About Tattoo Guns
The art of tattooing has existed for thousands of years, dating back as early as 12,000 B.C. While the significance of this art has remained the same, the method in which it is performed has evolved from the painstaking process of using a needle and thread, to the modern day process of using a tattoo gun. The gun itself has, and continues to become, more efficient as the popularity of tattoos increases. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The first tattoo machine was invented by none other than Thomas Edison and was patented in the United States in 1876. Its name was the stencil-pen and was originally designed for the purpose of engraving. In 1891, a man by the name of Samuel O'Reilly saw more potential in the machine, discovering it could be used to embed ink into a person's skin. He then took the invention of Edison's machine one step further by inventing and patenting a needle and tube system which held an ink reservoir. Since then, tattoo guns have adapted to what we know now, working more efficiently to create skin art.
Significance
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Tattoos have long since been a method used by many cultures for various, meaningful reasons. The early Egyptians used tattoos as a way of marking their slaves, the Greeks used tattoos as a way of communicating with spies, Bornean women would mark their trade on their forearms as a way of displaying their worth as a wife for marriage, and some use tattoos to show rites of passage or their belonging to a specific group or organization. With the latest developments made to the tattoo gun, they can now be used for cosmetic purposes as well, permanently etching various types of make-up on their lips, eyes and eyebrows.
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Function
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A tattoo gun works by rapidly injecting ink into the skin with a group of needles. These needles move at a rate of 80 to 150 times a second, and the average tattoo gun holds between 3 to 36 needles. The number of needles used is dependent upon the type of etching taking place at the time. The tattoo gun uses coils to transmit electromagnetic charges, and has a power cord that is then plugged into a power source. This power source allows the tattoo artist to adjust the amount of power their machine receives, allowing for an equally distributed amount of power going to the gun. This insures the quality of the tattoo by providing consistency. The tattoo artist controls the machine with the use of foot pedals. By pressing down on the pedal, they can start the machine, and by releasing it, the machine stops.
Types
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There are two types of guns used for tattooing. The first is a liner, which uses smaller coils and fewer needles (1 to 10), and is used for the outline of the stencil that has been placed on the desired body location. The liner is also used for tattoos containing small details. The second is the shader. This is used primarily to fill in larger areas of skin and requires larger coils with more power and more needles as well (3 to 36).
Considerations
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Before opting for a permanent tattoo, keep in mind that they are just that--permanent. While there is a laser procedure to remove unwanted tattoos, the expense and pain of the procedure are far greater than those incurred when receiving a tattoo. Also know that complete removal is sometimes not possible and may cause permanent scarring.
Benefits
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This may seem unusual, but there are benefits to being tattooed. It has become one of the most popular way to display your feelings toward a loved one, or for remembering someone who has passed away. In recent years, parents have been able to display a picture of their children on their bodies that are exact replicas. The quality of the picture will always depend on the tattoo artist you have chosen to do the work.
Warning
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Given the fact that tattoo guns and needles come into contact with blood and bodily fluids, there are health risks involved with this process. Hepatitis, herpes complex virus and tuberculosis are just a few of the infections that can be spread while being tattooed. Those who are allergic to metal may experience swelling and itching at the site as reaction to the pigments of color being used. These risks can be greatly reduced if the tattoo artist follows the necessary safety precautions such as sterilizing their machine and equipment after each use, and by using a fresh needle out of the bag on every customer. In many states, it is required that tattoo artists take blood borne pathogen training.
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