V-Rad by Superior ???

[Whitey]

Hello all,
This forum is very informative, I'm so glad I stumbled onto it, and if Forgiven should stumble onto my post, That Chick has got one of the best racks I've seen.
Any way, I just bought my first kit from Superior yes the one for $119
and I've been all over this forum reading everything there is as far as tats go.
Just looking to see what anyone thinks of the V-rad machine and If anyone knows what size Liner needle it came with, It also came with a 5 round for shading which I like, It seems to work nice( can't really tell with the Practice skin ), but the liner needle is very thin, great for fine detail but does not seem as thick as the tattoos I have ( real skin has alot to do with that ), I'm thinking maybe it's a 3 but not really sure.
Don't worry I'm not touching skin for a long time and when I do it will be my own first, but for now I'm using the practice skin it came with and some grapefruits.
I also have a tip with the practice skin if you don't want it to smudge, use a solution of dishwashing liquid and Alchohol and make it wet ( more alchohol than dish soap), then put it on your paper towel every time you need to wipe your lines or shading pull away from the stencil so you don't kill it and you'll have a smudge free tat on fake skin......also makes for a good habit of wiping as you would doing it for real...

[tatt2u]

I would say it's a single get an eye loop and have a look at it . :wink: You need one anyway to check needle tips.

[JosephBigBear]

"Don't worry I'm not touching skin for a long time and when I do it will be my own first, but for now I'm using the practice skin it came with and some grapefruits" by whitey


Welcome I like to hear this you are going in the right direction. Read and practice. Good Job! :twisted:

[FORGIVEN]

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ABOARD !!!!

[Psyclone]

I got the same kit. What are you using for stencils on your fake skin it came with? I use a regular printer with tracing paper & set it on t-shirt transfer. I used that single needle it came with then tossed it aside & practiced with the 4rl needle for lining. From reading all the posts I ordered some 4fs, 8rs, 5rl needles & different size tubes from needeljack
to practice with. :twisted:

[Whitey]

I've been trying everything as far as stencils with some good and not so good results.
I've tried the Ink jet on tracing paper with the dish liquid and Alchohol that was so so, I got better results with speed stick ( just practicing ) I've done the Pen on to tracing paper and that worked good for the skin but not on the Practice skin or grapefruit ( just seeing what would work by sticking it on myself, not tattooing) I even went to staples and grabbed some carbon paper that didn't work, so I think for now my best bet would be spirit master or thermofax paper from Needle jack or ebay.
I'm also trying to get a Dot Matrix printer, a friend of mine has one stuffed in a closet at work so hopefully that comes thru.
The v-rad machine seems fairly decent, it's nice and light and very easy to tune and being a musician and having a couple of Tats already It was easy for me to tune it up by ear but I've also messed around and tried various things I've read in the posts but that's something I'll still be learning about for years to come I'm sure.
I'm just going to run these needles into the ground before I grab some more, I'm not sinking them too deep just about 1/16th and I'm taking my time when working so It will be a while but when I do I was checking out Needle Jacks and I think I might grab the Pro 70 pc needle sets and a set of the Millenium colors, I've read too much bad stuff about the prism Inks that came with the kit I bought, and another machine to set up as a shader even though my machine seems as though it's set up great for lining and shading as long as I slow it down and the only other thing I'd want would be a good power supply as the one with the kit I'm not so sure about, It's working fine but just doesn't look right....

[Whitey]

Oh and Tatt2u,
It is a single needle I just wasn't sure if there were gauge sizes for singles ( liners ) like guitar strings, So i'm guessing that they group the needles together for lining to make a larger gauge???

[jchristian]

I just got one of the V-Rad guns as a birthday gift, and I have to admit, I'm pleasantly suprised!

I'm normally pretty skeptical about Superior products, and probably would never have bought one myself, but my GF heard me bitchin' about wanting a travel set-up and got me one, bless her heart...

Anyway, I got it last Fri, and have done two tats with it since, and like I said, I'm pleasantly suprised with how well it works. My only real complaint is with the chuck. It's kinda like a reverse-guillotine design, and will only hold the tube straight if the shank is long enough to protrude thru the back of the frame.

This probably isn't an issue if you use steel tubes, but I use disposables, and there's one type ( cream plastic from eBay ) I have that don't do so well. They fit tight and all, but have a very slight downward angle in respect to the frame, since only the front jaw contacts. The regular white/color grip tubes do great.

I also was dubious about the power supply, but I put a voltmeter on it, and at least it does pump the juice it says it does.

Anyway, that's my two cents. It's not a pro machine, but it's probably a good choice for a beginner.

[Whitey]

Since I started this post I have since bought an Iron Strongman From Needle Jacks and i have to say It blows the V Rad away, It hits much Harder and has a more consitant feel as far as running it for long periods of time, The V-Rad seems to vary in strength and speed, I'm running my Power Supply at 7.5 volts for both machines and The Iron Strongman is great for Lining the way it's set up and I am now using the V-rad for coloring and shading where it seems to run a little softer than the Iron Strong Man, I just wish the Iron was as Light as the V-Rad, that's the best part about the machine is it's weight, I might just switch everything and see if it makes out to be a great machine......

[SuziQ]

Hi folks-I have a V Rad coming,the same kit previously mentioned.I'm dying to hit the practice skins!But I'm wondering if you guys who have used various machines find it is hard to switch from one set up to the other,different weight and feel etc?or is tattooing kind of like learning to ride a bike in that once you learn you can do it on most anything?I ask because I have wondered about learning on a beginner type machine and then changing to a pro set up later on-thinking it might be like starting all over again until you figure out the new machine.And pity help the one who gets tattoed while one is trying to get the hang of the new rig LOL.yikes!But maybe that's a dumb question-what do I know? :oops:

[karvin]

i got a V-rad too. : :P