Your tattoo machine is the most important part of your setup. Without it, you have no way to actually put ink in the skin.
As a beginner tattoo artist, a big part of improving your tattoos is choosing machines with the settings you need and making proper adjustments (when possible).
If you can’t use your machine correctly, it’ll be impossible to tattoo to the best of your ability. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to set up your machine, as well as how to get the right stroke and voltage for any tattoo you work on.
In this article, we’re breaking down:
Coil Tattoo Machines
Coil Machines: Key Takeaways
*At the time of publishing, the price was $143.00.
Coil machines operate by completing and breaking an electrical circuit over and over.
*Coil and rotary machines use different mechanisms. The recommended stroke length is different for a rotary machine.
Note:
Which voltage is right for you partially depends on your hand speed.
Coils are usually pieces of iron with copper wire wrapped around them. The amount of wire wrapped around a coil changes how much power it has. More wire means more electricity is being conducted from the power source. Machines with more wire have the power to hit harder.
The number associated with a coil machine tells you how many times the coil has been wrapped with the wire. The more times it has been wrapped, the more wire the coil has. For example, a 12-coil machine has more wire than an 8-coil machine.
Which machine you should use depends on what type of needles you plan to work with:
Rotary Tattoo Machines
Rotary Machines: Key Takeaways
CNC® P2 Dual Control Rotary Tattoo Machine - $179.95*
Rotary machines use a “direct drive” motor to drive the cam wheel, which moves the needle up and down as it rotates.
Note:
3.5mm stroke is usually used for packing color, but it’s also considered a good “all-rounder” stroke for a rotary machine*. You can still do some lining and shading, which is why rotaries or pen machines with a set stroke usually have a 3.5mm stroke.
*Coil and rotary machines use different mechanisms. The recommended stroke length is different for a coil machine.
Pen Machines
Pen Machines: Key Takeaways
Most pen machines operate with the same “direct drive” motion of a rotary machine. However, instead of having the motor sit horizontally on top of the tattoo artist’s hand, it’s held inside the pen casing.
Note:
Pen machines cause minimal vibration and tend to be quieter than coil and rotary machines.
Pen vs Rotary vs Coil Tattoo Machine: Finding the Right Machine for You
Which machine is best for you will come down to preference. For a beginner tattoo artist, we recommend pen machines because they have a simple set up and have minimal vibration.
Coil Tattoo Machines | Rotary Tattoo Machines | Pen Tattoo Machines | |
|---|---|---|---|
Pros | Coil machines have a bit more “give” to them, so the needles will bounce off the skin if you go too deep. This can prevent you from overworking the skin. | Rotary machines require no tuning and are ready to go as soon as you turn them on. | Often wireless, pen machines have fewer cords, which lets you move freely. Low vibration makes it easier to get straight lines. |
Cons | Tuning coil machines is an extensive process that’s easy to mess up. Much more upkeep. Harder to learn with because they constantly need to be re-tuned. | You sometimes need to buy extra parts for rotary machines (different give bars, cams, etc.) Rotaries are usually a direct drive system, meaning the needle will not “back off” if you go too deep in the skin. This can lead to blowouts, overworked tattoos, and possible scarring. | Some pen machines don’t have an adjustable stroke. Like rotaries, pen machines use a “direct drive” system. This can make it easier to go too deep in the skin and cause blowouts. |
How Much is a Tattoo Machine?
Coil Tattoo Machines | Rotary Tattoo Machines | Pen Tattoo Machines | |
|---|---|---|---|
Pros | Coil machines have a bit more “give” to them, so the needles will bounce off the skin if you go too deep. This can prevent you from overworking the skin. | Rotary machines require no tuning and are ready to go as soon as you turn them on. | Often wireless, pen machines have fewer cords, which lets you move freely. Low vibration makes it easier to get straight lines. |
Cons | Tuning coil machines is an extensive process that’s easy to mess up. Much more upkeep. Harder to learn with because they constantly need to be re-tuned. | You sometimes need to buy extra parts for rotary machines (different give bars, cams, etc.) Rotaries are usually a direct drive system, meaning the needle will not “back off” if you go too deep in the skin. This can lead to blowouts, overworked tattoos, and possible scarring. | Some pen machines don’t have an adjustable stroke. Like rotaries, pen machines use a “direct drive” system. This can make it easier to go too deep in the skin and cause blowouts. |
When shopping for tattoo machines, you’ll find a huge range in price from as low as $15 to over $1000. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for.
Our Recommendations:
