How To Correctly Set A Tattoo Needle & 'STROKE' Fully Explained!

[@jaymoge]

Am I the only one who has learned so much from his videos that you actually tattoo in his accent!?!?

[@H_A_F_GAMING]

Lol 😂

[@kaylagreenawalt7940]

The more I watch your videos, the more I realize how easily a new tattooist could make mistakes without being properly educated. Thanks for all you do!!!!

[@Chad-l4d]

Now you’re saying a longer stroke is for shading and color packing. And a shorter stroke is for lining. Every other video that I have seen said the exact opposite. Bigger stroke for lining and shorter for shading and packing. Hmmm I’m very confused now. Who is right and who is wrong here. Please elaborate.

[@tamarabryan5410]

Long stroke is more suitable for lining with a rotary. With a coil machine with lining you use a shorter faster stroke. Rotarys hit soft by default and need a longer stroke for cleaner lines. You can also use other strokes to line with. This is all subjective. A lot of tattooing is preference. Rotarys- short stroke= soft hit .long stroke=harder hit

[@JmanRc]

I'm confused cause in video he says a shorter is better for lining and a longer for shading or is he refuring to coil ...

[@bureikux]

@@JmanRc in the video it is more mentioned for coil machines, which you would want a shorter stroke because it is faster. Pen style, or rotary it is reversed, it is also due to because rotary style machines have less spring coming in and out. With my Axys Valhalla pen, I use 4.2 to line and stipple shade, while 3.5 is great for color packing, and the lowest setting for a nice even greywash, which i believe is 2.5 on my machine. Rotary and Coil are very different, and the video is more talking about coil machines

[@chingatumadre6450]

@@bureikuxbingo. Thanks for clarifying for those who chose a pen style machine. I have a EP10 adjustable stroke machine, which has been awesome. 2.5 makes a world of difference in terms of smoother shades.

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

That's no beginner comment. Took me a while to figure that out with my Valhalla... but now that I have.. what a fantastic machine! That was a bit of a mind bend to realize the reversal 😂.

[@chloewright1]

I've recently bought a pen machine and a coil machine that I've been practicing on, and I'm realising that there's so much more to tattooing than I imagined! The way you explain things makes it it so much easier for me to understand.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thank you! I’m glad the channel is helping you out.

[@kylemoody_music8862]

I just wanted to say that I am a new subscriber to your channel, but right away I am thankful for the dedication and attention to the details of each subjects breakdown! As an artist who is practically self taught and struggled with a lot of these same issues, it's awesome to see someone so dedicated to ensuring that the new up and coming apprentices actually fully understand the points and topics in depth! I've been tattooing for a couple of years now and I can't think of a single day that goes by, that I haven't learned something new, or caught on to different tricks and tips! I tried to give myself the most accurate and correct training before I attempted to tattoo a human canvas. The most important thing I've done is make myself completely comfortable and confident with my machines over and over again. Using the traditional coil machines from scratch, essentially building my liner and shader. Then tearing them down and repeating the process all the way to full service set-up. Seeing how you are so detailed and visually descriptive is something that I'd wish I had come across your channel a few years sooner! Be that as it may, I have found it now and I look forward to seeing how much better of a tattoo artist I become by learning and improving with your videos and instructions! Cheers!!!! -Kyle Moody-

[@dapanda5992]

I bought a good tattoo pen thanks to you and others, mine is retractable and I saved good money for it. It’s best to put down money for something that actually will work. I been doing well and learning so much! I always change my needles and make sure it’s off and up on a shelf or in my dresser

[@jeffgoodman3518]

I have spent the last 9 hours listening to a lot of you vids. Helped me get through the work day

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Wow thanks for the awesome comment! I’m glad the channel is helping you out!

[@bwildtattoo]

Dude!!! You may be the first to cover this. Game changer. Thanks sir.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for the awesome comment and thanks for watching!

[@russelbriet3295]

The videos that you make and offer to us for free are not only informative, educational, and very in depth detailed. But the way they cronologically ordered giving the beginner step by step instructions from start to finish. You should have the title as the true "Tattoo University"

[@mikerrailey]

The part of the body also determines on the depth. Examples the feet and hands will be less than a leg or arm

[@ranahurr7005]

For hand what should be thedepth??

[@Xtreme_Airgun_Slugs]

@@ranahurr7005 about a millimeter +/-

[@rh3aa996]

hey Jono id love to see a video on different shading techniques, particularly how to achieve a stippled/peppery shade thanks!

[@nataliamauroni2891]

Agreed! Love your vids jono

[@t-boy6560]

*you need to practice of fake skin to achieve your level*

[@jakebriscoe]

slow needle speed and quick hand motions usually do well for me

[@bruceleehee9267]

Need a hard hitting machine with no give . Coil machines= heavy a bar , slower machine , thin long front spring and large stroke

[@juliannaversola]

Your videos are so helpful and educational, you’ve definitely got a talent for teaching!

[@venuslee8745]

Jono, thank you so so much for explaing this, you are so good to have done this video much respect to you, please keep this coming xx

[@ReignTv-y4m]

I enjoy your videos because I really do learn a lot from them. As a beginner. Your tips, how you explain everything in precise detail. You actually prioritize your information and you specify everything essential in becoming a successful tattoo artist

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for the amazing feedback!

[@johnnyray9215]

I subscribed immediately after the first video I stumbled upon and your channel is my go-to for anything I'm uncertain of...thanks for the knowledge brother man!!

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Welcome to the channel!

[@l.a.picasa]

Same. This is the only channel an apprentice needs for any questions, instruction, etc. He really answers it all and in a simple, easy to understand way. Not just the 'hows' but the 'whys'.

[@PeachyInk]

You’re helping me out so much. I really love your content!

[@rcnudz]

Well explained and easy to understand. So much effort shown in the presentation.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@allangoncalves1453]

Jono, I have to say, you upload always the best content brother!! I love to receive an notification about your channel, its always an pleausure, thank you always brother

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Allan Gonçalves you’re welcome. Thanks for the awesome comment!

[@Mar-os5nf]

This is one Im going to have to rewach to completely understand the stroke. Ty so much😊

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

Well that was a meticulous explanation. Bravo!

[@ricoethley5151]

Jono , much love from Sacramento,Ca U are the MAN! No cap. Stay Blessed

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching! 🇺🇸

[@josec439]

Thanks! But almost all other recommendations say longer stroke for lining. Now I’m slightly confused.

[@kahealani9]

vid is basically for coil machines. Pen style you would use longer stroke for lining.

[@josec439]

@@kahealani9 thank you for the info

[@christiancreekmore469]

I have just started and you have fixed half of the mistakes I was making thankyou for doing these videos

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@YouCantWin666]

Another greatly informative video, the stroke length and the needle returning to the reservoir are things I hadn't contemplated. Thanks so much! I've been having intermittent problems with spraying ink, thought it was because of needle bend, but maybe this has something to do with it? (Also there are not any good videos I've seen on youtube with decent video quality on how much to bend your needle)

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Ink spray can be a number of things but if the needle is not set correctly it’s most likely due to that. Sometimes people put way too much of a bend in a needle. It’s literally just enough so the tip of the needle rests at the back of the tip of the tube. Thanks for watching!

[@vihangaraveen8891]

Wow. This is an very informative video. Keep 'em coming❤️

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@vadims331]

Spirit is a soft hit machine with 2.5mm stroke that's why itc great for b&g and smooth shadings while thunder is a hard hit with 4mm stroke which is good for line work and colour packing.

[@codymontgomery7749]

I can't help but point out that what you say about stroke lengths (short for lining and long for shading) is 100% contrary to how ALL major tattoo machine manufacturers market their [rotary] machines. Longer stroke = lining (4mm +) and shorter stroke = color/shading (3.5mm or less).

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

That’s how rotary machine manufacturers setup their machines but the short stroke for lining and long for shading derives from coil machines. A short stroke is automatically made by having a small gap between the front spring and contact screw so people that are used to coil machines will usually prefer this way round. But you’re absolutely right, lots of manufacturers will have machines set the complete opposite to this. It’s just a matter of finding what works best for you. Thanks for watching!

[@unclestreetz9377]

Bro yr channel is a life line im New to tattoo world from drawing and sefl learning.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thank you!

[@katieharris456]

Hey! So I have the dragonfly rotary, and I've got the needle set up to how I want and everything, but its still not retracting all the way which sometimes results in me having to dip more ink. How can i tell what stroke it is doing?

[@l.a.picasa]

In the section starting here, 8:13 he explains all of this (if I'm understanding you correctly). So you will want to adjust your 'stroke' to make your needle retract all the way. At 9:36 he shows how you can figure out what stroke your machine has. You've probably/hopefully figured this out by now but figured I'd try to help incase any new visitors have the same question. 😊 And forgive me if I answered nothing at all or sounded condescending, it is not my intent at all! ✌+💘

[@joshuanicolai4776]

I was having a friend do a black out tattoo on my arm and it is ok but it’d like to redo parts of it myself and these videos have been super helpful for learning before start packing all that heavy black ink

[@konradm6907]

Yet another one bites the knowledge 😋 Super video 👍👍

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks!

[@paulperrin2152]

When using a pen what stroke length do you use for lining g and for colour packing??, and if the pen has a fixed stroke do you use it to line and colour pack??, and if you do how do you alter from lining to colour packing? Hope you can help

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Paul Perrin this is a good question. So basically it all depends what machine you’re using. With the Cheyenne Pen the stroke is set to 3.5mm and can’t be changed. So for me personally I adapted my technique to be able to use 3.5mm for lining, shading and colour packing. Had the stroke been adjustable I probably would have gone for something like 4.5mm for colour packing and 2.5mm for lining. This is just my personal preferences and some people actually favour their stroke the opposite way round to me ie. a long stroke for lining and short stroke for colour packing. I do find 3.5mm is a happy medium to do both anyway which is probably why Cheyenne set their machine at that. Like with anything in tattooing it’s all down to personal preference rather than a ‘right or wrong’ answer. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!

[@rafgomes7897]

Extremely helpful man. Thanks for taking the time to make this. Cheers

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@CytrisMonster]

I have a rotary pen, and sometimes I have to adjust the needle hang during the tattoo (if I've set it to hang too much or too little), and I'm wondering if there are tattoo machines that allow you to change the needle hang without taking the entire sanitation set up off of the tattoo pen (i.e. the grip tape, cover sleeve etc.). Am I setting the pen up wrong or does anyone else have this problem?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

If you're using cartridges you shouldn't have this problem. You just remove the cartridge and replace with a different sized one and carry on.

[@CytrisMonster]

@@JonoSmithTattoo I was more referring to the needle hang than the size of the needle, but I think I've just been wrapping my machine wrong--thanks for ur response!

[@aleyandralee6199]

Thanks for the info im beginning just got a chiitek machine cordless and only had one needle cartridge i didn't know about sizes yet and did the side of my two fingers and may have went too deep its more sore than usual healing but I appreciate your videos ;)

[@johnchambers1573]

Such a big help and sorry you are no longer with us. Rip bro

[@MadeCham]

Finally found ive been looking for, thanks a lot mate.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Made Cham thanks for watching!

[@eldersea]

Hi! So quick question, couldn't find this anywhere: you mentioned that adjusting stroke length with the contact screw obviously affects cps...how is this compensated for?

[@Adm0niti0n]

2.5 mm for black and grays/ 3.0 to 3.5 mm balanced in between for lining, color, black and gray/ 4mm for line work and color packing. I use the flux 4mm and the exo 2.5 mm

[@myriam.w940]

Bonjour je ne parle pas bien anglais mais je te suis grâce à la traduction automatique et c est génial. Avec toi j'ai réponse à toute mes questions super video j'adore merci beaucoup et surtout continue comme ça Bonjour de France à tous

[@JmanRc]

Cool so a longer stroke is softer hit then a shorter stroke on a rotary machine or is it the other way around...

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Coil machines can be set to however hard or soft the hit you’d like it. Most pen style machines have a preset hit so it’s just a matter of getting used to that particular machine you own.

[@JmanRc]

I got rotary machines that are the same and I can change the cam on them u think if I set one up at a 2stroke that would be gd for shading and set another one up with the 3 or 4 stroke for lines and packing solid back and color or should it be the other way around...and the machines are the fk iron spectra 2....

[@karlkeller9624]

You Sir are amazing! Thank you for finally explaining this so that I can understand it

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Karl Keller thanks for the awesome comment!

[@untoldofficialyoutube8563]

You say small stroke is for liner and large stroke is for Shader but Cheyenne says the complete opposite cause they set the Terra to 4mm stroke for harder hitting lines and the Luna to 2.5 mm for softer hit, please explain

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Yes I can understand the confusion here. So let’s first look at the Terra, which like you say is dressed up as a liner but has a 4mm stroke. Well if you look on the description of this machine, it’s also advertised as a ‘colour packer’ too. Colour packing with a small stroke is not going to give you very good results but lining with a long stroke will be ok. So setting their machine to a bigger stroke allows them to sell a machine with 2 selling points ie. lining AND colour packing. The Luna set with a 2.5mm stroke & also set to hit soft, for me personally would put me off from buying that particular machine, because not only is the stroke very small but it’s also going to bog a little which will sacrifice that small stroke and make it even smaller. Some people do shade with a smaller stroke and can get on with it. The theory behind it is that the needles are returning to the skin quicker which should make the puncture holes even closer together which in turn will make the shades appear softer. But for me personally that was trained originally with a coil machine, this short stroke for shading I don’t like and much prefer a longer stroke and adjust my hand speed to compensate to achieve softer shades. By using a longer stroke for shading gives the needles more ink saturation to deliver to the skin. The reason I say short for lining and long for shading, again comes from my history with using coil machines. A coil machine that runs fast will automatically create a smaller stroke because the gap between the contact screw and the front spring gets smaller the more the machine speeds up. The opposite applies for shading, you slow the machine down by backing off the contact screw so therefore automatically gives a larger stroke. So being used to these strokes and speeds I then transfer this information when transitioning to a rotary or pen. To sum it up, if you have never used coils then you’d probably get on a lot better with these 2 machines as your tattoo technique would tailor itself to being able to work with these machines. I think if you’re used to the way coils work then you’d have a bit of transitioning to do and tweaking your technique to get the best out of these machines. As with everything with tattooing it’s a very individual preference as what works well for someone might not work at all for someone else. There’s no right and wrong answer here just opinions and a lot of personal preference. I hope this answers your question and thanks for watching!

[@PAINSTAKE]

I agree w/ jono. I also started on coils and have recently transitioned to rotary pens. Another aspect that should be remembered is dwell time (duty/frequency). A liner needs to come out of the skin quicker than a shader/packer. After this is achieved, it's a matter of hit. This is where the choice of machine is very important. For me, I chose machines with adjustable hit so I can have a harder hit on my short stroke machine and softer hits on my long stroke machine.

[@selvesterngava12]

I have watched a lof Jono's vidoes and they have really helped me a lot. I hope his vidoes gets famous for more people to get the right information really🙂thanks a lot

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@priestsonsofwar]

Knocked it out of the park bud great job. The Dragonhawk Mast has the return feature, however tho sometimes will stop short of returning back in the tube. What I do to correct the issue is just press my foot pedal again and it returns to the inside of the tube. Why do you think that it's sometimes stopping short of returning to the inside of the tube?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Skin it could be a number of reasons due to how it’s been made by the manufacturer. I’ve not used a Mast but have seen they’ve produced a wireless machine. Thanks for watching!

[@priestsonsofwar]

@@JonoSmithTattoo I just bought the mast tour pro i'm hoping that this one will be my forever machine. lol

[@davetabadi8215]

What is the difference between long stroke and short stroke? In pen machine Which size stroke are better for Lining and shading?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Davet Abadi short stroke machines tend to run a little faster and harder whilst long stroke machines run slightly slower and sometimes softer depending on the setup. I think a 3.5mm stroke is a good all rounder for everything. Thanks for watching.

[@BBboykh]

i heat for line work they recommend a dime size gap for contact screw, but i like to float my needle there’s no way i can float the needle with a dime size gap - while the needle fully retracts when off. tips? thanks

[@TwistedTattoo.WarShorts]

Awesome info mate👍great advice thanks Jono 👍

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching mate!

[@martinajay779]

Excellent, so helpful as always jono!!

[@noya2346]

Thank Jono for these helpful info .

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@dayone269]

Great video as always I recently retracted my needle a bit to about the same as the video and definitely seen improvement especially on single pass ability. I've seen conflicting information on the stroke opinion, I started with machines that had the 3.5 mm and they have been a beast for shading, graywash and even color packing, later I got an adjustable stroke machine and so far the 4.2 stroke with the shorter hang has really helped my lines, but I have seen many instances to your point where people prefer the lower stroke settings for lining 🤔 I know it's all individual preference but maybe I will give it a try with the shorter stroke, my machine that's adjustable goes down to a 2.5 so yeah I will definitely experiment. Does the shorter stroke usually call for any voltage variation or do you find it pretty level with other stroke lengths? As always thanks for the amazing content and infectious spirit!! 🥃 Cheers

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Day One thanks for the great feedback! As you mention a lot of this is down to personal preference and it’s just a matter of finding what best works for you. If you was running a machine with a shorter stroke, particularly a coil machine, you’ll find it runs a little bit faster than it would with a bigger stroke so would have to compensate for that slightly speeding up your hand speed. Thanks for watching!

[@gadsden472]

Switching from coils to rotaries has been a bit tough for me. I kept going back to my coils. I'm using a Centri evader now and love it. I'm finding some things to be opposite however. Like I run a longer stroke when lining and a shorter while shading... Where as coils it was opposite. On the Centri the stroke is basically governing hit force. I'm assuming it's the same on all rotaries. Voltage controls speed... Stroke controls force. So on coils I would run a liner at less volts and a bigger mag at higher volts.... Speed being determined by things like capacitor and springs. And hit by volts. On the rotary the volts control speed. So at the same speed (cycles per second) if you increase the travel the needle will hit the skin with more force. The short stroke will be less powerful and should cause less skin trauma. A longer stroke will punch the skin harder. So I shade with the smallest stroke I can for the needle group. Then there is "duty cycle". On a rotary with a round cam the needle is in the tube and the skin the same amount of time. On a coil machine it spends more time out of the skin. This is why the needle snags more on a rotary. Especially for those used to coils.

[@freedomfighter6838]

@@gadsden472 I feel like i was set up to fail - talked into a 4.2 stroke with only 5 months under my belt - i have really chewed my legs up lol - not all but most are overworked - finding that balance seems impossible - too many factors fighting against me - so frustrating - ink flow cutting my skin - shhading looks so clean (5 days later that tattoo is falling out, completley scabbed, or faded out), ugh. I cannot wait to get a pen that can interchange strokes - I got the direct drive rotary over the pen for my firs machine because those pens are kind of whack lol I like coils but too much money to get a shader and a liner - I wholeheartedly beleieve once I try out a tattoo with the pen - I will be a beast because of all these hedaches i have had to face with this stupid 4.2 skin ripper

[@odwanondywana8253]

Which machine do you use or find is the best , which isnt to expensive

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

odwa Nondywana the Equaliser Proton pen is pretty decent for the price.

[@odwanondywana8253]

@@JonoSmithTattoo do you know any company's that will send to south africa and wont cost me an arm or a leg , I've been search ! I bought a coil machine from a "trusted" supplier only to find that its some crap from china that wont work if the volts is below 10

[@thugger0055]

What about soft/hard stroke, or it is the same thing? my mast sai pen has soft and hard hit, regardless of the length stroke, i asume that hard stroke will be better for lines and soft for shading?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

I cover everything you need to know about ‘Hit & Bog’ in my other videos of you search them. That should answer all your questions. Thanks for watching!

[@dineshsony5152]

How much depth Should needle go inside tha skin while tattoo ing? Good healing depends on coil and pen(cartridge needle) machine ?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Dinesh Sony I cover all of this another video called ‘Tattoo Needle Depth - How To Tattoo At The Right Depth’ If you search my videos you’ll find it and all the answers to your question are covered in that one video. Thanks!

[@dineshsony5152]

Thanq sir 🙏🏻

[@ryancole1838]

What is correct needle depth for color packing and lining

[@calebthomas6883]

Very cool. I've recently been learning the ins and outs of tattoo machines and equipment, and this video cleared up some confusion. Subscribed and plan on watching your other content 👍🏼

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@AndrueSOCAL]

I’m just wondering with the new cartridge system with the spring inside or idk how it works but I wonder if my rotary machine goes 4mm like it says cuz it’s so much I don’t think the needle moves that much because of the whole new pen style system u less it’s direct drive then it makes more sense but still the cartridge must somehow be set perfect

[@Jas-ic5hb]

Damn good video you definitely got me on retracting needle all the way, can’t argue with facts ,thanks

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@RickRothstein843]

Love your videos, your info is great 💯💯💯

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@justinehampit1781]

this is by far the most informative video i've seen about depth and stroke bro.. and thanks for that my long time question is answered thanks to this but sir can you do a tutorial about stroke in dragonfly cause i have dragonfly rotary and it has adjustable knob on top but i cannot determine the measurement of stroke this is by far most of us begginners struggle when uaing dragonfly machine because it does not say which way u rotate the knob for lining and shading hope you make a video of it because moat of begginners like me uses this machine and thanks advance for your feedback godbless u brother

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

The knob on top of the Dragonfly does not change the stroke. It changes how ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ the machine hits. It’s really simple. You screw it clockwise (nearly all the way down until it stops) for a liner, and anti-clockwise (about 3 full turns) to make the machine a shader / colour packer. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@justinehampit1781]

what is the difference of stroke and hit sir thats the only thing i struggled

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Im currently working on a video which will explain all of this. Stay tuned and all this will be clear for you. Thanks!

[@leahcrockford2256]

Your videos are so helpful! Thank you!

[@jepmaanlo6398]

witch one great? short stoke or long stronk?

[@parkour2461]

what about the rubber band for the coil?

[@abetraven1962]

Amazing video. THank you for making this. It's very valuable

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Abe Traven thanks for watching!

[@galaxy6484]

I’m about to get a really good tattoo pen I have an ok one now. I love how the cartoons are all you lol

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Ive a review coming soon on the Dragon Hawk Mast which comes with aa discount code. Thanks for watching!!

[@galaxy6484]

@@JonoSmithTattoo I seen the video it’s the pink and purple one I believe it’s soo pretty I have a pink one. Do you happen to do diamonds? 💎 I’m working on a upper stomach piece with a heart diamond I have multiple blues in it. I wasn’t sure if you had any videos on how to do them I like the realistic look.

[@muminavan]

Really informative and fantastic explanations!

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

JessWranek_ TheDailyLife thanks for watching!

[@ivanmendoza8457]

Wow i use a long stroke to line and a short stoke for shading it works for me

[@onlinekarateclasses7663]

That's because you're right and he got the two mixed up. The bigger the stroke, the more toque that is being used, thus giving you a stronger hit which is great for lining. Smaller stroke creates less so it damages the skin less when you're trying to shade and do multiple passes.

[@ivanmendoza8457]

@@onlinekarateclasses7663 yeah i know that but theirs some weird tattooerd who line with shaders .....since the coil days to each their own i use a 4.2 for lining and oacking and i use the 3.5 shader by bishop to shade that 5.0 works but it hits so hard it hurts more then i think it should but im on the neuma 4 trip i highly recomend it for everything

[@christophersantos712]

Sorry I’m confused ..this summary says a small stroke for a liner . I thought a four MM or a five MM was best for lighting in a 2.5 to 3 what is best for shading

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Yes it's adapted over the years with rotaries. But when it was coils the stroke was small fir lining and long for shading. Thats just how it worked with coil machines and their setup.

[@quanathan]

okay so the stroke's purpose is only for the needle to retract ??? im just confused on what stroke be doing to my art, lke what difference it makes a small stroke is a liner, so is it a small stroke because the needle is punching quicker consistantly to make a consistant line?? and with long stroke, its punching slower (not acting slower, but needle taking longer to travel) because its like for packing in color and giving the skin a bit of rest, and can be less consistant ??? i dunno, im trying to undertstand, but this video helps me get closer to understaning

[@kellyjenkins9364]

Thanks for the videos really in-depth and super helpful x I’m started apprenticeship and need to get a better coil machines, I’m not the richest person so probably can’t afford best on the market but don’t want to bulk buy rubbish if eBay, could you make a reasonable suggestion for best companies I should be looking at may thanks kelx

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

I’ve always used Mickey Sharpz, they start at around £130 which is a steal for a quality machine.

[@blackdiamondA1]

I did a tattoo on my hand and there Is barely any ink and scarring.. Too deep or too shallow??

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Damien Taggart I can’t really say without actually seeing it but if the ink has fell out it could be a number of things, too shallow, poor quality ink, wrong technique, machine not running right, not stretched enough just to name a few. If it’s scared, again it could be too deep, it could be the skin has just been overworked, the machine hitting too hard, a barbed needle, reaction to the ink. So there’s many reasons why this could have happened. Hands are not very forgiving if the ink hasn’t been put in correctly as with knees and elbows.

[@blackdiamondA1]

@@JonoSmithTattoo thank you so much! I think I over worked it because the first lines I did patchy ink so I did it agian...and agian and again until it was permanent. But thank you for you reply

[@bree789-x8c]

New to your channel and your videos are super helpful! Thanks Man. My line work is a lot cleaner (which took practice because my hands shake lol) I have tattoos like everywhere, however I am wondering how do I go about tattooing my right arm? because I'm right handed and not left, I've only been able to do a small tattoo on my right wrist. I know that may not be possible because you need a good steady dominant hand for tattooing.

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

I'm glad the channel is helping you out. I probably wouldn't recommend tattooing yourself with your less dominant hand but I suppose you could always practice on second skin. Ive seen people do it before when they retrain their hands. Thanks for watching!

[@darrenkingstree1490]

Great info thanks for the 110%

[@vadims331]

How come the spirit got 2.5mm and itc great from b&g work and a thunder was designed mostly for lining and colour packing cos itc got a 4mm stroke.

[@teamkawalwalv.7943]

Very well said..new here in your channel and new in tattoo world... thanks

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching & welcome to the channel!

[@jakewilliams9916]

Jono your a good dude thanks for all the great tips bro

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@tattootrainingchannel-inkp3878]

hi, great video. can you just give me some insight on why choose a smaller stroke for lining and longer stroke for shading and packing? and you also mentioned you like 3.5mm, so does it mean that you can do it all with the 3.5 mm stroke by just adjusting the power supply? thanks in advance. cheers!

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

So generally speaking a smaller stroke will suit a liner because the small stroke makes the machine able to run fast and ‘punchy’ which is perfect for popping those lines in. Where as for shade where you want the machine to run a little slower and maybe draw up more ink into the tip, a longer stroke is more preferable. You’re absolutely right when you ask do I use 3.5mm for everything, the answer is yes I do. I find it’s short enough to line with but also long enough to shade and colour with. If you haven’t seen it yet, my video on how to tattoo at the right depth will put you on the right track with regards to machine speed. Thanks for watching!

[@tattootrainingchannel-inkp3878]

@@JonoSmithTattoo thank you so much, that was really helpful. absolutely love the way you explain things.

[@sophie-jr2nf]

I'm running across an issue myself. I have a CNC we wireless rotary machine. When i was running a very thin needle on practice skin. I noticed my needle was not taking in ink well at all. When i turn off the machine, it retracts back into the tube. However i could only get the right amount of ink into my needle by needing to ride the tube, which is unfortunately not how i prefer to tattoo due to having very little view on my line from all the ink puddling. As i kept changing around my needle depth and my voltage and having to dip my needle after every single line, i thought it had to with my stroke. I figured if my needle retraced further into the tube with every movement, i would get nice ink flow throughout the needle. But my machine has a 3.5 mm stroke. I understand that's supposed to be a very good average stroke. Unfortunately when i higher my voltage it absolutely demolished the silicone skin i use. So i really don't know why the ink flow is so bad, i even tried to rescrew the stroke disk and clean out my tube very well every time to make sure it wasn't dirty from the ink but nothing worked, can anyone help me?

[@sophie-jr2nf]

Btw this machine uses cartridges so i can't bend the needle or anything like that

[@alexanderizzard1254]

Great tips man!

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thank you!

[@allangoncalves1453]

My rotary have 3.5mm stroke, but dont full retract the needle

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

You might need to adjust the depth slightly or maybe look at a bigger stroke machine if it’s too shallow for you.

[@danlee9109]

Grate video! Thank yu!

[@H_A_F_GAMING]

Dam . I just got the fold pro 2 and that needle hangs out

[@Inkiettoo777]

I love you man thank you for your wise knowledge

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@ronbeckman5896]

Where did you receive your training to be a tattooer?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Personally I did an apprenticeship.

[@reichardvega-reyes4028]

Idk if you have a video explaining about how to set the 3.5 stroke on a coil machine if you do can you send me the link please and thank you

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

So to set a 3.5mm stroke you’d have to measure the gap between the front spring and the contact screw when the armature bar is fully depressed.

[@reichardvega-reyes4028]

@@JonoSmithTattoo ok thank you, just wondering what time is over there

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

@@reichardvega-reyes4028 it’s currently 2.30pm 🇬🇧

[@reichardvega-reyes4028]

@@JonoSmithTattoo i bought two coil machines for $80 on ebay and compared to the ones that came in the dragonhawk tattoo kit they feel way lot better I think they're genuine, how can I know they're not fake

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

@@reichardvega-reyes4028 it just depends what brand they claim to be. If they’ve got a brand name on them for example ‘Mickey Sharpz’ you can search that particular brand’s website and contact them with photos and reach out to them and ask what they think.

[@gudda2x201]

My needle doesn't look like it's going up and down. I'm using a bishop wand shader pen machine.

[@FlorenceShinYoga]

How/can I wipe my needle when the ink piles up

[@washing7]

thanks for making this awesome video

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Liz Sharp thanks for watching!

[@chrislafore1473]

Can you reuse a needle? Or clean it?

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

No

[@jepmaanlo6398]

my power supply no display how can get 50 duty? machine

[@gritgrit486]

so instructive 👍

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@김상섭-j8w]

very helpful video. 👍👍

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

김상섭 thank you!

[@tatianaharhellis9436]

Great vid

[@user-xm6zh8tk3z]

very very thank you man i love you from iran

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@hoole1926]

Im not sure if my pen has adjustable stroke maybe this is why I'm tearing my self up with patchy blk

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Not many have adjustable strokes. Most are pre set. It’s probably the machine’s running too fast or hand speed too slow together with technique if you’re tearing the skin up.

[@hoole1926]

@@JonoSmithTattoo I know ppl say find your own hand speed and voltage but what is your preference

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

@@hoole1926 I line at around 11v depending on the area and shade at 9v. That’s using a Cheyenne Pen. Different machines run at different speeds though. So it really is down to finding what works for you.

[@hoole1926]

@@JonoSmithTattoo oh wow I was advised to go low to pack black between 7-8 v mine is just a starter pen really some trash called solong

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

@@hoole1926 yeah different people will say different things as they will have different hand speeds and machines etc. There’s so many variables involved that’s why there’s no definitive answer as to what you should set the power to.

[@charlitocastillon3798]

2mm are standard deep for tattoo or deepen more more great than 2mm

[@austinharper136]

Santa Cruz shirt?

[@DiDamn3o3]

Thank you for this ❤️

[@JonoSmithTattoo]

Thanks for watching!

[@jameschang9882]

Thank you so much 👍👍👍

[@josh_artsofficial6801]

This is awesome