Hobbies And Interests
Specialized Machines
Most tattoo artists own at least two coil machines: one liner and one shader. As they progress in their craft, many artists will collect a wider variety of machines that cater to specific tattoo styles, but liners and shaders are the primary types. Liners are used to ink the outline of the tattoo and have finer points while shaders are larger and apply more coloring.
Precision
Tattoo artists who prefer brass coil machines do so because the stronger brass machines allow them to create more precise lines necessary for more detailed tattoos. However, because they are encased in brass, coil tattoo machines are much heavier than their rotary counterparts and can cause cramping in the tattoo artist's hand during long sessions.
Sterility
Some rotary machines come with refillable cartridges or tips while brass machines do not. Refillable cartridges are convenient in longer jobs but tips still need to be changed before each new client to prevent contamination or the spread of blood-borne pathogens. Brass machines require new tips and needles for each use. They cannot be heat-sterilized because of the brass encasement but must instead be cleaned after each client with medical-grade germicide.
Strength
Shading and inking thicker outlines requires needle bars with a greater number of needles and a greater area of skin being punctured with each pass of the tattoo gun. The more skin being punctured, the greater the resistance, so the heavy weight and strength of brass tattoo machines is advantageous for larger designs and thicker lines.