How Does A Tattoo Gun Work?
There are a few basic types of tattoo machines: coil, rotary, and pneumatic. The magnetic coil machine is a classic machine which uses an alternating electromagnetic current to pass through coils and turn magnets on and off in rapid succession. This pulls a spring loaded armature bar and creates an up and down motion, which results in the armature bar tapping the needles into the skin. Coil machines create the notorious buzzing sound that tattoo shops are known for! 
Another type of tattoo machine is the rotary motored machine, which powers a small spinning motor attached to an armature, which produces an up and down motion. Rotary machines are much quieter than coil machines and are known to move the needles more smoothly and evenly in comparison to coil. 
Pneumatic tattoo machines were invented in 2000 by Carson Hill. These machines work through the use of pressurized air from air compressors to move the needles up and down. Major advantages to this type of machine is that they’re lightweight and safe to use in an autoclave. 
The tattoo needles are set at the end of what is called an armature bar, which connects to the part of the machine that travels up and down. The armature bar passes through the “tube” that has a hand grip attached, which is fitted into a vise on the machine to hold it in place. Some artists use tubes that are made of stainless steel, which must be cleaned and sterilized after each use. The steel tubes are preferable for several reasons, however many artists are switching over to disposable plastic tubes like those shown here for reasons of safety and convenience.
- The tube is set so that the needles only extend beyond the tip of the tube an appropriate distance;
- The up and down motion of the needles in the tube create conditions which draw tattoo pigment up into the tube, and allow it to be released when the needles are running in the skin;
The assembled machine is connected to a power supply by a special wiring harness called a “clip cord” or “RCA cord”. The power supply has settings which can control the speed of the machines, etc, and is most commonly activated by a foot switch, to keep the tattooers hands free.
When the artist is working, they will stretch your skin, press the foot pedal, the machine will run the needles up and down as the tattooer passes the tip of the tube over your skin, the needles carry pigment along as they travel and deposit into your skin where it will stay forever.
Think of tattoo needles like individual hairs in a paint brush. All of the hairs in a paint brush are more or less the same, but we all know that paint brushes come in all shapes and sizes. The same is true for tattoo needles. There are some variations available within each size of needle, for instance the taper at the end of the needle may be long, or short, and the needle may be smooth or textured. 
Basically there are “liners” and “shaders”. Liner needles are grouped together in various quantities in a round configuration, and are often tightened at the taper so that the points are very close together. Shader needles can also be configured in round patterns, as well as fanned out into what we call Magnums or “Mags”.
- Other than this all needles are more or less the same;
- There are other minor variations and some less common configurations that some tattooers use, but essentially this covers what is commonly used;
- The individual needles are grouped together and soldered in place to form what is referred to as the “tattoo needle”, the needle is then soldered onto what is called a “needle bar”, which is just a length of stainless steel wire with a loop on the end which can be fitted to the part of the tattoo machine that creates the up and down motion;
The unit as a whole is then cleaned, sterilized, and ready to use. The needle bar is placed within the “tube”, a stainless steel (re-useable) or rubber and plastic (disposable) device which provides a hand grip for the machine, that allows the mechanism to function within and through it, and also to provide a reservoir for the pigment.
The amount that the needles actually penetrate the skin is about the thickness of a nickel. Any given tattoo artist may work with a range of different needle groupings in order to create their own style of tattooing, it is truly a tiny stainless steel paint brush, and what sort an artist chooses is a matter of preference.
Source: https://hubtattoo. com/the-machinery/.
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How does a tattoo gun hold ink?
If you’ve never gotten a tattoo, you might think that a tattoo needle works by “injecting” ink under the skin. That’s sort of true, but close-up and slowed-down footage of the process reveals some nuance. Popular YouTube channel Smarter Every Day gives a tattoo machine its close-up in the video above (the slow-mo action starts at 3:10).
- As you can see, the machine actually has many-pointed needles — and they’re not the same ones you see in the doctor’s office;
- As Kyle Hill writes on Nerdist, the fluid mechanics that make a tattoo gun work are pretty spectacular: Artists aren’t simply injecting ink from some chamber in the machine into your skin;
They dip the needles into pots of ink, the same way another artist would dip a brush. (In fact, you can watch Smarter Every Day host Destin get an ink-free needle jab in the video) The ink is actually held between the needles. After those needles puncture your skin (just the upper layer, if your tattoo artist knows their stuff — going beneath the fat will cause your tattoo to blur), the ink held between the needles is drawn down.
- From Nerdist : Once there are hundreds of tiny holes leading down to your dermis — the layer of skin between the epidermis (outer layer) and subcutaneous tissues — the ink between the needles is drawn into them by capillary action;
In short, the surface tension and forces holding the ink together encourages the ink to seep into the holes left by the needles. As someone who’s spent about 11 hours total on the receiving end of a tattoo machine, I can tell you that it’s pretty cool to watch — even without being an inch away from the needles.
You can learn more about tattooing (placement, process, and even different styles) by checking out this interactive. And for some basics on what you should know before getting your first tattoo, watch the video below.
Paul Roe, owner of Britishink Tattoo, tells us what you should know before you get inked. From the type of pigment to the equipment your artist uses, Roe, these are the steps of tattooing. (Video: Ben Dorger/The Washington Post).
How many times does a tattoo needle go in per second?
– The tattoo needle punctures your skin around 100 times per second, with the aim of depositing the ink in a region of 1. 5 to 2 millimeters below the surface of the skin. The reason for this depth of penetration is to bypass the outer layer of the skin, or the epidermis.
- This part of the skin constantly renews itself;
- Every day, thousands of epidermal cells are shed from your skin and replaced with new cells;
- Ink injected into the superficial skin layer would simply come off within 3 weeks;
In order to give the ink a permanent home in your body, the tattoo needle must travel through the epidermis into the deeper layer, or the dermis. Nerves and blood vessels are located here, which is why getting a tattoo hurts and your skin tends to bleed.
The bleeding is part of the skin’s natural defense against injury. The result is an influx of immune cells to the site of injury. Macrophages are specialized immune cells, whose job it is to engulf foreign particles and clear them from the tissue.
But this process is only partially successful when it comes to tattoo ink. Some macrophages loaded with ink particles remain in the dermis, while other pigment particles are taken up by the main dermal residents, which are called fibroblasts. Clumps of pigment particles have also been found to stick between the dense collagen fibers of the dermis.
Although every new tattoo will display some pigment loss, the majority of the ink will stay in the skin. A study in mice reported that 42 days after tattooing, 68 percent of the dye was still located at the injection site.
But where is the rest of the ink?.
How painful is a tattoo gun?
Vibrating Pain – A very strange feeling to experience when getting inked. You’ll probably end up feeling this type of pain when you’re being tattooed over anywhere bony – places like the outer wrist, outer elbows, ribs and ankles. As the needles from the gun come into close contact with your bones, they hit against the area many times at very high speeds, and this can cause quite an intense vibration feeling.
Can a tattoo gun pierce a vein?
Blog In Less Than 30 Seconds:
- Tattoos have remained a popular commodity for generations of people, especially Millennials, who make up the majority of those tattooed in the United States (40%).
- In some instances, it is possible to tattoo over varicose veins; however, doing so could lead to a distorted tattoo or worse: ruptured veins, spontaneous bleeding, or an infection.
- In this blog, the vein specialists at Palm Vein Center explain the negative effects tattooing over varicose veins can have on a patient’s health.
What is Tattooing? Tattooing is a unique body modification technique that injects ink into layers of the skin using a special needle attached to a rotary or coil machine. This process creates permanent designs in the skin that can only be removed by a high-powered laser skin-resurfacing device. Tattoos often have a cultural significance or meaning to them, which is why getting one can be a very tough, yet personal decision.
Many people may be surprised to learn tattoos have been around for thousands of years, with the earliest known examples of tattoos dating back 5,200 years. Fortunately, tattooing tools have evolved since then, so the physical act of tattooing is relatively safe.
We say “relatively” because tattooing is really only its safest when the tattoo artist practices all of the safety and sanitary guidelines necessary to prevent infection and other complications. Tattooing and Varicose Veins Patients at Palm Vein Center often ask questions about what activities they can and cannot do with a venous disease like varicose veins.
While there is little a person can’t do, there are a few things the team at PVC recommends patients avoid at all costs, one of these being a tattoo. There are many blogs, videos, and public forums that say otherwise, but the vein specialists at Palm Vein Center want to inform patients that tattooing over varicose veins is not a good ideafor many reasons.
Decreased Function, Unsightly Appearance, and Infection First, patients should understand that tattooing is not a great alternative to minimizing the appearance of varicose veins. In fact, doing so could worsen the condition they’re in and cause them to bulge or protrude even more. Many websites will argue tattoo needles don’t go deep enough to puncture varicose veins, but that is not necessarily true. If a patient lacks an adequate amount of subcutaneous fat near or around the protruding vein, a tattooing needle could pierce the vein as it is injecting ink. These occurrences are rare, but that doesn’t mean they can’t happen. The bottom line? Tattooing over varicose veins can result in decreased function, an unsightly appearance, and possible infection.
While tattooing over scar tissue can be done safely (mastectomy scars, stretch marks, etc. ), tattooing over varicose veins could lead to an infection, making them even more unsightly than before. Tattoos Make It Difficult To Treat A Venous Disease People need to understand spider veins and varicose veins are not a cosmetic concern – they’re a disease.
Both conditions indicate that the valves within the veins are not functioning properly, which is why varicose veins look the way they do (bulging, thick, snake-like, etc. Varicose veins that are left untreated could lead to serious health problems such as skin ulcers, poor circulation, pain, skin discoloration, hemorrhaging, and much more.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid getting tattooed and instead opt for vein treatment. Speaking of vein treatment, tattooing over varicose veins could also make administering treatment difficult for the vein specialists at Palm Vein Center.
The team at the IAC-accredited vein care facility needs to be able to see your veins clearly to ensure treatment accuracy and efficacy. Although the medical team at Palm Vein Center is highly qualified and knowledgeable in treating varicose veins and spider veins, tattoos could complicate the process and increase your risk of developing serious health problems.
Threatens Overall Health and Wellness This may seem like an obvious point, but as we mentioned previously, tattoos could cause significant damage to your overall health if a varicose vein is pierced or damaged in the process.
This could cause spontaneous internal and external bleeding, which can affect surrounding organs. Plus, when a varicose vein bleeds, it usually has some difficulty healing itself because it is an unhealthy, damaged vein. In these cases, patients may need to visit a vein clinic, urgent care facility, or emergency room to have their ruptured vein sutured closed. Tattooing To avoid some of these scenarios, patients should see the vein specialists at Palm Vein Center before scheduling their tattoo appointment. If your vein condition and symptoms are relatively mild, a specialist at the clinic may recommend conservative therapies such as exercise, dietary changes, elevating the legs, therapeutic massage, or compression stockings. While these options are favorable for most patients, they may not be the most effective at successfully mitigating the existing vein disease.
This could cause increased stress and affect a patient’s overall health and wellness. Ultimately, patients should consider treatment before getting a tattoo. Treatment Vs. Instead, patients may fare better with minimally invasive vein treatments like light-guided sclerotherapy , endovenous radiofrequency treatment, endovenous laser treatment, ambulatory phlebectomy, or VenaSeal Closure.
Light-guided sclerotherapy is an injection procedure for patients with spider veins and small varicose veins, and endovenous radiofrequency treatment, endovenous laser treatment, ambulatory phlebectomy, and VenaSeal Closure are minimally invasive surgeries for larger varicose veins that may require local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance.
The most important thing a patient can do is educate him or herself on the causes, symptoms, and treatments for venous diseases like spider veins and varicose veins. Check out our Vein Disease page to learn more about these conditions, and for more information on this topic (tattooing and varicose veins), schedule an appointment with a member of the Palm Vein Center team today.
Please call 623-201-4777; we look forward to meeting you! The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
What happens if a tattoo needle hits a vein?
– This type of tattoo isn’t entirely risk-free. But then, getting a tattoo always involves some level of risk, with an infection being the main cause for concern. The risk for an infection gets a little higher when it comes to tattoos on veins, according to Dr.
- Stacey Chimento, a board certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida;
- “Tattoos involve applying pressure on your skin with a needle, which can rupture the vein, making it bleed into the surrounding tissue and cause an infection,” she says;
If you have varicose veins, Chimento goes on to explain, this could make things worse and result in veins that protrude even further. “Varicose veins struggle to heal due to their pre-existing damage. If pierced during the tattoo session, they could randomly bleed internally or externally, affecting surrounding organs,” she says.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering a tattoo to cover varicose veins? How that tattoo could potentially impact any future treatment of the veins. “To treat the diseased veins, they need to be somewhat visible.
And if left untreated, the blood can leak into the leg tissue and cause hyperpigmentation. Although rare, infections and undiagnosed veins can cause a need for urgent care if left untreated,” Chimento says.
Does tattoo ink get in your bloodstream?
How Long Does Tattoo Ink Stay In Your Blood? – The tattoo ink is never and will never be injected directly into the bloodstream. However, the ink is injected into the dermis when tattooing, which is the second layer of skin. This layer of skin contains tiny blood vessels that could carry some of the ink particles through the body.
Does shading hurt more than linework?
Tattoo Shading – Unlike outlining, shading isn’t necessary for every tattoo. Color and shading simply provide more dimension than line work. Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo.
If you’ve already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back. You’ve likely conquered the most painful part already. You can do this! That said, you should understand what is happening during the shading process.
It’s not the simple, single pass of an outline. Rather, your artist will be packing ink into your skin repeatedly, often for hours at a time, over the same area—which is why some people mistakenly expect it to be more uncomfortable than outlining. But remember: Outlining is very detailed, and your tattoo artist uses needles of a different size for the process.
What do Handpoked tattoos feel like?
What are Hand-Poked, Stick ‘N Poke, or Machine-Free Tattoos? Hand-poked tattoos are tattoos made without the use of tattoo machines. While they are created with the same supplies as machine tattoos, stick ‘n poke artists push needle and ink into the skin manually, without the aid of a machine.
- In doing so, artists create multiple dots that make up the lines and shading of the tattoo;
- This process causes the hand-poked method of tattooing to be slower than the machine method;
- Are Hand-Poked Tattoos Permanent? Yes;
Like machine tattoos, they will remain in the skin so long as they are properly taken care of. Do Hand-Poked Tattoos Hurt More Than Machine Tattoos? Hand-poked tattoos are less abrasive on the skin than machine tattoos, and often hurt less in comparison.
- However, not everyone has this experience;
- Some places on the body hurt more than others and everyone experiences pain in different ways;
- Why Hand-Poked Tattoos? There are many reasons someone might choose to get a hand-poked tattoo;
Many prefer receiving a hand-poked tattoos as they feel that they hurt less than machine-tattoos, while others prefer the organic look of hand-poked tattoos. The distinct character of hand-poked tattoos and the unique experience of receiving them makes them the favoured method of getting tattoos for many people.
How Long Do Hand-Poked Tattoos Take To Heal? Hand-poked tattoos often heal faster than machine tattoos because they tend to cause less trauma to skin. You can generally expect your hand-poked tattoo to be fully healed within 2-weeks time.
That being said, everyone heals at a different rate, so don’t worry if your tattoo takes a bit longer. Are all designs suitable for hand-poked tattooing? As hand-poked tattoos take more time to complete than machine tattoos it would be best to select smaller and medium sized pieces, a good size would be anywhere from 2×2″ to 5×5″.
Larger pieces can be completed by hand-poking but expect the process to be lengthy. Some designs may be too detailed to tattoo, along the same guidelines as machine tattoos, enough space between lines will be essential to allow the tattoo to properly heal.
Do we offer hand-poked tattoos? At this time, we do not have any artists who do hand-poked tattoos..
What tattoo spot hurts the least?
Least painful to tattoo – The least painful places to get a tattoo are areas of your body with fewer nerve endings. Think outer shoulder, calf, buttocks, and outer arm. While people generally focus on the location on the body, Stanley Kovak , a cosmetic physician, theorizes that pain is more about size.
Do tattoo artists use the same needle?
Tattoo needles should be considered as single-use and shouldn’t be reused. If you’re tattooing yourself at home and know how to sterilize your needles, well, nothing’s stopping you. A tattoo parlor shouldn’t reuse needles on someone else and should be disposed of immediately.
- Good hygiene is one of the most important elements of getting a tattoo, and it all starts with the artist and parlor;
- High sanitation and hygiene rules should be observed without any shortcuts whatsoever;
When it comes to tattoo needles, the utmost care should be taken in their use and disposal.
How deep do tattoo needles go?
Just How Far Does The Needle Go? – Now that you know a little more about the machine and the needle, it’s time to discuss the third essential piece of the puzzle—your skin. The tattoo needle goes through 1/16th of an inch of skin. That might not sound like a lot of skin, but it is really going through five sublayers of the epidermis, the dermal layer, and also the top layer of the dermis.
Among these layers is a collection of sweat glands, hair follicles, connective tissue, fat, and blood vessels. During a tattoo session, the needle passes through the epidermis and epidermal-dermal junction, opening a passage in the 2mm-thick dermis.
The dermis is ideal for a couple of reasons. It is far enough not to bleed out and isn’t exposed. Knowing this, the tip of the tattoo needle is minutely adjusted to ensure that it enters the skin to the correct depth. If you were to look at a tattoo needle in the machine, you will see that it sticks out no further than 2mm.
How many needles are in a tattoo gun?
Types of Needles – Credit: @magicmoon_tattoo_supply There are several types of tattoo needles, with different numbers of needles in a grouping. Let’s see what they are;
- Round liner needle – this is the type of needle used for extra precise, intricate lining work. The needle can be used for dot work, precise, geometric tattoos, tribal/Samoan tattoos, Japanese designs, as well as lettering. Round liners have a needle code of RL, and the number in front of the abbreviation refers to the number of needles in the group; for example, 9RL means there is 9 needle in the grouping.
- Round shader needle – this type of needle is similar to the round liner needle. The only difference is the space between the needles in the grouping. Because there’s more room between the needles, they’re used for basic shading and coloring, some line work, geometric and line work, and Japanese and Samoan tattoo design.
- Magnum shader needle – this type of needle is used mainly for shading. Magnum needles can hold a lot of ink, which makes them perfect for color packing too. They are used for Japanese and traditional tattoos, shading and coloring work, as well as color realism tattoo designs.
- Curved Magnum shader needle – these needles are used for all types of shading work. They’re excellent because of their slight arc, which allows them to provide comfortable tattooing as well as skin protection. The curved Mangums are grouped in a tight cluster and can have between 7 and 11 needles for the best results. The curved Magnums can also be used for different tattoo work, from color packing to traditional Japanese tattoos.
- Flat shader needle – this is the type of needle used to create straight, precise lines. The needle provides a clean and clear color payoff, but with each new application, the lines become darker. This makes the Flat shader perfect for black & white work, intricate line work, color realism, shading, as well as for different tattoo designs.
- Double stack Magnum shader needle – this needle is used for truly intricate work. The pins are packed super tightly, which ensures super precise, intricate shading, and color packing. This needle is generally used to create realistic tattoos , as well as Japanese , tribal , traditional, and neo-traditional designs.
Also Read:
- How Deep Should a Tattoo Needle Go?
- Tattoo Gun Vs. Tattoo Pen: Which Is Better?
