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likwyd · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: tuning the machines

Ok people, I really need help with this. I look everywhere online for a decent way to tune a liner and a shader and don't seem to get just a straight up answer.

I don't have a digital power supply so I don't know exactly how many Hz the machine is running at. All I have a visual of, obviously, is Volts.

The concept of using coins to determine the amount of gap is also throwing me off. Is this literally done by placing the coins between the coil and the armature bar? And is this really a precise way to set the gap?

I'd appreciate ANY help Smile

ink king · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:35 am Post subject:

lol dont worry if ya throwen off there is no precise way to tune a machine its more of an understanding of the machine and how it works the nickle and dime gap is only a rough guide you want a sligty smaller gap on a liner than a shader to control your speed is easy turn the contact screw in to incrise speed and turn out to slow it down. when your machine is close to 50%duty the armitur bar should have a wavering effect when running trust me you will hear and feel the diffrience sorry to only give ya basics

ink king · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:54 am Post subject:

cos i am having to post through my phone at the moment it kinda hard to explane something with 512 caricturs that would take at least 800 words to be able to explane it all evan then its all down to personal prefence what works for one will ruin another if you know what i mean...... sorry to double post

moondog · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:59 am Post subject:

ink king is the one to ask. but i found a few youtube videos that might help you. just youtube tattoo machine tuning. i am learning more about it myself hope it helps.

moondog · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

likwyd · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks guys, I'll check out the YouTube vids. And Ink King, thanks for taking the time to double post from your phone Smile

. Trust me, any basics are better than nothing right now so I appreciate your help.

ink king · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

to easy glad to help once you get to know how a machine works and understand the basics of tuneing you will be able to work the rest out with ease and be able to find out what works the best for you.... guess thats the beauty of tattooing no artist is the same

likwyd · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

Yeah I'm hoping. Usually things will fall into place for me easily once I figure some basics out. When I have some time away from the band I'll be able to sit down with my machines and really play around.

We just a new artist set up shop here in town and she's the only licensed artist around. I know her from some of the shows she has come to. I was gonna ask her if I can bring my machines down and have her help me a little. Kinda point me in the right direction. I guess we'll see.

Thanks King Twisted Evil

likwyd · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:38 am Post subject: Is it even the tuning????

Wow, I have just spent the last 4 hours thinking I can figure this tuning out. Is it really this hard or could I really be missing something or....... is my skin just NOT taking the ink???
I am still working on the same tribal piece I did a while back. The outline took just fine but ANYTHING I have attempted with coloring is just not working. Like I said, 4 hours, making the smallest adjustments possible. Surely by now I would have hit the sweet spot!?!

I am so close to throwing in the towel but I just can't. Part of me is saying "what if I just missed one little thing that made all the difference?" And then I'll never know.

Is tuning something you have to do to your own machines, kinda like setting your own sights on a rifle, because everyone else has different preferences?, or can I possibly have someone I know tune them for me?

I'm getting desperate and my arm is getting sore...lol Sad

moondog · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

i spent three hours last night on my chest piece. used a 5rs, ans for some reason some of my thick stroke bars; and colors took the ink just fine. but the othrs just wouldnt take the ink. i had a good thtee point stretch plenty of ink. and certain parts just wouldnt take any ink. had my volts perfect. so same situation as you. i think the skin just says @#$% this?. thanks.

now i gotta wait til it heals up again...

likwyd · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject: videos

moondog - that sucks man really. And how does that feel working on your own chest?? That's gotta be tricky to watch what you're doing.

So, I totally spaced watching the vids you suggested earlier in the posts. I felt like such a dumbass after watching the first video that came up in the search. Explained everything in seconds. So.... now that I have everything tuned right I guess the next step is to find out if the ink is the problem, or my skin.

I did also notice last night that my black ink was getting dry REAL quick in the tips. Anyone know why that might happen? I even ended up switching to color to see if maybe there was something wrong with my black ink but the color was doing the same thing. Not as fast but it would start to clot up.

I think my next step is to move on to a new tattoo and come back to this one another time. No point in getting frustrated over the methods when it could just be the skin. And there's only one way to find that out!

moondog · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

well... try not to laugh too hard but i use a mirror hee hee. it fun as hell. wont be the best job when shes done but at least its pretty much what i wanted. my other tattoos ive done on myself no probem well two so far. but the chest piece i really should stop and go to a shop to finish it. its all free hand.

moondog · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

[quote="moondog"]well... try not to laugh too hard but i use a mirror hee hee. it fun as hell. wont be the best job when shes done but at least its pretty much what i wanted. my other tattoos ive done on myself no probem well two so far. but the chest piece i really should stop and go to a shop to finish it. its all free hand.[/quote]

hit post reply and see why we might not be taking the ink man, it might be poor three point stretch. which looking back now makes sense. Very Happy

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ink king · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

by the sound of things it might your technique and not your machine, moondog the mirror might be whats ruining your tattoo (the whole reversed image thing) when ya put in black or any other color for that matter you want consist deapth and hand speed

zapzapzap · Tattoo lover Joined: 17 Oct 2009 Posts: 45

Post pics please!!! I really want to see what you did to yourself in the mirror!!!!

paullwrt · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:33 am Post subject:

Using coins to tune a tattoo machine is explained in detail at the below website. Check it out.

Be Scary,

Paul