Welcome to this detailed guide on preparing and assembling your tattoo machine for optimal performance. My name is Rusana, and I'm here to share my expertise to ensure your tattooing experience is smooth and professional.

Essential Items for Setup

To begin, gather the following items:

  • Tattoo machine
  • Needle
  • Rubber bands
  • Grommet
  • Grip (one-use or steel)
  • Gloves
  • Clip cord
  • Power supply
  • Foot pedal

Initial Steps and Hygiene

Clean Hands. Always start with clean hands. It’s a mark of professionalism (bon ton) to assemble your machine with hygiene as a priority.

Unpacking Supplies. Unwrap all one-use supplies like the needle and grip in front of your client. This reassures them about the sterility and safety of the equipment. For a steel grip, present a sterilized craft bag.

Assembling the Machine

Clip Cord Barrier. Always cover the clip cord with a barrier cover. This is non-negotiable for hygiene.

Wearing Gloves. I recommend assembling the machine while wearing gloves for added cleanliness.

Unpacking the Grip and Needle. Carefully unpack the grip and the needle.

Preparing the Needle

Bending the Needle. This is a crucial step. Bend the needle lightly at two places:

  • Near the area where the rubber band will apply pressure.
  • Near the solder joint, including a slight bend on the soldering itself. This creates a small arc that ensures the needle moves straight and prevents sideways movements, paint leakage, and uneven lines.

Installing the Grommet and Needle

Grommet Placement. Insert the grommet directly into the needle's eye. Ensure the soldering faces downwards when the needle is in the grip.

Needle Placement. There are various methods to place the needle on the machine. I prefer to settle the needle's out-hang from the tip.

Adjusting Needle Protrusion

Ideal Protrusion. In idle mode, the needle should extend about 1-1.5 mm from the tip. This ensures adequate skin penetration.

Securing the Grip. Tighten the binding screw firmly, especially for one-use grips to prevent rattling.

Using Rubber Bands

Selecting Rubber Bands. Choose bands based on their strength. Use two for tight bands and up to three for thinner ones. Distribute them evenly for stability.

Connecting the Clip Cord

Machine Polarity. For our machines, polarity doesn't matter due to bipolar capacitors. However, this may vary with different machine types.

Final Checks

Testing Machine Performance. Press the foot pedal and check the armature bar's speed. Ensure it doesn’t decelerate when touched.

Setting up a Clean Zone. Place assembled machines on a clean tissue to maintain a hygienic workspace.

Video

Conclusion

Always prioritize hygiene and precision in assembling your tattoo machine. Practice with the right equipment and techniques for the best results. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to leave comments. Happy tattooing and remember to work with pleasure and the right tools!