Thank you so much! This sounds exactly like what I want to try. I'm putting in an order with Kwadron and it's borderline giving me option paralysis, ESPECIALLY on a budget! lol
So my understanding of part of the physics of tattooing is that the skin acts as a squeegee removing most of the ink from the exterior of the needle and then the ink beaded around the base of the needle is sucked into the skin cavitation by vacuum. Consider that the skin with a textured needle is pulled up higher with a textured needle producing a higher pressure vacuum at possibly shallower depth of penetration. Better vacuum at shallower depth might mean better saturation and less skin trauma??
Thanks for the comment! This is a good question. I hope the next bit isn't too in-depth. If you want me to make a video, I can do that! The hydraulic forces that pull the ink into the skin do occur, but the needles also "push pigment" into the body. This is where rotary/coil machines differ, insofar as each does one better than the other. The coil machine's "slap" against the coils increases the push of pigment into the skin, while the rotary relies on the vacuum you described. Textured needles CAN (not will) increase the delivery of the pigment into the upper layers of the dermis more effectively, but not through the traditional vacuum effect. Small particles of pigment become inlaid along the "texture" (grind-lines) of the needle. As the needle enters the skin it deposits pigment more directly (so many assume). BUT, textured needles also increase trauma... Due to this increased trauma the skin is less likely to form an effective seal around the skin as it enters - instead it tears through. This leaves a larger hole (which is the best way to describe it. The "hole" actually looks like a bomb went off microscopically) which allows more pigment to enter the skin deeper, increasing contrast of lines laid. The further you run your line, especially if you push against the back of the needle and choose a proper angle of insertion, the more trauma is introduced UNDER the skin, ahead of your needle. This allows the ink to be pushed in while meeting less resistance from the skin. This extra trauma is why cleaning the needles well is necessary when using textured needles. Bits of skin, blood, and body get caught in the microscopic grind marks. As they collect, the ability of the needle to do this job effectively decreases. This results in increased trauma, usually due to the fact a person using them has to "push harder" to get the ink in the skin, as the tattoo progresses. Sure, the first few lines are magical (when you know what you are doing) but as the tattoo goes on, it can turn into a messy affair. Having a 2-cup setup for rinsing can help keep the tattoo needles clean. Use 1 cup with a mild detergent/distilled water mix, the other with plain distilled water. Rise soap then rise soap off with the distilled. Each cup should be used for longer than you would normally with a polished needle. Make sure the detergent isn't reactive with your client's skin before attempting this. Clean the tip off with a lint-free towel or shake the tip off over a dental bib if you don't have any lint-free towels. Make sure the machine isn't running while to wipe/shake but IS while you rise in the cups. This process can help remove the occlusions along the needle, increase the length of time the needle works effectively, and decreases trauma to the client's skin. Also, be sure to set your depth correctly and change you tube as needed. As the needles wear down disposable tubes the rough edge of the needle can come into contact with the tube surface and act like sandpaper along the plastic. This can totally ruin the needle surface in just a few seconds.
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Thank you so much! This sounds exactly like what I want to try. I'm putting in an order with Kwadron and it's borderline giving me option paralysis, ESPECIALLY on a budget! lol
So my understanding of part of the physics of tattooing is that the skin acts as a squeegee removing most of the ink from the exterior of the needle and then the ink beaded around the base of the needle is sucked into the skin cavitation by vacuum.
Consider that the skin with a textured needle is pulled up higher with a textured needle producing a higher pressure vacuum at possibly shallower depth of penetration. Better vacuum at shallower depth might mean better saturation and less skin trauma??
Thanks for the comment! This is a good question. I hope the next bit isn't too in-depth. If you want me to make a video, I can do that!
The hydraulic forces that pull the ink into the skin do occur, but the needles also "push pigment" into the body. This is where rotary/coil machines differ, insofar as each does one better than the other. The coil machine's "slap" against the coils increases the push of pigment into the skin, while the rotary relies on the vacuum you described.
Textured needles CAN (not will) increase the delivery of the pigment into the upper layers of the dermis more effectively, but not through the traditional vacuum effect. Small particles of pigment become inlaid along the "texture" (grind-lines) of the needle. As the needle enters the skin it deposits pigment more directly (so many assume). BUT, textured needles also increase trauma...
Due to this increased trauma the skin is less likely to form an effective seal around the skin as it enters - instead it tears through. This leaves a larger hole (which is the best way to describe it. The "hole" actually looks like a bomb went off microscopically) which allows more pigment to enter the skin deeper, increasing contrast of lines laid.
The further you run your line, especially if you push against the back of the needle and choose a proper angle of insertion, the more trauma is introduced UNDER the skin, ahead of your needle. This allows the ink to be pushed in while meeting less resistance from the skin.
This extra trauma is why cleaning the needles well is necessary when using textured needles. Bits of skin, blood, and body get caught in the microscopic grind marks. As they collect, the ability of the needle to do this job effectively decreases. This results in increased trauma, usually due to the fact a person using them has to "push harder" to get the ink in the skin, as the tattoo progresses. Sure, the first few lines are magical (when you know what you are doing) but as the tattoo goes on, it can turn into a messy affair.
Having a 2-cup setup for rinsing can help keep the tattoo needles clean. Use 1 cup with a mild detergent/distilled water mix, the other with plain distilled water. Rise soap then rise soap off with the distilled. Each cup should be used for longer than you would normally with a polished needle. Make sure the detergent isn't reactive with your client's skin before attempting this.
Clean the tip off with a lint-free towel or shake the tip off over a dental bib if you don't have any lint-free towels.
Make sure the machine isn't running while to wipe/shake but IS while you rise in the cups.
This process can help remove the occlusions along the needle, increase the length of time the needle works effectively, and decreases trauma to the client's skin.
Also, be sure to set your depth correctly and change you tube as needed. As the needles wear down disposable tubes the rough edge of the needle can come into contact with the tube surface and act like sandpaper along the plastic. This can totally ruin the needle surface in just a few seconds.