he opened it with his teeth!!!!...I RAISED HELL!! I am not a snitch but that patient deserved better care than that....Well he got a different nurse who actually washed her hands but then started to use the same almost certainly contaminated bottle of eyedrops on this guy!!! So I raised hell about THAT too!...Lemme tel ya they were glad to see me go!!...The guy ended up having his wife drive him to a different hospital for care and I bet they were very observant at the new hospital. And this lackadaisical, inept and DANGEROUS care is common! When ya go to a hospital dentist whatever if there could be BBCS present or any danger of cross contamination KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!!! Almost ANY professional tattoo artist would NEVER have committed these ridiculous mistakes........TAz

Uh well my father in law is the surgery tech for one of the larger hospitals here in wichita and I gues I can't speak for the rest of the medical field , especially doctors , but this man is extremely thorough in his job and I'd be willing to bet he knows just a hair more about the sterile field set up and basic cleansing procedures than most of your newly licensed tattooists , and without a fucking doubt more than Jimmy JohnBob running some 200 dollar e-bay kit. You can really get equipment off there ? wild. Yeah you got a viable point with the hep is everywhere thing but damn 78%? that's a substantial amount , I think our medical industry , let alone the professional tattoo industry would be flat on it's fucking face if 78% of it's clients and customers ended up with hep or the hiv guy. And well ok i've tattooed with jailhouse shit , bad bad idea , and I've tattooed with pro shit well ok it's a Kaaplan, but I like it anyhow , there's alot to be said about the right tool for the job. and you're only as good as your equipment? well maybe maybe not but I can honestly say i'd rather have my father in law that has a hard time playing hang man without fucking up a leg tattoo me than some cock fresh out the guitar store with soem sand paper and a walkman. A good cover up on a shitty tattoo won't cure your lifelong disease guss.

Oh and to be nice to the guy that started the deal , well i tattooed for quite a bit of time ,initially with a jailhouse rig , and after about 20 irreversible fuck ups on your buddies you get pretty good with it , then right before you mom kicks you o ut of the basement for fucking up her linolium (sp?) in the kitchen, you get a real machine ( no that's never h appened to me but it's a damn good analogy) From e-bay is the spot now i'm guessing lol. And then guess what? you were so used to your little one needle , who knows what diameter jagged line you were gonna make , to a machine that you can't plug into the wall, then you're wondering where to put your guitar string once youv'e got it bent at a 90 degre angle. and how come your old bic tube doesn't fit in the quick release. once you've got that part figured out , you realize that this machine weighs a significantly amount more than that little bent toothbrush thing your cousin sold ya. balance is a fun issue but I don't think it belongs here, So basically you're homeless now , none of your friends like ya cause you mispelled there girl's name on their arms ( if they're not too busy getting treated for the poisons youv'e given them) and on top of it all , the first time you finally get your machine set up to actually do a tattoo , you're back in kindergarten man, and if you're a real good people person you'll find about 20-30 new friends who think b ecause you've got a real machine and real needles for that machine( not sterile cause you can't afford to buy new ones yet remember your homeless) that you will do a wonderful professional job on them as well. especially after telling them you've already done 30-40 tattoos. Lucky for you all those people are dead or hospitalized and can't tell them what a shitty job you did. So you start out on your first little butterfly or whatever and wtf you're not even getting ink into the skin on even the second or third run on what you thought was ONE line( hence the name scratcher I believe). And before you know it you'll be making 20 bucks a day and within three months you may own a car and be able to work out of the trunk or something who knows. next thing you'll have UPS showing up at your apartment with new packages every week of shitty inks and a bunch of grommets and little flat metal things that you keep bending so much they break. You can spend alot of money piecing together what would normally be a decent kit for you to learn with but it's not gonna do you or any of those poor dumb bastards you're tattoing a damn bit of good if you dont' have one of the knowledgeable fellows like the ones you see posting replies to you here( not me, THEM) how to do it the right way, And hopefully you'll figure it out before I did that that's pretty much the only way you'll ever even see what you can do with your art , the right machine, and some skin. one thing you cantake from me is this and it's fact bubba , you can only get so far alone with trial and error until you develop enough respect for what your'e attempting to do that you take the time to learn to do it properly.

Je3r that was a GREAT post!! You filtered it down into a real life scenario that was right on the money!!! Thanks!!! Maybe someone will listen...and if even ONE person reads that post and thinks about it you did a great job!...TAZ

Mickeys are the best bud.May be a little $$ But they stand up to the job.

Sure mickeys are great if ya get a low number the crap they put out today sucks...I know we have 2 pair and they sit in a drawer...go with Hotsparks by Rob Giusti....

Masacure13, you have so said it! I dont know what the fucking deal is with tatoo artist and there ego. I have been trying to get information about tatooing, I want to learn on my own, and I know I will. I dont need to learn out of a tattoo shop where I will be there fucking goffer for a year or so. I am totally capable of learning on my own. They do act as if it is a BIG fucking secret. I will NOT be arrogant after I start tatooing. I don't need to prove anything. I am self confident enough to be myself, which is MUCH cooler than the stupid ass ways I have seen some tattoo artist act. It's just there need to feel "important". I have actually found a really nice tattoo artist that is helping me, but I had to incounter a few ass holes first.

Yea cheer on the guy who who gave the wonderful advice to buy a piece of garbage tattoo "gun" on ebay and then learn to tattoo by trial and error. so wait who's the asshole?

We do cover ups!

In regards to the post just above me... it's not the assholes here that bother me [ok, total lie- they really do bother me especially in their ignorance and feelings of entitlement]. I hate the people who think that its ok to go and support said assholes. To me it seems like just the notion of 'being tattooed' is more important than good quality tattoos. Just my two cents

Sassmouth..100% agreement...and the suppliers who have allowed it to happen

Sassmouth and Taz- got THAT right, sadly...Doc

HEY FOR REAL you want to talk to a tattoo artist that knows a lot about GUNS, talk to Brandon at All or Nothing Tattoo. He'll show you some really good ones!

i'm compelled to defend the medical industry...so here we go...i've been an ICU nurse for 20+ years and have never opened anything with my teeth...i did once catch a brand new nurse try to tear tape with her teeth and i had a big fat fit but she'll never do it again...i wont even touch my food with my bare CLEAN hands, jeez, i must wash my hands a minimum of 100x a shift. That said, the medical industry is pretty much like any other, including tattoo, you take any cross-section of a certain population and you're gonna have good and bad...that includes technique, cleanliness, skill, etc... i'm sorry you had such a poor ER experience Taz, i admit ERs are the worse...my arm would have to be hanging by a thread before i'd visit one...and i'm a firm believer in having your own personal watchdog/bodyguard anytime you're in the hospital for your own protection. i'm a mere tattoo admirer and collector but i felt the need to rant here re: my profession...whew

Melissa...thanks so much for your post!...I know that not all medical staff are incompetents...but in the local hospital here...JEESH!!...my family has standing orders...If anyone of us has a serious medical condition...we are to be taken ,by helicopter if necessary, to a GOOD hospital 50 miles away...does that tell you anything about the health care at this hospital.

hey Taz, no...no....thank YOU for letting me post a rant. 50 miles???? good grief, you cant get good local help these days

This is my machine.... This is my gun, This is for Inkin'... This is for fun...

look i've been tattooing for about ten years. i've used jail house, g-force by danny fowler and hot sparks. plus a few others i uhm-hum(cough) won't mention. the point i'm trying to make is first of all if your going to take someones health into your hands you should be very cautious in what you use. second professional grade with practice and tutelage will yield professional results. it takes time and dedication grasshoppers to obtain what some of these men and women have acheived. so next time on of you noobs want to dis your "elders", your superiors even think about it if it wasn't for them our art wouldn't be where it is today. and to my mentor nelson whitehorse i thank him for everything he put me thru he made me the artist i am today. go wicked ink.

to massacre 13, It's scratchers like you that piss me off . I have spent 14 year in this business and the first thing you need is a mentor. If you had one you may have some respect for what a true artist is there is more to it then just picking up a iron and going to work. A good apprenticeship will cover everything from laws & regulations,anatomy,sterilization,keeping aseptic environment to business management and the list goes on & on .Your lack of willingness to learn all of this is the way true craftsman weed assholes like you out. And the suppliers that sell to people like you will be the downfall off this art-form. I'm not saying that there are not people out there that haven't mad it big on their own ( self taught ) but even most of them would tell you if thay had it to do all over again they would have gotten apprenticed by a master tattoo artist trial and error is not way to go

Can You Guys say I AM AN ARSEHOLE! Because that what you are. Don't give me all that crap about scratchers suck and all studio based artists rule, because it all depends on the individual. I've seen some artists work who started off as "scratchers" and it was phenominal. I have also had some work done by a guy based in a studio and the work sucked. As long as the Scratcher is following the Hygene regs and doing good work, SHUT THE HELL UP. An artist is an artist. Do you think the cave man had this kind of snobbery when they were tattooing thier tribesman, Hell no.

Hey guys. im trying to start up a tattooing shop, and have employed the help of an experienced girl, who just wanted to get out of the shop she was in! the licence isnt too much of a problem (but by god youd better have one!!!) and the premises are not too difficult so long as yu follow the simple and not too stringent guidelines of the health authority. I agree with the people on here, its not something that you can just go do, this is an Art. if you can draw and i mean draw VERY good, then youre one stp there, but that doesnt mean youre gonna be a good tattoo artist. thats why i have employed an experienced artist, who is willing to teach me. the eqipment is all good quality, i could have bought crap off ebay for little to no money, but then thats not the point is it???!!!!! after all, i want to be recognised as a reputable buisness, not a shady crpa artist dive!!!! power ot the people on here for saying get an appreticeship! youcant learn in a day and yu can read how to do it!!! Peace out!!!

i find it humorous that you assholes think tattooing is a sterile prcedure. hilarious. it's a clean procedure, not a sterile one.

you should see my tiger its a fking spastic, and tattooed by a spastic, so called pro, half of you on here are so fucking up your selfs. Professional Tattooist, he could not tattoo a fking turd. why is this so called profession the way it is, its like a tattooist changing a plug , his he a sparky , no, so what gives him the right to wire a plug

Well sorry you had a not so wonderful experience with your tattooing man. But there's a thread here about people making their own conscious decision to ALLOW another preson to tattoo them. Sure most of the weight should be born by the artist themselves and i'm pretty damn sure most artists find it their responsibility to carry that weight. But they don't choose what you pick to have put on your body and they do not make the choice of who you are going to allow to put that piece of art on your body. Research man research. I've let some damn idiots tattoo me that's for damn sure, I"ve made the mistake more than once , but ya live and learn. If I were you I wouldn't trip on the horrible tattoo experience too bad , there are some fucking wondrous cover up artists about who can rework or completely hide an existing um " masterpiece" right? No sense in hating the entire community because you chose to let someone tattoo you and it came out horribly. There's a million words to be said about this and i'm sure that even then there'd still be someone else's opinion on the matter but we all know how this shit works by now. You select a person to put a permanent pigment into your skin and you put your faith into this person, if he or she fucks up, you lose. that's how it works. Nothing more nothing less that's the bottom line. Hope your experience didn't discourage you from getting another or getting your current piece fixed. Little advice next time take your time. that's what this whole thing is about , what's two years of searching for hte perfect artist to do your work if you're going to wear this ink until you die?

To the OP, I too ran into a whole bunch of shit from 'tat artists' when I first went around asking about getting into the biz. I ended up going away from every one of those assholes with a piss poor taste in my mouth due to the rhetoric they spouted about paying thier dues. While I know about paying dues and appreciate anyone who has, I didnt care for thier attitude and it was easy to see why they didnt have a bunch of people booked in. I ended up learning what I could on line and from studying any book I could find, bought a machine and disposable needles with disposable grips, practised on fruit and finally did my first tat on myself. After that, I worked out of my home and through word of mouth and the quality of work, I got so busy I quit working full time and opened a studio. I made sure to do all the opposite things that I saw at all the other studios I visited earlier and guess what? I was super busy and sure enough, word got out and the guys that either told me they were too busy to help me of just plain told me to fuck off came around to see what I was doing different. I was polite but didnt talk much as they were there poking around and I spent my time dealing with paying customers. LOL Now, as a bit of a background, I didnt go into this blind from a health standpoint, I am a Certified Safety Manager who has a 15 year background dealing with a varied assortment of subjects that included organisms, micro-organisms, transfers of said, injection of said etc etc. so I fully understood the potential health risks to myself and others prior to getting into tattooing. When someone asks about diseases, I explain the process or tattooing and then let them know that whatever they came in with, they are leaving with it, it's not staying here. Beleive it or not, I had a large gay clientele and guess what? Those people have a lot of cash to spend! Double income, no kids. Good luck with your search for information, there are quite a few good posts with some good information on this board. Pay attention to all of it, good or bad, and put all the pieces together that work for you.

I don't get the point of you arrogant know-it-all douchebags. I talked to the artist at my shop, he even let me tattoo on an orange I braught to get used to the feeling. (Pretty much I just wanted to know if it felt natural, it did). I looked through magazines and talked to him for ordering prices. One of your all-mighty tattoo guns that cost over a grand, whereas you can let someone who wants to begin slowly get everything they need to start in a kit? Who the fuck cares of the quality, they may not even be tattoo'ing people with it. Let them practice on grapefruits, oranges, and pigskin. You can trash ebay-kits, but I've seen them. Hell, my first tattoo was on an orange with no stencil and an "ebay-machine." You know whats suprising. I did better linework than half the artists in my god damn town. So how about you nose up some respect for people still striving.. Don't listen to these "vets" of the business. Go on ebay, buy a cheap kit, just don't tattoo people. Practice with it, get used to it, learn all the mechanics of them, how to set everything up properly. Make sure you're ready for the commitment of time and money, before you just go off spending thousands on a good set-up. Thats MY two-cents.

Wow , lol I"m not sure where to start and i shouldn't be but I am surprised this thread keeps making it to the top. Fedup, ya might have better "line work" than half the people in your area, that would tell me I should be going somewhere else to get my ink done, and if you're that good first time picking up a machine, you really want someone in your neck of the woods training you? Training being the keyword there. Sure it's about paying some dues, of course it's about respecting the men and women who already have paid. But I feel right now mostly it's about those people who've already paid their dues wanting some kickback for training you properly so you don't have to make the same trial and error mistakes they've made. And you only have to get a couple of issues of any popular tattoo magazine to see this art and the industry surrounding it wasn't created by stand alone self centered pricks like some of us would like to make all professional tattoo artists to seem. It's gotten as far as it has due to a colloboration of efforts on the parts of everyone involved. Look at a magazine of work ten years ago and compare it to today. The vast difference in quality you'll see is because of all these "uptight" artists, teaching the new guys what they know and allowing the new guys to expand on what they've learned. I've met more than a few assholes sure, but you aren't going to impress these people with words, impress them with your ART, your drive, your admiration , your respect , and your humility. You can't even expect to rub elbows with the mediocre artists out there if you walk around thinking you're god's next gift to the tattoo machine, or by belittling the efforts of all those that've come before you. Tattoo all the fruit you want , i'm sure you can sell them on ebay as well.

when i bang a chick, i don't have to pay homage to the men who banged her before me. i don't have to pay any dues. (most of the time). tattoooing is the same, if you're good, you're good. all this crap about the "culture" is just that, crap.

Comparing an instinctual bodily function to a highly skilled profession? Yeah THAT makes a lot of sense! I would love to see you go to a tattoo convention and spout off that there is no tattoo culture to say Gil Montie or Jack Rudy or Brandon Bond or Rick Walters! You would very quickly learn the error of your inane statements! Boy would you!

I often find that smart older folks have learned a lifetime of lessons well worth learning. Trial and error sucks. That said, just cause someone is old doesnt mean they are smart or have learned any lessons. Its all about finding the smartest people you can find and learn from them. Dez, you really must be stuck in bum-f#$% middle of nowhere to deny the tattoo culture. It transcends all other cultures mutha fucka. Your even part of it, filed under talented loner outcast.

i would kick the ass of any tattoo artist in the united states with the exception of maybe 3 or 4. i'm a machine. tattoo culture is a myth. you poke holes in someones skin til it makes a picture. picking your nose is also a culture, in that case. don't mess with those nose pickers.

Can you say "delusions of grandeur"? I thought ya could! Dez, you are a legend in your own mind.

Personally I believe this moron is in reality a 13 year old inbred female from some shithole burg in lower Arkansas! Fits doesn't it?

i meant sinking in. that reminds me, gabe, in your section where you are crying for some new shit to do with your board, how about a frikin edit your own post option!!!!

Dez, we heard you the first time, but just because your an antisocial nerd who hates clicks and popularity contests doesnt mean that there isnt a big tattoo culture out there that transcends race and gender.

Instead of putting these people down and filling them fulla shit trying to make them look like dicks.. give them some tip's so they dont go out and destroy peoples skin . . fuck yeah an apprentiship would make it a Hell of a lot easyer but all yous seem to do is say that.... If yous state you are so good them proove it.... give them your Knowledge ...... Everybodys got to start sumwhere . . . but just because you put ink to skin a few times dont mean you suddenly pro dez specially when you probably havnt even started puberty yet. Yous have gota start haveing respect 4 each individual artists even each "Machine" every artists has there own Unique style . . . . . tattooing is a skill pleanty of practice and info and we will all go along way. Goof Look ; )

P.S practice steriliseing your equipment . . . . . go out and buy and Autoclave or an ultrasonic sterilser be 4 u even think of tattooing a person.... then be 4 that ink up some pig skin to give you a rough idea what its like not to mention a simple first aid course incase one of you customers faint. its a long road but its worth it.

Screamer, I have never seen a very talented artist not share tips and tricks with other talented artists who are learning the right way. Learning how to tattoo on a public forum open to all is stupid and irresponsible.

Hey Screamer, it might add some credability to your comments if you knew what you're talking about, there's no such thing as an 'ultrasonic sterilizer', an ultrasonic is used to clean the equipment prior to sterilizing, it does not actually sterilize anything . Kindly get your info right before you spread mis-information.

ULTRASONIC STERILIZER!!!! What a moron! Just another reason to be careful who you listen to on the internet! Just to clarify: an ultrasonic is used to clean dirty tubes and tools BEFORE they are sterilized in an AUTOCLAVE sterilizer ( or whatever type sterilizer you use>

YEah...Well...I dont even hav ink. And just by reading this can tell that most all of you, Experienced or not, Are idiots. Your all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo!!! If i had to get ink...i deffinately wouldnt go to some prick thats full of himself!!! Come off your clouds...My Bro would pass up all you douches!!!

And if i had to pick... Id pick the chick that works out of the back of her car!!!

Your a dumbass. Lefty

thats cool, if youd rather go to some artist working out of their car, then youre BEYOND fucking help, and obviously care VERY little about your own health, so im sure you could give two shits about your clients health.

i get so incredibly sick of people trying to write off professionals distaste for A POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD as an ego trip. we dont WANT to help you because we CANT help you via internet. thats like ralph macchio in karate kid, trying to learn karate from a fucking book. yeah, you COULD do it that way, but theres a BETTER way that doesnt put you or your clients at risk and will help you be a better artist.

if youre serious about this career choice, thats cool. youll wise up and listen to people that know the indusry and know what theyre talking about. if not, then theres nothing we can really tell you that CANT be written off as the spewings of an egomaniac. youre gonna do what you want to anyways, so go do it. youll never get anywhere, youll fuck people up, and a month later youll be working back at the fry-o-matic at Burker King. and like clockwork, someone else will step up to take your place as "the new scratcher." everyone wants to BE a rock star, no one wants to WORK for it, and more will fail than succeed. *shrug*

my 2 cents.

and PS, "mumbo jumbo" is not an insult. "mumbo jumbo" is a term used towards technical jargon in an unfamiliar industry. ex: "the lawyer tried to explain the legal process, but it was all a bunch of legal MUMBO JUMBO," meaning he didnt understand what the lawyer was saying.

this has been todays grammar lesson.

OMG! this is my first time on a tattoo artists forum. i have been doing tats for years, but not satisfied with my work over-all, and was looking to ask the "pros" some questions to better my workmanship, but after reading a few posts i will have to say that i am horrifically disappointed. i thinks its sickening how you call yourselves "pros" and "vets" and treat the noobs the way you are, all this talk about paying dues and showing respect, i think maybe you need to practice what you preach, I'm horrified. there is no kind of skill in the world that has advanced due to the knowledgeable retaining their knowledge in order to get "kudos" for having such, as a matter of fact none of you would be here now if the people who mastered HTML or server-side script, didn't freely share their knowledge base to the next genre of coders and scripters. they didn't require that the new guys "show their loyalty" before they shared what they knew, and they sure the hell didn't act like a bunch of babies when it came to helping someone out who was interested in learning, in ALL OTHER SKILLS just showing the interest to learn the skill is enough for the "pros" and the "vets" to do all they can to help them out, they jump on the chance to share what they know, and when they actually teach someone something, THEY get satisfaction from teaching them. i have been tattooing for 15 years, and i haven't even even seen anyone get a tattoo that i wasn't giving them, and i actually thought that maybe there were "pros" out there that would be willing to share what they know with people who are truly wanting to learn, but all i see here is a bunch of people that don't want to part with the power because they feel that the world owes them something for learning it themselves, pfft you should all be ashamed of yourselves, no wonder the tattooing community is as fuct up as it is and i know someone will jump on here and start up about analogies, but i think that web design coding and tattooing are as close as one can get, and before you go off talking crap do a couple Google searches, first one should be "Tattooing Tutorial" and the second one should be "HTML Tutorial", hell you can even try "PHP tutorial" and "ASP Tutorial", as you will see anyone interested in web design and coding can learn how from a hundred different sources, all respectable, all knowledgeable, and ALL GIVING THEIR FREE TIME TO HELP OUT OTHER PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SKILL WITHOUT CHILDISH INSULTS AND FUNNY LITTLE NICKNAMES GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARENT AS SKILLED AS THEY ARE!!! although all of this is beyond sad, i will continue to try my best to learn as much as i can and hopefully someday me and the other few people on these forums can save what little bit of respect there still is in this art form.

learning to tattoo and learning to code html are close? Unbelievable. I cant believe you tattoo people. Can we see your tattoos and art work?

Hey man...Tattooing is an INVASIVE MEDICAL PROCEEDURE So do you have to worry about BCC and CC etc when ya get on that keyboard?...of course not, your analogy has holes in it...BIG HOLES!!! When ya do that HTML does it go on a persons body FOREVER? NOPE!!! You have no clue what its all about.

i wanted to find out what's a first good tattoo gun? And this is the responses from Tattoo artists? I'll pretend i never read this, and for your sake, I wont show anyone else this page eithere. You guys all sound like a bunch of panzies.

lol....Coral dude, so coral.

Too bad you didnt get the message... ask your mentor, they know better than anonymous people on forums.... The only ones I hear crying are the people without the patientce to learnt he right way. Stop whining, lets see your portfolio...

Hey look!, check out all the grammatical errors ; )

i have to say.. I am an experienced female tattooist from new zealand and from just reading a couple of different 'conversations' about learner tattooists and asking questions - all you fucks are god damn rude to them man. They come to you for help and you all get your big heads out blah blah blah go get an apprentiship - and yeah people should be aware of hygene and general practices but if you go off ya nutts telling them to go get an apprentiship then watta ya think there gonna go do... 'ill show them fuckers, ill go and do it anyway...' theres plenty of websites out there that will give them what they want but you guys are giving good artists like us bad names

Most of you people on here are so rude! LOL....some poor guy is asking a simple question, and then you all go and make yourselves look like idiots. I dont know anything about giving tattoo's, but i get them all the time....and if the tattoo artist i was going to had even half the attitude most of you have, i would walk out of that shop and tell every person i know to never go to you. So....if you think about it....the people who are being jerks on here....do you think they even have any customers at all? ha ha......there for....what do they even know? Not a damn thing.

One of the funniest things oin this thread is that twit Gabe giving advice out, its almost upsetting as the few so called pros on here dishing out how to live your life. Wankers. It's the age of information you idiots. We know what is scareing the shit out of you, the fact that there is thousands of people all over the world that are teaching themselves to tattoo at home, and are teaching themselves quite well. In a much quicker time than slaveing away for nothing under a money hungry mental....sorry mentor. Wave goodbye to your incomes you tax avoiding pros, we are coming to a street near you, or rather near your shop.

im so sick of every asshole who's watched an episode of miami ink thinkin they can run out and buy a kit off e-bay and POOF! im a tattoo artist!! if its so easy to do then why do i constantly see horrible ass tattoos runnin around? why is it so hard for people to realize that tattooing is a very highly skilled craft(when done right ) that can't be learned properly by trial and error? do these people think they can go buy a sclapel and some scrubs and POOF! im a surgeon?? or let me go buy a football helmet and shoulder pads then demand a spot on the roster of their local nfl team?? even a construction trade takes time to learn before you acheive journeyman status. its fuckin ridiculous!! IF you can create AMAZING works of art on paper or canvas(and i mean AMAZING) then MAYBE, you might be talented enough to be worth an artist takin his time to train you. just don't expect SHIT to be handed to you. if you aren't dedicated enough to put together a quality art portfolio before you search for an apprenticeship then why would any mentor think you're dedicated enough to teach your lifes work?? fuck all these poser ass, self entitled , ignorant,lazy, uneducated people who can't get it through their thick skulls that this isn't something EVERYONE is capable of doing!! if you love tattooing and want to learn the artform then get off the keyboard, turn off miami ink and pick up a pencil and blow us away with some quality artwork!! we'll all be more than happy to help someone who gives this art its proper respect and shows some actual talent and drive. ok rant over

I am learning from a artist at a shop who has won many awards at tattoo competitions, he is my favorite artist around but his shop is to full for apprentices! He has been giving me pointers, helping me out and giving direction. He makes sure i am cleaning everything the right way, disposable tubes and needles, machine and clip cord bags, etc. I am working out of my house, i have a room I am able to sterilize every inch! I bought a machine off ebay (they suck) used the power supply and bought more machines! All we are asking for is a little more direction, I do not like people going out, buying GUNS and giving a tatt to a bud for $3 because it is his first, but someone doing the right thing, reading about it, sterilization, technique, tools, machines but to poor to get an apprenticeship should not be slammed! I love the art of tattooing and the culture behind it, but have to work out of my house, I hate being called a "scratcher" when people love my tattoo work and drawings! If you make people mad they will try to go out and do it but if you say "The best tattoo maching not gun is (your opinion here), but before you give someone a tattoo you should see, read, practice and do the sterilization process!" Just help out! do not hate on people who are trying to start, give direction! Thanks

you're missing the point entirely. unless this person has done the right thing and given this artform its proper respect then don't expect those of us who have to advise you at all because you're NOT READY to be buying any type of machine. my mentor GAVE ME my machines when he thought i was ready to be using them and not a moment before. and i really doubt that the person asking about the GUN has bothered to do even one of the things that is necessary to find an apprenticeship.i busted my ass for a long time til i got my apprenticeship and when i did it didn't cost me a dime (other than time and dedication) so unless you are willing to pay your dues(and its not easy) then don't expect ANYTHING to be spoon fed to you. that simple. and its not hating ,it's called getting offended by the assholes who think everything should be handed to them and don't work for it. EARN IT!! nuf said

This is horrible cliquish demeanor newbies don't need. So what it took you a year and half to learn what you had to learn. Why don't you make it simple for the next bunch, they'll make it simple for the next and so on and so on. Just because a person mentions buying a kit doesn't mean he's going to be a "scratcher" right off the bat. Maybe he plans on practicing on practice skin, pig skin, fruit ect. Obviously this is a process and each step must be learned. Apprenticeships shouldn't be the only form of learning. All these people are just taught by one egomaniac to pick up that same mind frame and try to pass it on to someone else. Newbies aren't looking for that they're looking for help and knowledge. Even with your apprenticeship when you put that tattoo machine to the fisrt fruit or practice skin or whatever its not going to be perfect and what happens if its not perfect you failed. You'd have to do it again which means trial and error. To all the respectable tattoo artist on this board thanks for explain a little more when people ask questions. To whoever said stop watching Miami Ink I'm guessing this generation of basketball, football, etc shouldn't have ever looked up to greats like jordan, barry. Its good to have role models in a field you want to be great at one day. One can hope that if you went up to one of them and asked for advice that they wouldn't be assholes like on this board here.

This is horrible cliquish demeanor newbies don't need. So what it took you a year and half to learn what you had to learn. Why don't you make it simple for the next bunch, they'll make it simple for the next and so on and so on. Just because a person mentions buying a kit doesn't mean he's going to be a "scratcher" right off the bat. Maybe he plans on practicing on practice skin, pig skin, fruit ect. Obviously this is a process and each step must be learned. Apprenticeships shouldn't be the only form of learning. All these people are just taught by one egomaniac to pick up that same mind frame and try to pass it on to someone else. Newbies aren't looking for that they're looking for help and knowledge. Even with your apprenticeship when you put that tattoo machine to the fisrt fruit or practice skin or whatever its not going to be perfect and what happens if its not perfect you failed. You'd have to do it again which means trial and error. To all the respectable tattoo artist on this board thanks for explain a little more when people ask questions. To whoever said stop watching Miami Ink I'm guessing this generation of basketball, football, etc shouldn't have ever looked up to greats like jordan, barry. Its good to have role models in a field you want to be great at one day. One can hope that if you went up to one of them and asked for advice that they wouldn't be assholes like on this board here.

everybody complaines on if its a gun or a machine, and the first one patened was called a electric tattoo gun....not machine. so all of u uptight "profesionals" r u saying u know more than the guy who invented the darn thing. if he called it a gun then its a gun and find something else to _itch about.

As far as finding your first gun/ machine at the very least you should have someone with you that knows how to use one. Your fist gun/machine my not be the right one for you. you hand has its own shape/ size. As you learn how to tattoo you will be able to understand what you need from your gun/ machine. this brings use to the point of a mentor /apprentice. this is a time honored tradition that dates back long before electricity or modern currency for that matter.All that aside you will learn faster without butchering a ton of people if you are learning it from someone with experence. This way you don't endanger anyone with techinques that are less than clean. My suggestions don't mean very much if i don't give an answer. just search Tattoo kit on the internet , close your eyes point and click. It isn't going to make much of a difference if you don't know what you are doing.

Hmmmmm, slam session on every post on here. Here is a simple answer for a simple question. 1st choice for a 1st machine would be a Kaplan or spaulding. sure you can spend a grand on a machine, i use a eastcoast kaplan and have used the same machine for 28yrs.

where is the best place to get needles. the company i was goin through shut down, i was told mickeyts.com has needles i can get. but ive never used them and i need to get more 3's round. help me out please. i got a few people scheduled next week. so i need em for the outline. the ones are a little small for what these ppl want.

Holy fuckin hell what a pile of shit this message board has stirred up! Interesting, funny, outrageous, informational, demeaning and misinformation are words that come to mind to describe what I have read in the posts and yes, I read all the posts. I didnt include in my original post about the sterilization process but it was touched on by another poster. The cleaning process was touched on breifly as well but for indepth instructions the OP should really speak to someone knowledgable about the requirements in thier state, province etc as they are all different and I know this for a fact as I have had studios in two different provinces and a different country. Anyway, it was fun reading all the back and forth stuff and if the OP reads the messages thoroughly, there is enough information there to be able to get enough of a grip on the industry to ask the right questions of the right person. Ok, quit buggin me, I gotta sling some ink!

Wow, all of you are elitist assholes. Every last one of you. Good job.

OMFG!!!! most of u bastards are just offensive whining snobs!!! omg all this for a kid askin a question!!! I am a 'scratcher' as u put it..I am a good artist and I have recentlyI purchased a boss kit and am practising my ass off on myself and friends..and I can say now confidently that I am better than most shitty 'studio tattoo artists' round where i live! so when I eventually get my own shop set up Il do well! so DO NOT judge us learners as all the same..I am extremly hygenic and use disposable tubes n needles,and I would never do a half assed job on anybody,I am serious and passionate bout my art...GODDAMN SOME PEOPLE ARE UP THERE OWN ASSES..i mean I tryed and tryed to get an apprenticeship..but they didnt want a girl so here I am doin it myself and all I hear is you shits puttin us down..YOU HAV TO LEARN SOMEWHERE RIGHT?!!! for fuksake I aint gonna giv someone an infection or butcher there skin!! wats the fuckin problem..GO GET FUCKED! assholes

You guys are all missing the point of this forum.. with the exception of Gabe, Taz, Krystof, the Doc and ink junkie.. Every post I've read seems to turn into a shit-slinging match.. kinda makes me wonder if this is the industry I really want to go into? I love my art and I love to learn so I'm gonna try not to let it get to me.. I truly hope there are more level headed folks out there in the industry than what shows up on this site. You guys should all read my "thank you" post under this in the main forum page. If you don't know everything about tattooing, don't act you do and if you do don't act like you're better than someone with a real passion to learn.. Just keep it real guys.. egos look ugly in black and white! That said.. I reckon if you're getting a machine to practice on pigs ears and fruit and stuff then it shouldn't really matter.. The first machine I got I'm gonna throw away when I start tattooing people. You need to try out a few machines to see what's right for you and to do that you need to really know what you're doing. No point getting a pro machine when you're just figuring out how it works.. Anyone agree or am I off? That's just my opinion.. Tam

Tam, again, thanks for your posts (this and the other) as, again, it is so rare to see that SOMEONE actually understands what we are trying to convey. As to what you said about the 'shit-slinging', yeah, it IS somewhat discouraging but well, it is the internet and an 'open forum' so you get all kinds I guess. As to 'kinda makes me wonder if this is the industry I really want to go into? I love my art and I love to learn so I'm gonna try not to let it get to me.. I truly hope there are more level headed folks out there in the industry than what shows up on this site.' while it is an unfortunate fact that the popularity of tattoos has brought some real assholes into it, but, as someone with over 40 years in the art, I'd like to assure you there are indeed many very decent folks in this profession, do not allow what you've seen on this forum to discourage you. While no disrespect is meant towards Gabe (as I trust he will understand) the shit-slinging on this site does not truly represent the profession as a whole and I'd bet my thumbs Gabe would be very quick to agree that MOST real professionals are some of the nicest people you could ever meet (provided you don't fuck with them or the profession, then, at least some of us are not so nice) Again, Thank You for your very intelligent posts, if only more folks had your outlook not only would this forum but the 'profession' be a lot more pleasant. Hopefully, we'll see more post from you, again, they are like a welcome breathe of fresh air.

Tam, this is a forum, a public anonymous forum, the point of this site is not here, but in the tattoo galleries. That is what you should be doing on this site, studying great artists and their work. This forum is a teenie tiny part of this website... The hacks that encourage irresponsible tattooing are not part of the industry I work with, thats for sure. The folks I work with are for the most part, pretty awesome people.

Thanks guys.. geez it just makes my blood boil tho.. as you can well understand.. when people are just so unbelievably stupid.. not only to give invalid information but to also just slam people down. Personally, I spend 5 hrs a day researching art and at least 6 hrs a day practicing my own so this kind of stuff gets to me.. people sometimes just don't get it's an ARTFORM.. with serious health implications.. you can't just buy a kit and all of a sudden be cool.. there are sooooooo many things you have to know.. thanks to this this site I know that now.. not to sound like an ass but I really don't want to know what damage I could have done if I hadn't stumbled across this forum.. I know a lot of artists in africa,, they aren't as renowned as they should be but they are friends.. and the fact that they appreciate my art astounds me. I know for myself I'm going to look at this step I'm taking in my life in a very serious way from now on thanks to you guys.. I really was so gung ho up until now.. Would you believe I agreed to let a mate of mine use my machines on his brother and actually cancelled that shit because of a post I read by Doc? You guys are doing some good.. even if it is just by stopping people like me tattooing their mates in their flats cos they think it's safe.. you got through to someone.. in deepest africa :) thx again! I honestly think if you're serious about this you're gonna do whatever it takes but please god don't start tattooing your friends until you know what you're doing.. and that is coming from someone who until I joined this forum was happy to do just the opposite.. Dumb as shit!!

And just as a ps.. to all the people who come on here thinking the pros are full of shit.. ALL of the tattoo artists I've met in person are fuckin awesome people.. Maybe you should try meet a few face to face before you bomb their sites and humiliate them.. I'm an artist too but there is a fine line between being respectful to your elders (so to speak) and downright disrespectful to people who know a whole lot more than you.. own the fact that you know fuck all guys.. don't be shy to admit you're just an amateur even if you think you're the shit. I'm the first to admit I know nada and I've been studying for months..

Tam Tam, Again, another post that really hits 'home' and makes all the other b.s. so worth it. Naturally, that particular part 'Would you believe I agreed to let a mate of mine use my machines on his brother and actually cancelled that shit because of a post I read by Doc? ' really made it 'personally gratifying' as I trust you understand, quite possibly more than most I think and for that comment, I very sincerely Thank You, you made not just my day but quite possibly my week with what you've posted today. Naturally, I agree with everything you've posted because I believe it all to be the truth but, again, it truly is very gratifying to hear someone with your intelligence AND talent say the things you have and I want you to know, if there is ANYTHING I can do to help you in becoming a tattoo artist or in any way, do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks Doc! :) Wow.. I'm really blown away! Cool to meet people (sort of) who have a similar attitude.. your replies just made MY week!

Well said Tam. It's good to know that there are people out there that know we're not assholes. My feeds speak for themselves, though. If people have respect for the industry and for the people your asking for help from, i'll do anything i can to steer people in the right direction.

Two years ago a person wanted to know about equipment he should start/learn with. Now, we have a whole forum subject about ethics, health, equipment, people's honesty/dishonesty, opinions and some genuine emotional energy. Here I am, 27 years old, I have a 4 1/2 year old daughter and a talent. I'm an artist but I don't say that as in "i am better than you, I'm an artist". I love everything about art. I had recently wanted to be an apprentice for tattoo but the timing has just never worked out. I will not tattoo anyone until I gain the knowledge from an experienced tattoo artist. I would feel honored to be asked to give a tattoo, and rightfully so after someone will have seen my skill and work after working with someone who has years of experience. For now, I have chosen to study under a different set of masters: the University kind. I am learning many new forms of art, and I will graduate in 1 yr with my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Illustration. My next step is to train to receive my teaching liscensure to teach grades 6-12. It has taken me almost 5 years to get this far. Let this be a lesson to those who want to give art to others. You must first learn the trade and all its components and learn it well. Learn everything that goes into it. I would not be teaching art if I didn't study also the history of art, a very vital role in what we do today and what people have done for over 30,000 years. The tattoo trade has much history behind it, I suggest ready as much as you can about it, study study study, then be a formal or informal student, study some more, and soon do. I know this post was extremely long, but thank you for reading.

Oh yes, one more thing: where I said it has taken me a lot of time to get this far, it has also taken a lot of money and a lot of time and a lot of hard work. And I feel really good about that.

LOL- you dudes are dicks. I have never been apprenticed. EVER. I tried to twice and got dicked around. First dude had me come from Denver to Orange County Florida... I get there and went through hell with this dudes bullshit.... I won't even get into it- acted like you guys but really wasn't that great and drank alot. It wasn't a matter of waiting to ink somebody up- I was patient. Next time I came home, went to another dude,once again full of himself, probably just needed the cash, dicked around alot... he was simply important to know because of a lot of his connections. Finally I got to talking with another guy... this dude was like "man I don't really want to apprentice you. Go get $1500 bucks if you are serious. We will get you proper gear, give me a hundred for ordering it for you". No kits. Just two good GUNS- yeah I said GUNS, a motor, an assload of variety of disposable tubes, Some really good inks, needles, gear to keep things clean and a proper chair and table and a stereo and some lights. I had to run through a gang of punk rockers and lame ass juggalos who would have done it themselves, so why not me? My guy would see little bits of my work, and just basicaly told me what seemed like good ideas to keep doing and told me why and what not to do. I asked him about certain techniques I saw him doing that I liked, he spit it to me till i was doing it right, then I would do other things with what he taught me. Plain and simple. I'm pretty descent. I get people asking customers who did there work constantly. It's true if you are good and dedicated, then that's what it is. No big secret. Stay off ebay unless you are looking for a particular brand. You get what you pay for- key. Don't trip off these dudes. Everybody fucks people up at some point in their careers. The first couple times you will hear about it and either you will keep doing it and learn from you mistakes or you'll probably not stick with it for long enough that it would matter anyway. Besides guys, scratchers give us job security...

ok so i got my first tattoo machine when i was 16...i am 19 now... i have done hundreds of tats n i jus keep getting better....i started off wit words n simple tattoos, but now im into big pieces of artwork....i never evn thought of getting an app. cuz u dont need a liscense where im from...i got my first tattoo when i was 16 n evr since then i have been giving myself my own tattoos n guess wat? there better then tats from "pros" ...so if someone wans to buy a tattoo gun n start?....fckin go for it!!!! im alll for garage tats haha cuz i can bet u any amount of money by the time im 20 ill be better then most artists..n yes thats a brag! XD

Man I bet your all gifts from god... I bought a 200$ 'Machine' off eBay and gave my self tiger strips down my legs... I know that's simple... but fuck, get a cheap gun on ebay and practice on potatoes... fuck this apprenticeship bullshit, the best way to be successful is to do it yourself. Fuck this teaching bullshit, like I wana know some other guys techniques and be his lil' bitch for years.

I agree with both sides. I truly respect all who have done this for so many years, and do believe that talking with a professional is best to really get a sense of all of the proper techniques. However, I do not put my whole faith in them. We must make our own judgments, and our own mistakes if we are ever going to truly learn anything. I am seeking to buy a machine as well. (and to me, machine, gun, the terminology makes no real difference) I am not wanting to buy it in thinking that I can buy a cheap kit on e-Bay and become an instant professional, of course I can't, but that is the whole point. I learn by doing, by getting real hands on experience and wish to use it only for practicing on inanimate objects. Once I become rather familiar with the feeling of working the machine, I will go to a professional and learn the best techniques, where to get better machines, and everything else I might need to know. I can't afford to spend a lot of money on something before I even try it. What if I were to pay a lot of money and decide that it wasn't for me for what ever reason? I need something to simply practice with so I can decide if it is something I feel I can do. I can't spend every waking hour a tattoo shop learning form "the masters" when they are very busy. That is why I need to have my own machine to practice with in my own time and only have to come to them for short lessons on technique, advice, and questions. That way I get more practice time in, and I'm not having to bug them all day. I do not think that you experienced veterans are arrogant, you are only trying to give good advice and caution others about the dangers involved, and for that I greatly respect you, but I think that you may not being seeing it from the proper angle. There is no need to be vulgar, and hopefully we can all be civil minded adults. Both sides have there own viewpoints, and both should be respected and acknowledged. Politics and personal opinions aside, the simple question is, where can one find a good quality machine, or kit, for the least amount of money.

There are alot of cranky ppl on here that will not share anything with you i still havent found anyone to answer my qeustion on needle depth but as far as machines go i myself have a time machine it is very good but expensive...if you are pressed for cash try a superior kit thay arent the best but will get you started and i suggest taking one of those and taping a pen or pencil to the tube and draw draw draw or tape some d cell batteries to the end of a pen and when you can draw and write very good this way get out some pratice skins and have a go

I think asking about making machines on here is taking the piss personaly and really deserve to be shot down in flames, 1st gun get some knowledge maybe read even. I didnt have a apprentice but was shown\guided in the right direction but am and was self taught mostly now as for the scratchers i think we have two sorts of scratchers here those that dont give a shit about hygeine or ink quality etc, or those that are clean knowledgeable and care for the whole process of tattooing an not for just dollar, 50% of costomers that walk into my home have been badly tattooed some even scarred and almost all badly faded colour that isnt really that old, problem in my town is theres a hell of alot of so called artists opening shops 4 in the last 12 months that in truth are absolute shite and i end up re,working there so called pro work! so sure scratchers can give the idustry a bad name but its all too easy to open a shop and call youself a tatt artist while you proceed to butcher people with 2nd rate shite, this is by no means meant to cause offence just another angle of perspective... cheers

Ive read through the posts to this topic and although i agree with a number of statements i think a lot of it is a pile of shit. First off machines: i dont care what anybody says and ive owned everything from a spaulding to dringenberg, its got fuck all to do with the machine its the set up the counts. I suggest you buy a cheap ass machine pull it apart and learn the workings inside and out. I have done that. With some modifications here and there and purchasing better components or making them (if you have the knowledge) yourself you can make a machine that rivals anything else out there. And on that note all you apparent artist ive watched on this post and others going on about crap machines thats pretty poor. If you cant make an ebay $10.00 shitty liner run like an FK Iron cutback then you need to go down the apprenticeship route you constantly whine about, these are your tools and if somebody else has to make a great machine for you the im sorry but you need reschooling. Secondly Mas and Dez the pair of you need to shut the fuck up pair of fucking gimps. Has daddy been abusing you or something that you feel compelled to come on here and whine about shit you clearly have no understanding of just to feel better. Just wanted to get that off my chest. But on a flip side why do lot of Artists feel the need deride people regarding there questions on these posts. I have a lot of respect for those of you who have served apprenticeships but to be honest i have worked for 7 years now and i am completely self taught. The option was never there for me or the opportunity. All this "we are timed served artist we demand respect" bullshit. Im afraid you dont deserve shit other than a well done for gaining what many havent been able to. Acting like those without one are beneath you is pretty sad. You act like you are some sort of gatekeepers to mysterious artform. Im sorry but unless you can tebori with your eyes closed you should gain the same respect as a scratcher or a top artist. If youve learned and your good and your safe who fucking cares

This crap is pitiful...most of you kids are well kids...watching to much of that LA ink drama on tv and im sure your knowledge of tattooing goes as far as google search...all i can say is if you want to learn to do the work...but dont have time to waste working for some arrogant fool cleaning his shop for free cause you have a real job making real money that hasnt came outta your dads pocket, do what a few others have said buy a damn ebay kit, some grapefruit and ink away

I have been reading these forums for a while now. I was one who started out with the whole ebay kit and worked for a while as a "scratcher" then i relised a few things and seeked to do the right thing and got an apprentice/ Here are just a few opinions from someone who has worked both lines. I understand how hard it can be to 1) find a willing artist to apprentice 2) take the pangs of being an apprentice and 3) affording the fees that can go with it.heres the thing though that I have found. that you can do it as a self taught but just as the apprentice of the tribal tattooist ( if you read your history only the witch doctor or medicine cheif or designated memeber was allowed to tattoo because each symbol heals some type of religious meaning. even in budpest only the chosen get to apply sacred tattoos. and you had to be a chosen from that tattooer to learn the craft) you have to get the wealth of knowledge your mentor has to not only do this right but avoid the numerous possibilities of mistakes. After learning all the stuff my mentor just about beat into me i am forever greatful because he saved one more person from me scarring as i tried to figure it out myself. Instead of swalling my pride like anyone else who would want o learn a proffession i almost made the mistake of thinking i could just do it alone. you don't just pick up a wrnch and know how to tune a ferreri and you can't just buy an ebay machine and immediately understand how to both tune and buy the correct hardware to make it a mickey sharpz or a ted ted. that knowledge gets passed down just as the mechanoc tell his apprentice how to tune a fuel injection system from the hum. yeah it can be learned through self taught after years and years of mutilation wther its your own skin you tear or barely break or someone elses. In which case all your doing is writing your own reputation as nothing more then a 20 dollar artist, you'll still get customers of course because people are always looking for the bargain and eventually you will get it but only after you piss enough people off that your reputation proceeds you. things like how color interacts with different skin types and the best way to lay out a cover up and how to lay your colors so they meld the best isn;t something those 100 kits off ebay are going to tell you believe me I know. and even if you do read it, it is far from the same as in real life as your hands shake from nerves and your lines get jumpy because your not sure where to start and how to stop, and dont let anyone fool you tattooing a grapfruit or that cheap fake skin is no where near close to the real thing. grapfruit and real skin move differently, lay differently and most of all a grapfruit doesn't bleed and say OW. this is probably one of the most difficult professions to get into as that no artist truly want to have an apprentice that doesn't care and is just going to go out and fu$$ people up only to say yeah so and so taught me and gave me the liscence to drive because hell there goes their reputation they just spent a lifetime building. slinging names and attitude doesn't get anything but a very defensive person, My point to all of this is that if i had not wised up and seeked help it was going to be a long hard road as with anything of the craft years and years of experience, meaning and yes trade secrets can only be learned from someone who knows because in the end the founding fathers of this proffession took the hard knocks and spent the lifetime learning just so those the preceeded their lifetime wouldn't have to. It's not just an Art but a craft to be cultures, learned and respected in all aspects.

i came on here looking for some actual tips and advice on first tattoo machines and having read past the first couple of posts i'm none the wiser. if i ever get this art right i hope i'm not as arrogant and as unhelpful as some of you.

I am sad to confess I have become a scratcher not on people yet. I would love to have an apprenticeship but it has never worked out .One guy was skeezy and a complete ass and another who I waited for two years to get an apprenticeship under was murdered two months before my apprenticeship was to start and I had a lot of respect for him he was a big name in north carolina. I have a BFA and have trained under master printers and artist in the feilds of painting and drawing for the last four years and I understand how important it is to learn under someone who has the knowledge that has been passed down to them by yet another master, but I am tired of waiting for oppertunities that seem to never come my way. I am a trained artist and I am willing to do my home work on health codes and any thing else that needs to be done. I wish I could have had an APPRETICESHIP and I am envious of those lucky enough to find an artist they respect and are able to go that route. If any one has any advice I would appreciate it. thanks

I bought an ebay kit that arrived today with 4 machines, and shitloads of other stuff but i'd never used one before and am confused, should the machine spark out the top when i use it?

Holy shit put it down its gonna blow...

-dont listen to these fools -do what you do! If you want to talk history then so be it-California is the home to most of the countrys tattoo styles-those styles developed amongst hispanic street gangs and white convicts who copied alot of their patterns from the cholos-The artform of tattoos was limited to convicts for a long time and up until recently (15 years or so() found its way into white main stream America! You got every right to get down like the vatos of old who learned by trial and error and under intense security and with little means. The colored tatoos were very rare even 10 years ago. Check out CArtoon and others from Los Angelos who learned tattooing by graffitti and tagging-these werent white boyz who made the shit explode-all they did is take Japanese and Cholo designs and plaster it and make it commercial.And they are here talking so much shit! When they are probably teh ones handing out THUG LIFE designs to the wiggas....and placing latina style tattoos on teh white chicks!