Machine Tension and Alignment/ Tuning 101- Tattoo University

[@debratorkelson6036]

You are incredible. Thank you for posting ALL your video's. Your my tattoo hero. I finally understand my coil tattoo machines. You are a true blessing. Big hugs from Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada.

[@zackb3688]

Just wanted to say Thank you Nick for showing these videos to help us that are self taught

[@babygxxo1645]

my black cat recently went missing, as an outlet to my depression caused by his absents, I decided to try getting serious about tattooing (I've had my machines since I was 16, now 25) I've done 3 tattoos nothing too big or fancy. I'm taking the appearance of your kitty as a confirmation from the universe that I'm on the right track c,:

[@Justinelucyyink]

Thank you for keeping the cat footage in.

[@sidtheartist1]

Love when Monte purs after the camera fell a second time

[@AdreyM978]

The cat 😂. Thanks for the information. For ppl who have the money and time they just buy their own springs and making them takes time so if it can be readjusted in a few minutes this helps get customers tattooed. Also all the information when it comes to duty cycles and cps is very important and not many speak on this information.

[@tonybrady7565]

thank you so much your videos are very helpful learned so much since i started watching your stuff .

[@aidanblythe]

Thank you for the information, having a visual helps me learn.

[@btmnwhitworth6753]

Shoutout to Monty the god damn kitty for the comical relief break🐱🤣

[@michaelpatridge7791]

Thank you Monte for the Great Commentary at 7:48 also thank you for the great video. I really needed this to figure out why my new coil machines are running so hard. What is that tool you use to find the pressure needed on the armature Bar? I've always ran rotary guns so they have been a lot simpler.... haha

[@BRNBRDGS]

Monte , you rule !

[@kiirsttx]

God dammit Monty :’) also highly informative video. Thank you!

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

Lol

[@thatmombielife]

Lol Monty 😅 relieving tension was a great tip.

[@Tk1947]

You tune your color packer like a liner?

[@amberres007]

Very helpful video, I love Monty🤩

[@magavneg]

Hey! Great explanation! Thank You a lot, learning so much at this channel! BTW, is that a some kind of tension meter You're using to check the springs? Where can I get one? Thank You.

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

Google tattoo tention gague. 325-340 grams for liners 340-380 grams for shaders most tension gauges are like $50 if you go on Amazon and get it digital luggage scale you can just attach a piece of wire and pull down on the Armature bar and it'll show digitally and those are only like $5

[@truckdrivermm]

Nick was talking to a guy he said he uses 26 guage blue steel springs front and back on liner, shader, color packer. Is that possible 🤔.? Thought the springs had to be certain guage for lining, shading, color packing.

[@bdee1084]

I loved all the travel.

[@sidtheartist1]

This is great Thank-you so much!

[@realseppel5198]

One question: why do you think the way/ stroke is too big at the beginning? I have some liners from a good builder and they all seem to have a longer throw , doesn't matter if liner shader packer or powerliner. Longer throw = harder hit? But with lower voltage it seems I have to use force/ push the needle in. My liner runs " loaded "at 114hz on 53 duty with a longer throw at 5.9 volts. Best wishes

[@TattooUniversity]

I think machine set up has a lot to do with tattooing style and preference. I don't like to go overboard or extreme on builds. Stick with what works. Use just the amount necessary to get the job done. Going to extremes can cause springs to break early. If machine isn't being used correctly it can cause damage to clients skin. When I tune machine I give it just enough to do the job. This is my style and how I do things. I'm sure it can be done other ways.

[@realseppel5198]

@@TattooUniversity thanks a lot!

[@truckdrivermm]

What spring tention should liners be at?? If color packers are 300 to 350. Another question is shader in same range as color packer for spring tention??.

[@nickacree9669]

I have a ? Can I step my coils down from a 10 wrap to a 8 wrap on my liner gun?

[@clay_brick]

Thank you so much for this

[@travisgullett4076]

How do I get ahold of you to have you tune my tattoo Motors

[@TattooUniversity]

[e-mail]

[@vusieblessing1451]

Thank you for your teachings. I'm new here and I just bough a new tattoo machine set... All set and everything. However, I am struggling to put the ink. How do you insert the ink into the needled and start working?

[@TattooUniversity]

Watch some of the videos about setting up your machine and how to set correct voltage. While the machine isn't running dip the tip and needle into a ink cap with ink. This will give you reservoir of ink that will come into play when you run the machine

[@elshrapnel]

Monty just wanted to know how to set up his tattoo meowchine😆

[@oLMNOo]

Dude this is so great, exactly what i came here to find out, thank u..and ur cat man, i feel ur pain lmao. Mine is binkie and he is up my ass when i am tryin to do anything lol

[@FumblingButtons]

Where do i find that gauge your using? whats it called?

[@byloecelhigh8467]

I have cavi wipes. Is that enough to help clean my setup before and after breakdown to disinfect and sterilize the station?

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

Rubbing alcohol.

[@leonardchavez9824]

Apparently , Monty knows when it's time for a commercial break !!!

[@josf8528]

What numbers do you run your liners at? And if I wanted to use say a 9RS for some bold traditional line work, what machine would you run that on and with what power box numbers?

[@blackobs2535]

Jos F a iron work horse and put it at 7 volts in your power box

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

Never run a round nine Shader for a line or shading . round shaders tear the skin up. if you want to get a thick line thicker than like a 9 round liner just use a MAG. Liners are normally 6 volts shaders around 8 just depends on your power supply and the Machine

[@Ninajacksonable]

Great vedio to help for every beginner dude . what do you think about those 4 set coils on amazon ?

[@TattooUniversity]

If you aren't buying from a builder you run the risk that the machines aren't tuned correctly. You can buy them but would need to adjust them so they work correctly .

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

No need for 4 coils. Those are novelties. Even if they work. Over kill. Spend the money from a custom builder. 350-500$

[@emilianoquetzalli3036]

Do you sell them? Price

[@DrAK-bv8dc]

What did you use as the piece of plastic when you changed the plastic screw out for the metal one to hold the contact screw? Or what can I use to possibly fabricate? Is that plastic for heat control or could I use a metal washer or something like that?

[@AdreyM978]

The plastic is just so you don't mess up the threads on the contact screw when tightening the other screw.

[@Uthu777]

Hi there Guru, My metal bar doesn;t touch one of the coils. Is this okay? The one inside.

[@nikemilon4374]

He says it’s not suppose to in this video bro lol

[@Uthu777]

@@nikemilon4374 lol he did

[@BOATINDOCTOR]

Just a question for monte, swiss or american cheese ?

[@diddygr52ve84]

Is color packing the same as shading blk n grey

[@TattooUniversity]

When I think of the term color packing I focus on the packing. You are saturating color. Really you are packing it in. Nice and solid. Shading you want dark and light areas. Different tones that you build up and some areas have more pigment than others. If it was solid you would be missing the effect.

[@AxlMG]

Thanks for sharing Why 55% Duty cycle for the color packer ? what does it serve to have the needle more time upwards ? or ?

[@TattooUniversity]

I have used 55% duty for most of my machines. Just found that they work better when I tune them that way. You can use other duty cycle. Just what I learned and what works best for me.

[@AxlMG]

@@TattooUniversity Thank you, it all comes down to personal preference as I notice with this subject. I preffer 48% for shaders 52% forliners approximations

[@billleader7562]

Thanks good info P. O. Box ???

[@brandonledford3731]

I use a rotary pen and sharing with a mag. I don't understand why my color in tattoo looks great after I first do it but after a few days healing almost all the color is gone and all that's left is shiney wrinly skin.. any help would be much appreciated

[@TattooUniversity]

If it scabs up and falls out you are going too deep. You aren't going deep enough if it just falls out and leaves you with ghost image.

[@brandonledford3731]

Thank you for you for respons@@TattooUniversity and it's not scabbing at all just kind of flaking. Red pedals turned out like a pinkish scar looking area. Has me thinking I'm not going deep enough but overworking top layer of skin.

[@MrJamesSchwarz]

thanks a ton for the great information.

[@iznomooz3402]

sew much info bro thanx a milli

[@canoshelly3469]

Why the gloves?

[@TattooUniversity]

Just being safe. Tattoo machines can be dirty.

[@nathananderson5747]

Right, so can those cats. And you just transferred kitty litter, hair and dandruff that stuck to your glove, right back to your machine. So he is right, why u even waste a pair of glove

[@POODIDDLING]

Add a barrel, needle, & rubber bands, align all of them with the armature to make sure you are square... then start everything in this video over from step one.

[@TattooUniversity]

Checking your numbers with a loaded machine is key to getting accurate working numbers.

[@blacktopish]

Monte a savage lol

[@ateriakuop9718]

Sheesh Monty come on we working here

[@mikemooney559]

Monte wants to learn how to tattoo also😂

[@patrickmfmac5334]

Yo!! Whats good monty!

[@fukcg00gle95]

Damn you Monty!

[@bostjanloncaric]

thank jou.

[@isabelldevilbiss3193]

The cat wants a tat

[@rsc131977]

Dam Cat 6:33 LOL that was great!!!

[@makaylaklepper1899]

turn up playback speed to 1.5

[@brandonledford3731]

Boom!

[@WreckRadio]

You sound like Mr. Rogers

[@TattooUniversity]

Awesome

[@TheJasonmoretti]

All this info is subjective. Your info is misinforming people who otherwise have zero clue.. Youre telling people this is how you must do things. WRONG. We just really dont need any more shitty tattooers out there..Heres my advice. There are too many tattooers!!! get a real apprenticeship and dont listen to a guy who shows no real skill or proof of experience

[@jaxsonlopez6109]

Bring Monty back

[@zacheryfitzpatrick9480]

NEVER take tension off a spring like you did...there's a way of doing it, but that ain't it! bending a spring back and forth like you have does...never mind...if you don't know, you don't know and shouldn't be "teaching" the shit

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

They have little metal set forms for bending them but that is ridiculous bending them by hand is just fine Springs are very cheap and I been doing this for a long time it is not that serious. I've been tattooing for over 20 years across the United States and I know this guy knows what he's talking about and you just want to be combative.

[@jeremiahwhite6872]

Dam kittie Kat lol

[@dropdeadinc.customtattoo2537]

All that "high tech" crap yet unless you actually know how to tune them it's all for nothing.

[@TattooUniversity]

Right. That is the idea. It is a skill that needs to be learned.