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Step 1
Compare coils. There are minor, but important, differences between the coils on a tattoo liner and a shader. A machine used for shading a tattoo needs larger coils to allow enough power to perform this task. If the coils on the machine you're shading with are too small, you will not only get poor performance, but you will also wear it out quickly.
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Step 2
Test different weights and varieties. A tattoo shader is generally made to be held at a little more of an angle than a liner. The larger coils gives it the added power it needs to fill larger areas while tattooing, but can also cause added weight to a machine. This weight may be more noticeable depending on how you hold your machine. You'll want a machine that can do the job, but is still light weight enough to work with comfortably over extended periods of time.
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Step 3
Pick a durable metal. Tattoo shaders, like any tattoo machine, needs to be made of a strong metal such as brass, cooper or iron. Weaker metals may cause your shader to break while you're tattooing and you may not have a replacement readily available.
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Step 4
Get other tattoo artist's opinions. Experienced tattooists are your best source of information on what brands of machines work better, last longer and are worth the price. Although these opinions will definitely vary depending on the artist's own particular style and preferences, you can still get a good feel for what companies and types of machines are touted more frequently.
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Step 5
Look at advertisements in tattoo magazines. This is a good place to find tattoo supply companies that sell machines, but don't let the fancy designs and glossy photos fool you. Do your homework before picking a machine strictly on how it looks in the pages of a magazine.
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Step 6
Contact various tattoo supply companies and see what they have available. If possible, visit physical stores so you can hold the shader you're thinking about purchasing. Being able to touch and handle each machine will give you a better feel of how it will work in action.
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Step 7
Speak to a tattoo machine builder. If you absolutely can't find anything you like from any of the tattoo supply companies then talk to someone who custom builds machines for a living. By giving them your personal specifications, you have a better chance of finding a machine you'll be happy with for years to come.
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Step 8
Set up your new machine for shading. If the machine you're buying isn't preset for shading, then you will have to do this yourself or find someone who can teach you to do it. If you've had it custom built, then it should already be tuned for you, but you will still have to re-tune it occasionally to keep it running at peak performance. When tuning a shader, the gap is generally the thickness of a nickel.
