Ink shooting up the tube and onto the machine-----holy crap

[Miss Disaster]

Okay, so I have yet to have this happen. Yestreday I was tattooing a friend of mine. After about 15 mintues of coloring, I noticed ink INSIDE the bag and on my machine! It was my first time using a 7Mag, I also had 3 rubberbands on and my ps was at 6. Oh, and I use disposable tubes. What the hell happened? So I had to completely take my machine apart to clean every little piece because it was a total mess. Can anyone give me some advice, know how, so this doesn't happen to me again. Many thanks!

[Capt. Calzone]

Wow.. I've never had that happen to me. Were you tattooing with the person sitting up or laying down?

[MontanaPiercer]

couple of things you can try....
make sure the machine is tuned properly, spitting and ink riding up the tube can be an indication of poor tune or running it too fast
tweak the bar and or the needles so they bend slightly down to ride the bottom of the tube better
make sure you are using the correct size tip for the needle group you are running
3 rubber bands may be too much pressure, pulling down the center of the bar and causing the needle tips to ride high in the tip...... one good band is usually enough, two for sure, no reason to use 3......

[Miss Disaster]

I was tattooing the person sitting up (letters on his back). I totally cleaned my machine, took everything off the frame and started from scratch, which was pretty ballsy on my part since I was just hoping to god I could put it back together!! :oops: :shock: But once I got it reassembled, I colored in a flower on my leg that was just an outline for so long. I used two bands this time and slightly bent the needle bar. It ran great, and sounded better than before. I also changed the front spring. Wow, I must say, I feel much more comfortable with my machine now that I broke it down and put it back together. I think I want to buy a frame and build my own machine from scratch. Hope it goes well. :o) Oh, I was wondering one more thing though, does anyone think that the disposable tubes could have been a factor? I just bought a stainless steel 3pc. combo to use on myself to see. Since I don't own an autoclave, I won't be able to use ss on anyone else. :( Also (last thing, I promise!) This should probably go in the CC and sterilization section, but I'll put it here anyways, with the 3pc. combo I bought to use on myself (and ONLY on MYSELF), do you think it's okay to soak it and scrub it and that's it, since I will only be using it on myself? I know, probably a stupid question, but hey :?

[legacy]

the disposables probably had nothing to do with it unless of course they were broken but that probably would have been obvious. sounds like maybe you were running too fast or your machine gap was too small or perhaps at one point you pointed your machine upwards without realizing while it was running and ink dripped in that way.

[deill]

I have run my machines fast and never had that problem,unless theres too much spring tension and have it at high voltage..I think the needle bar had too much pressure with rubber bands or the tip was to big for the needle.It happens with disposables thats why I dont like them,save up for autoclave and ultrasonic then go stainless tube.

[Miss Disaster]

Yeah, I think the whole problem was definately having 3 bands on and too high of a setting (even though it was only set at like 6, but for some reason the power supply I have, 6 is about right). I always make sure my needles match up with my tips, so I don't think that was a factor. hhmm, all I know is, I won't be trying to use 3 bands again :o) Maybe like you said, maybe it was too much spring tension. thanks for the replies :o)

[voodoo]

i use 3 on my shader with no problems at all.

[XHAZE]

I agree with Montana. Your band tension is too tight on your needle bar. Its pulling the center of the bar down turning it banana shape. It can happen gradually too. It runs fine at first and a half hour later it starts happening. Thats because the tension is only slightly excessive and with vibration the bar will fatigue slowly.