Tattoo Machines: Ready for inking

During the early days, tribal people created tattoos by slashing their skin with designs and then rubbing ashes on the fresh wound. There are also some practices that used sharp animal bones or sharp sticks to draw the design on the skin.

Today however, the most common tool used for tattooing is the tattoo machine. Most professional tattoo artists refer to this equipment as “iron” or simply “machine”; while other people call it “gun”.

The basic design of the machine was created by Thomas Edison but it was in 1891 when Samuel O'Reilly discovered that he could modify Edison's engraving machine and use it for tattooing.

The tattoo machine has four basic parts. This includes the sterilized needle which is soldered to a bar, the tube system which holds the ink, the electric motor, and a foot pedal which controls the movement of the needle.

This machine works much like an alternating current. It starts when the machine's two wires conduct power. The current flowing between the wires will cause the electromagnetic coil to pull downward on the armature bar. The armature bar will then move the needle up and down and repeatedly penetrate the skin.

The machine works the needle to puncture the skin 50 to 3,000 times every minute. With every puncture, ink is deposited in the dermis, which is the second layer of the skin. The cells in the dermis are more stable than the epidermis or the skin's first layer; thus, the ink stays in place.

The basic design of the tattoo machine has remained the same although some improvements were added. The most advanced tattoo machine is also capable of adjusting the speed, force, as well as the depth of the needle. These advancements also allow the tattoo artist to make a very precise and elaborate design.

Should you wish to get your own tattoo, you can go to any authorized establishment in your area.