How to Make a Simple Tattoo Machine

In this article you will learn how to build a simple tatto gun that you can use for all sorts of tattoos. It is easy and inexpensive to put together and is made with everyday household products.

Things You'll Need

• Tape player or walkman
• Electrical tape
• Popsicle stick
• Two- or four-hole button
• Guitar string
• 2 AA batteries

Instructions

1. Open an old portable cassette player or radio and remove the small motor that runs the tape player reel. Now that you have a motor, you need to remove the ends of an ink pen and pull out the ink cartridge. You should now have an empty pen shell that will be used as the base of the tattoo machine.

2. Attach the motor to the top of one of the ends of the pen shell, using electrical tape and a popsicle stick. Bend the popsicle stick into an L shape without breaking it all the way through. Tape the popsicle stick to the side of the pen shell using electrical tape, putting the bend of the popsicle stick at the top edge of the end of the pen shell. Attach the motor to the other side of the popsicle stick bend, with the motor drive shaft over the pen shell hole. Tape the motor to the popsicle stick using electrical tape. Use a lot of tape to stiffen up the bend and to make sure the motor is secure.

3. Take a two- or four-hole button, from a shirt or some piece of clothing, and attach it to the end of the motor shaft that is over the pen shell hole through one of the holes on the button. Use a lighter flame to melt the button so it is secure to the drive shaft. Do this without distorting the other button holes.

4. Thread an 8-inch piece of guitar string through the pen shell so that it sticks out of both ends of the pen shell. Bend the side of the guitar string that is sticking out by the motor and attach it to the opposite side, through one of the holes in the button. The result should be that when the motor moves, the button goes in a circle with the guitar string on the opposite side of the button, making the guitar string go up and down in the pen shell.

5. Attach the two batteries together with the positive side of one battery connected to the negative side of the other battery and tape them to the side of the pen shell. Attach a wire to each of the motor’s two power sockets, then take the other end of the wires and attach one at the top of the batteries and the other to the bottom of the batteries, that are attached to the pen shell. You should now have a simple tattoo machine that will work very well for self-made tattoos.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish