WHAT IS THE BEST TATTOO MACHINE? ROTARY OR COIL?

A tattoo artist is an artist who uses special pigments instead of gouache and oil, and human skin instead of a canvas. His brush is a machine, forming a vibrating needle, which allows you to enter the pigment to the desired depth, ensuring the saturation of shades, clarity of detail, and durability of the pattern. Long gone are the days when these typewriters were made on their own, from guitar strings, syringe barrels, and other materials at hand. 

On the professional market, there are many machines from a variety of brands, from inexpensive Chinese firms to elite manufacturers from the U.S. and Europe. The differences between them are many: the design features, design, and performance. The main indicator is considered the operating principle. 

In general, the device can be inductive or rotary. The nuances of operation of the equipment are sometimes unknown even to sufficiently experienced craftsmen, let alone beginners. Meanwhile, they have cardinal differences, and a competent choice will significantly improve both the comfort of work and the quality of the result. Let's study this issue in more detail.

ROTARY MACHINES: DESIGN DIFFERENCES, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES

Let's start with a rotary tattoo machine (https://inkedway.com/best-tattoo-machine/rotary/). The oscillation of the needle is created by the rotation of a miniature electric motor, nicknamed the rotor. Despite its compact size, it has impressive power and works at a huge speed. The transformation of rotation into needle oscillation is achieved by an eccentric mechanism. The basis of the design is a housing made of aluminum or plastic. The housing is ergonomic, it is convenient for the tattoo artist to hold the machine, also, it protects the internal elements from external loads.

The advantages of such equipment are as follows:

• High-efficiency index, which is explained by the work at very high resolutions.
• Versatility. Some craftsmen effectively use the rotor at once for the entire tattoo, that is, they punch the contour with its help, form shadow transitions, gradients, and dense color.
• The softness of influence. The needle goes on a stable frequency and very smoothly which minimizes vibration and shock loads. It is a valuable quality for beginners, thanks to which they can form even small details of an ornament without any problems.
• Minimal noise. Yes, when the session lasts longer than 4 hours, even this point is essential, because the constant buzzing noise characteristic of the coil can irritate both the technician and the client.
• Minimal weight. This indicator is also particularly valuable for prolonged work.
• The possibility of fine-tuning power. The tattoo artist can optimize the working mode according to his preferences, as well as based on the wishes of the client. If the pain becomes strong, it is possible to reconfigure the working mode, to make it softer to minimize the load on the skin.

So when is it worth arming yourself with a rotor? Its scope is multi-color work with an abundance of details, gradients, and shadows with an almost complete absence of clear contours. The process in this case will be quite long, but the result will please the client with the toughest demands.

However, rotors are not without some disadvantages: 

• Features of contour formation. For contours, the coil is still better. The main reason for this difference is the speed at which the needle moves. The higher it is, the clearer and smoother the line is obtained, and the coil has an advantage in this respect.
• The small volume of pigment under the skin in one pass. As a consequence, you have to go over the same spot with the rotor again and again for a tight shading. Induction is better.
• Slow Speed.
• The rotor is not good for working on "difficult areas" of the skin, for example, on the appearance of cellulite. This is due to the softness of the action. Combined with the loose structure of the dermis, dense and even coverage is extremely difficult to achieve.
• Less life span compared to the coil. Repair is possible, but it will cost a rather large amount of money.

ALL ABOUT COIL MACHINES

A true classic in the tattoo world. The principle of operation is fundamentally different from the previous version. There are no motors here, and the main element is the induction coil, on the turns of which the current is applied, which provokes the magnetization of the core. 

The core is pulled by a special hammer, opening the spring. Then the core is demagnetized and the hammer returns to its original position due to the energy of the spring. This is what enables the hammer to strike. The stiffness of the entire structure is ensured by a metal frame, which can be steel, copper, and other alloys. The spring varies in stiffness, the optimal value of which is chosen with experience, each tattoo artist suits his variant.

Coil tattoo machines can be divided into two groups - liners and shaders. What are the differences between them? The liner is characterized by a very hard and short stroke of the needle, which instantly pierces the skin and in a hundredth of a second is already in its original position. This sharpness eliminates the blurring of the paint and is therefore used for contouring. 

Liners are not used for staining, it is not only ineffective but also excruciatingly painful for the client, you can get a huge scar instead of an ornament. To paint, a shader is used that has a minimal traumatic effect, works softly, and creates a thick, bright line in one pass. It is not suitable for contours, as it can be blurred.

The advantages of the coil are summarized in the following list:

• Power. It is much more powerful than the rotor, and therefore allows you to work noticeably faster.
• Accuracy and artistic result. Dense contours, the richness of shades - in this sense, induction pleasantly surprises.
• The cost. In most cases, the coil machine is cheaper than the rotary version. Of course, the final price tag depends on the manufacturer, but all other things being equal, the coil machine will cost less.

The most significant disadvantages are as follows: 

• Weight. Yes, the coil is much heavier, moreover, it is larger, so that in terms of ergonomics it cannot be compared to rotors, among which not so long ago there appeared devices that are comparable in size to a marker. If the session is long, the tattoo artist will get physically tired, and his hand will simply get tired of holding the heavy instrument.
• Quite strong vibration loads. To operate with the coil, you need a steady hand, as the spring works with serious vibrations, which need to be compensated by the grip stiffness, otherwise, you will not be able to draw a straight line.
• The gradual loosening of fasteners due to vibrations. It is necessary to control their strength and retighten if necessary.
• Noise. Yes, there is a big difference in this too, compared to the rotor. The coil tattoo machine is quite frankly buzzing and noisy. Although experienced craftsmen say they don't notice this noise anymore, so used to it. You can try to distract the customer by turning on some nice relaxing music.

CONCLUSION

So which machine is better: the coil or the rotary one? We believe that it is impossible to answer this question because it's simply incorrect. You wouldn't compare a sports bike and a sport utility vehicle, would you? They are different vehicles, designed for specific tasks. It differs greatly from each other precisely to work effectively at achieving a specific goal. Our craftsmen always keep a complete set of machines on hand, that is, a rotor, a liner, and a shader. Replacing them all the time makes it possible to save session time, focus on the accuracy of details and smoothness of gradient transitions, and to apply saturation and density of coverage.

Moreover, even in the process of work, the tattoo artist can make some adjustments to the machine, optimizing its frequency so that it best conforms to his personal preferences and peculiarities of style. 

Note that it is important not only to choose the right type of machine but also to choose a technique of a good brand. We do not recommend buying Chinese equipment, initially cheap, but not distinguished by reliability, and does not always correspond to the characteristics indicated on the packaging, uncomfortable and ineffective. It is better to overpay for a proven brand to further protect yourself from unexpected costs. And remember that the machine, whatever it is, you need to keep it clean. This is no less important than using disposable needles or special antiseptic solutions during the session!