I purchased a Tat2 gun all I can really say is that sanitary...

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Answer by kix89
Submitted on 5/12/2004
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first, i would recommend ordering a copy of tattooing a-z by huck spaulding, and read it from cover to cover more than once, but to set the depth, do NOT stick the needle as far out of the tube as you can and do it by eye, its almost impossible to get the right depth this way, and makes it extremely easy to put the ink in too deep, resulting in blood poisoning, the depth of the needle for outlining should be the thickness of a canadian dime, check this between the contact points, not where the needle sticks out. for shading, on a 10 wrap machine(reaper, wolverine from spaulding-rogers) the needle should be set at 3/32" for 8 wrap machines (mostly everyother machine, except the supreme i think) the needle should be set at 1/16" im not too shure as to the reason for this, but that is what it should be set at for lining and shading. SECOND only use the lexan tube once (i am assuming that you ordered your equipment from huck spaulding)and order in yourself some metal tubes, this way you're more sanitary, lexan tubes are fairly hard to sanitize, but if you don't have an autoclave, you can use, although its not the same as an autoclave, a pressure cooker, and make shure that you clean out all the dried ink in the tube using a pipe cleaner before you sterilize it. happy tattooing, be safe, and SET YOUR NEEDLES! blood poisoning is no joke, not to mention, it will kill off all your future clientele, as well as it being just plain bad practice. peace, the northern ontario tattooist, kix89

Answer by Tone Ease Tatz
Submitted on 9/24/2004
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INTO THE SKIN Tattoo needles will pierce the skin approximately. 1/16 of an inch, in the dermis. THE SKIN.is made up of layers. As a tattooist you must be concerned with the first five epidermal skin layers. The layer designations are Epidermis, Fibrosis, Dermis, Subcutaneous Fat, and Muscle. The Epidermis or outer layer is responsible for protection against the environment. The Dermis or middle layer is primarily responsible for structure and support and the Subcutaneous Fat layer is primarily responsible for insulation and shock absorbency. The Epidermis is divided into three sub layers: the STRATUM CORNEUM, the SQUAMOUS CELL layer and the BASIL CELL layer. The STRATUM CORNEUM consists of several layers of dead SQUAMOUS cells and varies in thickness depending on location on the body. The thickest layers being on the bottom of the feet. The Stratum Corneum becomes thicker with age and exposure to the environment and thus more susceptible to wrinkles and creases. It is also important to use Sun Blocks that tend to reside in this layer. It is desirable to stop the ultraviolet light from the sun at the surface of the skin rather than allowing it to penetrate into the skin. UV from the sun that penetrates into the skin can cause several types of damage including fading of tattoo ink. The SQUAMOUS CELL layer is the middle layer of the epidermis and is the center for new skin growth. Skin cells grow and multiply in this layer and are constantly pushed outward to eventually die and become part of the STRATUM CORNEUM The BASIL CELL layer is the birthplace of new epidermal skin cells. Basil cells receive a chemical message when the skin is damaged or when the stratum corneum loses too many cells and becomes thinner than it is supposed to be. This results in the basil cells dividing and differentiating to form new skin cells and start the outward movement that results in new skin production. When you are tattooed, the skin is stretched taught. This prevents knotting in the outlining. The ink is deposited in the dermis region, and when healed the ink can be seen due to the transparency of the skin cells. Tattoo ink must be deposited in the dermis (just below the epidermis layer), because if the ink is too shallow in the skin, in the outer layers, it will fade with time, as those skin cells are replaced, and if it is too deep, it will loose its form with time in the fat layer. Fat cells contract and grow with age, and (how fat you are)! and the ink will move, causing a distorted image. Stencils are applied to unstressed skin, the area should be in a natural state, don�t flex your muscles while the stencil is being applied. Once the stencil is in place, the skin is continually stretched taught, while the tattooing happens. If the skin is not stretched, the needles can actually bounce off the skin, and not penetrate, or the needles can catch the skin, tearing it, either case results in a poor tattoo.

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Question by Ricky
Submitted on 2/14/2004
Related FAQ: rec.arts.bodyart: Tattoo FAQ 9/9--Bibliography
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I purchased a Tat2 gun all I can really say is that sanitary tube is made from plastic. What i really wan't2 know is how 2 set it up right, Im just starting out so please be very deatiled.

Answer by goat
Submitted on 2/15/2004
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Ricky Find as many sites as you can and read up on every thing. Then start drawing, then apprentice. Don't start off lost. And remember sanitary is the best.

Answer by mariposatriste
Submitted on 2/28/2004
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Yes, First get books and mags that talk over tattoos and read .. get the info you need from health dept... and then go to a tattoo shop and see if you can find anyone that can give you tips on the tattoo buss..and on how to tattoo... you can also buy things to tattoo on so you wont mess up anyones body... look up tattoo shops and more...

Answer by jeffmezzanotte@imneverwrong.com
Submitted on 5/8/2004
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take your gun apart a few times and put it back together...this will teach you alot about it....everyone sets their guns differently but in a general sence start off by pushing the needle all the way out of the tube and move the tube down till the needle sticks out between a 16th and 8th of an inch.....ink up some mellons first dude

Answer by spark
Submitted on 9/13/2005
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I set the outline needle flush with the tube,and the shader out just enough so it catches your finger. hope this will help you

Answer by evil ink
Submitted on 10/19/2005
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steel tubes tips and grips work best,if you have an autoclave to sterilize them.if not try disposable tubes tips and grips,the grips are rubber and tubes and tips are plastic,they come in different tip sizes (rounds,mags,ect..)in prewrapped sterilized packaging.use once then toss.I also use disposable needles,one time use only!!that is the easiest way for me to stay sanitary.As for needle depth,i usually set the liner at a dime's depth and the shader at a nickel,work slowly and remember that you aren't gonna be great overnight.good luck and happy tattooing!

Answer by wayne
Submitted on 8/14/2006
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thanks for the info all.. helped me alot... got another question that should be asked along with the depth... how fast do u set the needle to go up and down for both shading and lining...

Answer by dani
Submitted on 8/31/2006
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i aswell have bought a tattoo machine... only prob is it came with no instructions on how to put it together..i only want to set it up to practice on fake skin so anyone know the best way?

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