Understanding the different types of tattoo needles.
ITC Blog: Tattooing and Equipment
The needle is the essential element for tattooing. It allows the ink to be placed under the skin, between the dermis and the epidermis. Several needles are welded together, called needle bundles. There are different sizes and configurations, so it is up to you to choose the needles best suited to your needs. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between needles and then choose. Here is some technical information to help you choose.
What is a tattoo needle bundle?
A needle bundle is a set of needles welded together. Depending on requirements, the number of needles and their diameters vary. There are three main families of needles: liners, shaderse flat bundles. These characteristics are the same as those of traditional needles and cartridges.
Liner pens are also known as drawing pens. The tip of the liner forms a circle and the needles are more or less close together. This type of configuration offers precision by concentrating ink in one spot to create saturation. The more needles used, the thicker the line will be, while with fewer needles the line will be thinner.
Glishaders, also known as ombre shaders, also have a circular tip, but the needles are more widely spaced. This type of needle spreads the ink under the skin without saturating the area. They are ideal for shading and shading. They can also be used to fill in small areas.
Flat letravi, on the other hand, are used to produce flat areas of uniform color or black. There are several types. Traditional magnums are groups of needles arranged in staggered rows. Rounded magnums use the same principle as traditional magnums, but the tips of the needles form a circular arc. They can be used to create shadows or shading over large areas. Flats or flat beams have a single row of needles. There are also double stacks, which are rarely used. The needles are perfectly aligned and form two rows.
Traditional needles or cartridges?
You can buy needles in different forms: in bundles of traditional needles and in cartridges. These needles will have the same characteristics and finish. The choice will depend on your machine and your preferences.
Traditional needles are welded to a metal rod called a needle bar, which is attached directly to the machine. To hold the needle bundle in place and guide it precisely, a nozzle and sleeve or hollow tube must be used into which the needles are inserted. Nozzles and tubes can be disposable or reusable stainless steel (which you can sterilize yourself). Needles and nozzles can be purchased separately, or tubes with needles already inserted for simplicity.
There are round shaped nozzles, diamond tip nozzles with beveled openings, and flat nozzles that are closed or open at the top. The choice of nozzles affects the view of the needle outlet. The purpose of the nozzle is to prevent the needles from floating, but there is a technical constraint: nozzles are generally designed for 0.35 mm needle size. Depending on the size of the needles, it is sometimes necessary to use a smaller model (for example, for 0.25 mm needle bundles, I may use a smaller size tube). Please feel free to ask us for advice before purchasing the nozzles and tubes to make sure you have the right equipment. You can use this type of configuration on all machines except pen presses.
Our needle bundles
The cartridges consist of the same needles inserted into a plastic part, which resembles the nozzle of traditional ready-to-use needles. The cartridges are compatible with all rotary machines equipped with a cartridge sleeve. Pen machines are designed directly for use with cartridges, so no additional components are needed. Note that the cartridges are often incompatible with traditional coil machines, so ask us for advice before investing in cartridges and sleeves for these machines.
Our cartridges
Needle diameter and tap.
Theldiameter of the needle can be 0.20, 0.25 mm, 0.30 mm, 0.35 mm or 0.40 mm. This diameter refers to the size of the needle before it forms a point. It is the tap length combined with the needle diameter that determines the line thickness. Therefore, it is critical to consider the taper before the needle diameter. The taper refers to the tip of the needle (the "tapered" part) and determines its fineness. There are different types of taper: short taper, medium taper, long taper, extra long taper and super extra long taper. The longer the taper, the sharper and finer the needle. The part of the needle that passes under the skin is also finer and forms a fine line. The choice depends on the designs you want to make. For a fine mandala tattoo, a Super Extra Long Taper or Extra Long Taper will give you very fine lines. On the other hand, for wide and old-school designs, a Medium or Long Taper will be more suitable. The choice of taper will be very important for your lines to get a line that fits your design.
Our needles, cartridges and tubes
In a nutshell.
It is important to know the technical characteristics of needles in order to choose them and understand how they work. There is no wrong choice when it comes to needles, you just need to find the ones that suit you best. We recommend that you try different configurations of needles to find the one best suited for your work. Be sure to choose the right equipment for your machine and the right nozzles for your needles. Please feel free to contact us to check the compatibility of your equipment or to ask for advice-we will be happy to help you.