Fake skin headaches.

[Bat Penatar]

Hi all,
How the hell are you all keeping the fake skin from bouncing all over the place while tattooing? Holy smokes, so bouncy! I've tried stretching it like skin and that seems to make it worse. It bunches up pretty bad. On another note, the vibrations from my machine make it impossible to keep a straight line. Also, No matter what I do, The ink just dumps out with every single lining pass I make. I've tried hanging more needle out, with the same result, once I do that though, wobble city. It's amazing that if there's not one issue, another presents itself. I know there's going to be a hump.
The machine is a Stealth rotary. In terms of volts, I've been trying the gamut. The ink is Waverly.
I'll have to convince the wife to allow a reelskin purchase but I'd be scared I'd have to take out a second mortgage in order to afford it.

Thanks,
-Evan

 

[MalligaMallan]

I tattooed on just about everything fake and with several different machines, and never experienced the problems you describe.

However I do know others do have these kinds of problems, and what they do is either put the fake on a softer surface, like a (bunch of) newspaper, or a pad like a pillow or something.

You can also try wrapping it around a plastic bottle (and stitch or tape it together). That's a good practice, resembling more of a human limb, but also I think it may affect your technique a bit. You can still put something in between to make it softer.

And maybe treat it all a bit more careful....? ?? It sounds like you're very hard handed.

Just some ideas.

 

[TexasPT]

put a towel under it

 

[Dazza]

I usually put mine on a piece of cardboard,and go through the process of steading it with my stretching hand ,the same way you would if you were going to stretch normal skin ,it definitely takes the bounce out

 

[Cyberthrasher]

Yeah, that thin cheap stuff bounces a ton, and it's so thin your needle is basically bouncing off of your surface. I had much better luck putting it on top of a piece of cardboard and staying more than an inch away from the edges.
For the wobbles, Mark set me straight on wrapping a paper towel around my grip to thicken it. It will improve your wobbles 100fold.

Treat yourself with a couple pieces of reelskin from the US reseller. She ships quick and you'll see the value pretty quick after using that crap.

 

[Bat Penatar]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the recommendations for sure. I might be heavy handed, I'm not sure though. I should just upload what I've done. I guess I won't know until it's time to hit actual skin. How can I tell if I'm heavy handed with the fake stuff? Luckily I have some willing victims that'll let me work on them after a few months.

 

[Cyberthrasher]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the recommendations for sure. I might be heavy handed, I'm not sure though. I should just upload what I've done. I guess I won't know until it's time to hit actual skin. How can I tell if I'm heavy handed with the fake stuff? Luckily I have some willing victims that'll let me work on them after a few months.

The Reelskin will tear up a little if you over work it or hit too hard. The thin stuff...maybe marks in your table???

Here's an example. The super cheap stuff next to Reelskin. Same rose, about a week apart so obviously my talent didnt get any better (still waiting). Just to show how much the canvas might be the culprit. Try to hold off on the live canvas until you're comfortable with your progress on the fake stuff.

 

[MalligaMallan]

I'm not sure it has to show that you're heavy handed - other than what you first described, and which seems enough of signs to me? ??

I have never really understood what makes people have these experiences with fake. I'm definitely not saying my technique is better, far from it. However I suspect light handedness is better for certain kinds of motifs, and heavy handedness is better for other kinds of motifs. On human skin I'm talking about now ?

 

[Bat Penatar]

I'm not sure it has to show that you're heavy handed - other than what you first described, and which seems enough of signs to me? ??

I have never really understood what makes people have these experiences with fake. I'm definitely not saying my technique is better, far from it. However I suspect light handedness is better for certain kinds of motifs, and heavy handedness is better for other kinds of motifs. On human skin I'm talking about now ?

I'll post something when I get a sec, if you wouldn't mind taking a look for me. I dig how cool everyone is on this forum.

 

[Bat Penatar]

I referenced this from a Scumboy tattoo. I did this with a 9rs and a 7rm. I like the 9rs for lining but I can see now that it's not as crisp as a liner. I'll move up to maybe 11rl? Anywho, there's a ton you'll likely find wrong with it. Can you see some heavy handedness here? It was a fun little project.
Thanks for taking a look.

 

[MalligaMallan]

Haha, well, it's a traditional piece, and if you ask me that usually calls for heavy handedness. And that's pretty typical where the difference is imho. Me, who doesn't fancy traditional motifs at all, but rather single line motifs that requires delicacy, struggle and don't succeed very well with traditional.

You, on the other hand, probably will do very good with them. Maybe it will require some adjusting to working on fake skin though - but maybe that's good practice nevertheless, so you don't go on massacring your clients in the future? ? You will surely get the lines to stay however. Probably going too deep is something you will have to avoid. Do I speak backwards like Yoda? ??

I think you're practice looks great. ?

 

[BlackBuddha]

1st .. buy high quality fake skin .. everything else gives headaches ..
2nd .. pin it to the table .. it wpuld feel a thing ??