Non-metal sideplate?

[Desert Rat]

I know there are some crappy machines out there with plastic and fiberglass sideplates but would a machine made with a good quality non metallic sideplate be marketable?

Have any of you seen a custom made machine with manmade or natural non metallic sideplates that you would actually want?

I am toying with the idea of building a steel coil deck with red linen micarta sideplate. I would be making it for sale so I would like to know if it would be a waste of time and effort.

It will be a good quality build, intended for the $200+ buyers. I have no idea as to the specific design, probably a T-dial or bulldog with 1" coils, probably a liner and shader set.

Am I nuts for even trying? I know most artists are pretty traditional in their tastes.

Just for reference (no plug... yea right) I have a couple machines on Ebay. You can get a general idea of quality there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110243137438&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

[dethzen]

My first question was going to be about sterilabilty, since I didn't know what micarta was.. but I looked it up in case anyone else is curious.
http://www.norplex-micarta.com/markets/medicaldevices.php

[Desert Rat]

Here is a picture of the Micarta I would be using.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk36/rat-tatt/Ebay/winder/winderrs.jpg


It is 1/2" thick so it would get thinned out and carved etc...

The coil winder in the picture is up on Ebay atm. I am going to build 7 more just like it. Then I might try a steel / Micarta machine or possibly copper since I recently got my filthy hands on some copper bus bar material.

[CropCircle]

I've been toying with the idea of using pyrex glass for a side plate, but I'm afraid of the practicality of it. I've considered building some machines with the pyrex strictly for the purpose of collecting!

Jason

[Desert Rat]

pyrex is pretty tough.

I think you would need to form it hot almost yellow hot probably bright orange to bend and shape it. casting might be doable but it would be pretty hard to get a good finish.

drilling it with a tile drill would be risky, I would try to powder it with a dental burr.

It would be an ass kicking look, maybe make a metal sideplate that matched for actual tattoo work. You'd have to do at least one outline with the glass sideplate to christen it.

While it's hot put some texture in it so it doesn't look like plastic.

[DemonDan]

Its never a waste of time, or effort!! You learn something new everytime. .And as you know, I will most likely be the one designing the side plate. You are right though, most tattooist stick with the traditional machines, however might find a few buyers, if not throw it in the collection drawer..






I know there are some crappy machines out there with plastic and fiberglass sideplates but would a machine made with a good quality non metallic sideplate be marketable?

Have any of you seen a custom made machine with manmade or natural non metallic sideplates that you would actually want?

I am toying with the idea of building a steel coil deck with red linen micarta sideplate. I would be making it for sale so I would like to know if it would be a waste of time and effort.

It will be a good quality build, intended for the $200+ buyers. I have no idea as to the specific design, probably a T-dial or bulldog with 1" coils, probably a liner and shader set.

Am I nuts for even trying? I know most artists are pretty traditional in their tastes.

Just for reference (no plug... yea right) I have a couple machines on Ebay. You can get a general idea of quality there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110243137438&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

[black raven]

plastic side plates have been used for many moons and some manufacturers still do. the originals were made by great artists like Milton zeis and Percy waters starting back in the 30, 40's. they used bakelite. the problem with plastic side plates is the noise. the zeis's i have ran have a little thicker side plate so they dont rattle all that much. on the recent models , like the plastic one demographics used to sell is junk. it rattles and sounds like shit. the plus of using this material is the weight, if you like a lite machine , you can get these things down to weighing almost nothing.:)

[voodoo]

Got me think'n...Graphite might be cool,U can form it too...

[ink_freak]

ive seen old wooden machine frames at the tattoo charlies museum in louisville! i wouldnt use it but ive also seen plastic and bone!

[hotdiggitydawg]

I wasn't going to show this until completion.... fuck it.... here's an early preview... Enjoy

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c20/danielgkelly/Machines/03052008490.jpg

[Inkspressit]

Shite, I missed the preview!!! came out well HD.

How'd ya find the CF to work with??

[hotdiggitydawg]

Expensive lol.
It's ok to work with, easy to cut and shape, partical mask needed tho' and it's a bitch getting speared with bits of fibre in the webs of ma fingers.... The only thing to be careful of is surface scratches when working it, i just covered it with sticky back plastic untill completion...

[Inkslngr]

what about carbon fiber, that they use for light weight mountain bikes?

[DemonDan]

That looks pretty damn good Dan... Props on that one..