I don't want to be a scratcher!

I've just begun my apprenticeship and I just bought my power supply and machines... I got the Eikon EMS200 and Eikon green monster liner and a shader with clipcord and footswitch and RCA conversions for both for under $700. I have to assemble and tune the machines but I figured I'd better learn how anyway. Was it a good purchase for the money? After asking my Master and other artists I could never get a straight answer as to which machines to buy (they all say it comes down to personal style), I would of liked some SOBA's or some Cifferi's but $300 a pop was a bit out of my range plus they're supposedly too heavy for a beginner. I'm also thinking about going with SOBA's "Stable" ink or "Starbrite" Any other suggestions? I'm just trying to make sure my first investments are educated. Before you guys go on ripping me a new one I'll have you know I'm just beginning an apprenticeship under a professional artist in a professional shop...stenciling, sterilizing , mopping and taking out the trash is a blast! http://www.inkednation.com/tonydeville

mannnnn im jealous i need to get one of those fuckin green monsters, let me know how they run. Its great you are already assembling your machines, and the EMS200 is a great buy. It sounds like me and you are on the same wavelength, Cuz I got one soba and one Ciefferefieifef myself and i love them. Soba Pilot shader (its got an enourmousususss stroke but it back down alot i love it for slow punchy color) and i have a Ciferri Class Liner. Both of them you can order as kits, orrrrrrr you can buy all the pieces and put them together for like $140 each. I like puttin my machines together so there are no secrets between us.. those little whoress. but yeah man i recomend soba dandnaa cifrrri. workhorseirons stand behind their shit. I had 3 problems with the same fucking ciferri frame and in the end they hooked me up with a frame, an a-bar and some springs. Not a huge gesture its like $2 worth of metal but a gesture none the less. so go with it. and it sounds like you have a good starrtt, keeping workin on your artwork and be creative. its easy t get caught up with what everyone else is doing. powerlining everything you draw and blue highlights comming up on the lowerleft of every tweaked out image. its gettin a little old to me. so bring something new to the game.

heard alot about those eikons..... i still love my mickeys thou. i know there not what they used to be and dont rub as good as some machines but jeeze does anyone still love the mickeys like i do.....????? lonely sailorcombs in washington....

Bought a Mickey in 98,still use it every day......Also have four Pulse machines that run great. A Jonesy that I use a lot.A G-Force from 96 before it turned into a G,still runs great. I have a Martini Jerkoff,good liner. But my Mickey and my Hotsparks are my everyday machines. There are so many machines out there now I cant afford to collect them all but I want a Soba Pilot and I here Ted Ted King of the Dead machines run well. peace,Jamie Cross

soba pilot rocks, it likes to set itself up with a HUGE stroke, i run weak power with it, and let it back down on top of itself.

Believe it or not, my Coastal Waters machines still work great for me- I'm up to 3 now, the first machine I bought was a Coastal Waters and I still use it to this day although I've completely gutted it and replaced it with Pulse parts, and an RCA jack, and yes, I am a big fan of the Micky Sharpz, I have a Contraption Liner that is great for Fat Lines, and a Telephone Dial for Shading. I use an aluminum Gatsby by Pulse for Solid and Tribal work, and I know I'll get some crap on this one, but I still have a powder coated Spaulding that I bought from Jamie Cross years ago that I've taken apart and replaced everything inside with Pulse parts and an RCA jack. Awesome all around shading/solid color machine for me. Thin lines I usually use a Pulse Specialist or the Watson for thin-medium lines. I've also heard great things about Ted Ted's machines and they're pretty inexpensive, in addition, I'm still waiting for my Hotspark! I'd also like to try Bad Brass and Texas Irons. If anyone has a Bulldog frame that they're currently using as a paper weight, hit me up.

a good machine, should be well balanced, coils should be layed with proper protection, springs for the set up are always different. there are a ton of ways to tune a machine. i perfer to talk with the artist and look at their work. i have been making machines now for over 11years and tattooing over 17. i have had great artist from around the world use my machines and still do. they are gauranteed for life to the orignal owner. that means anything goes wrong, you get tech support from me or i fix it or replace it. i use iron for everything. most of the machines run under 6volts loaded. i know a thousand makers and only afew that will take the time to talk with you. thats called dialing in your machine. i would want to talk to the builder if their was any concerns, or if you wanted a super dialed in machine. ted ted king of the dead.

why the fuck did you resurect this shitfuck post from 2006 for?? this is a technical discussion that doesnt need to be on here in the first place, and for whoever cared about it in 2006 isnt here anymore , WTF

YEAH!

i use the danny fowler line. i think they run real good. any one got a paco 4 sale yo? u peeps ever try those real fat ass coils and springs?

I like to canoe.

i like to crank up the volume to great white buffalo and air guitar!

OH MY GOD, The GREAT WHITE BUFFALO..... LOOK OUT!!!! LOOK OUT!!!!!!!

Yes, my best suggestion to you is to go into real estate!!! there are too many artists, especially beginners and novice in this profession as it is!

I would like to set you up with our new line of Octane Ink. Give me an email, its a 20 color set that will rock with the other brands your considering. try ours out. Its half the price but work just as good. [email removed]

Well i actually had a problem with my green monster machine frame. The hole for the clipcord in the frame is not deep enough so the power skips. If you need a good machine you should go with FK irons, I just got a Pyro conventional liner and that machine runs like no other.