dont know where to start

[Anonymous]

ive been wanting to get into tattooing for a while and have finally decided that the time is now, the thing is that i dont know the first thing about tattooing. the machine is what, a moter attached to a tube that holds needles and the machine is run by a foot switch attached to a power supply? i dont know but thats what i can gather from the websites. anyways if i want to get into tattooing from scratch what do i need to do a complete tattoo? do i need an autoclave? is it feasable to use a new needle everytime? if your tattooing the same person would it be ok to put just put the needle in some alchohol for a minute? any help would be greatly appreciated. PEACE,
SYCAMORE







:arrow: :arrow:

[imported_NeedleJack]

Just kidding Syc:

In all seriousness though, sounds like you got a longing to do some tattooing. Very important to get some direction. We sell a complete tattoo apprenticeship program that covers all of the basics. It's under the tattoo instructions category.

This isn't some fly by night program. Although this is not the method I used to learn, it is just as effective. In fact, it's probably better seeing all the shit I had to go through to get someone to lay down some info.

If you're serious about what this industry is about, do your homework. If you can't get an apprenticeship, at least by the videos. I swear to you it will be the best investment you ever made. And the nice thing is it's like riding a bike, once you learn, you can't unlearn. Hope that helps.

[txtatz]

sycamore,

First and for most. it is feasable and a MUST to use new needles every time!!!! If you care about anyone and there health and saftey this should be a no brainer. NEVER RE-USE Needles!! not even on the same person no matter what , or no matter how clean you think you can get them!!!
( they could become dull, or barbed which will cause scaring and really hurt the customer). Once again NEVER RE-UE NEEDLES< NO MATTER WHAT!!!> BIG NO NO!!!!


Second if you plan on useing stainless steel tubes and tips you must be able to sterilize them and an autoclave is the best way. Boiling or soaking will not kill all bacteria spores!!!! If ya can't do this they do have disposable one time use tubes.

There are serious health issuses to become familiar with if you want to do this and keep the customers safe from disease. This should be your first and for most priorety. Do some research on Blood Born Pathogens, Cross Contamination, Study proper sterilaztion. These should not be taken lightley at all.

[Anonymous]

ya u never want to tattoo unless u have the proper precautions , u can buy disposable tubes and pre made pre sterlized needles for very cheap now, I started out doing it the unsafe way and luckyly I never contracted any deseases . I would recomend buying a high level disenfectant spray, such as Cavicide, Wavicide, or madicide, just make sure its a high level , that means it has to have a turburculacidal agent . a low level disenfectant will only have Germicidal , Viracidal , Fungicidal and Bacteriacidal agents . the high level will be effective against all of them , its not to expensive ,the Cavicide I believe is only around 20 bucks for gallon ,,,I think . just never spray the skin with it , just the work area !!!!and always bag your machine (rip a small whole in a corner and slide it over your machine )
or u can get single use "sani cloths" but I dont believe it has a TB (turburculacidal) so check first.

[txtatz]

the disinfectants are good for cleaning the work area and work surfaces, but I would not use them to try and clean needles or tubes for they still will not be sterile. If you don't have the proper equipment to sterilize tubes or needles after disinfecting them then use the disposable, pre-sterile tubes and needles.

[SkinSkribe]

All these comments are first rate advice. However, don't just read this thread, buy a machine, and carve some poor unsuspecting soul up. Study on websites. Read books. Watch videos. Hang out at tattoo shops. Ask more questions in this forum. Tattoo is not just another artform it is also a huge responsibility. Your customer will wear what you tat on them for the rest of their life, you must understand how serious that is before you cut. You need to know the proper safety and what must be sterilized/disposed of/replaced after each tattoo to protect yourself and your client. You also should practice and maintain these methods religiously, not only for health and your reputation but for the rep of all tattoo artists. For instance, if one dummy gets somebody sick because he does'nt properly sterilize his equip. then people start getting a negative opinion about tattoos and and the artists in general. This hurts everybody. Plus if you gain a negative reputation early in your career, then you will spend the rest trying to live it down, even if you get serious and do it right.
Although it's not to be taken lightly, don't be scared away by all the advice; you should, rather, take all of it into focus and figure out how to tattoo correctly. This took me a while and a lot of research because I live in the backward state of OK where tattoo is banned. Info is hard to come by locally.
When you get all your info and equipment, you're going to find that tattoo is one of the most enjoyable artforms out there. Good luck.