Tattoo Machine in need!

What is a good quality machine to buy to begin my inking journey? I dont plan on interning just because i have enough customers (friends and family) willing to let me use them as practice. lol. suckers... Been drawing for quite a while now. Now i need to follow my dream.

fuck off, scratcher.

nice noz...airick, is it? Don't buy a machine and "practice" on your friends, family, suckers...what ever you call them. Drawing is nothing like tattooing...and there is a very definite learning curve working with a machine. I believe, anything worth doing, is worth doing right...if this is really your dream, get an apprenticeship. Do it right...it's not about "practice" it's about knowledge, and having a mentor to guide you in marking people for life is a really good idea. Scarring your friends and family in the pursuit of your dream is selfish, and foolish, for so many reasons, really not a good idea. Besides, if you really are good at drawing, you should have no problem getting an apprenticeship, and your mentor will have machines you can "practice" with, on oranges, and potatoes...maybe yourself, before you mark your friends and family for life. Think about it...

As some of you know already, I am also self-teaching myself tattooing. From everything I have read/learned thus far, I would most-definitely suggest an apprenticeship, if there is any way possible that you can get one. Although I agree with the previous poster that "drawing" and "tattooing" are completely different animals, I think that a little more explanation needs added: Tattooing is as different from drawing, as painting is from drawing. Having artistic talent to begin with is a very good thing, as it will help you once you understand your medium. In painting, you use different sized brushes, and brush set-ups (Fan,etc.), in tattooing, you also use different applicators (needles) for different effects/objectives. One of the things that I have learned that even professional tattooists are not as educated on as they should be, is understanding the needle. To the naked eye (for most), all needles pretty much look the same. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Using a needle that is made for shading, as a liner, is akin to using a crayon to do a delicate drawing. Learn what it is that you are dreaming of doing! Not all professional tattooists are as "professional" as they would have you believe. They may have the equipment, they may have good ink, they may have expensive guns, and a thriving shop... but even that does not constitute a true pro! Not in my opinion...and I am just a beginner. There are two local shops that I frequented early in my journey for information. I will not name them, but I will say that I would be willing to bet a lot of money that I know more about tattooing that the owners of either of these shops. There are a lot of hacks (Scratchers?) out there, who would profess to you to be long-time professionals. However, if you truely have a dream of becoming a great tattooist, then do your homework!!!! Learn about the anatomy of your canvass; learn about the history of your chosen field (Tattooing); learn about your field's brushes (needles), and their application(s); Learn about your ink...what is in them...why is all that "stuff" in them? Listen to what long time tattooists have to say, but don't settle for that, go and do your homework based on what they have said. And after you have done your homework...go ask other tattooists questions, then do some more homework. KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU ARE DOING!!!! During this time... invest in a cheap gun, clip-cord, and power supply. A cheap gun will cost you about $12 from a supplier; a power supply will cost you about $25, a clip cord..about $5. Do NOT buy any ink!!!!!!!! Buy some cheap paint...acrylic is fine. Purchase a couple needles with disposable grips,etc. Get a 5r (there are both shaders and liners that are 5r...or 5-round....get both). Then, purchase a bag of grapefruit. Use your acrylic paint as your ink...and familiarize yourself with the instument that your medium will require you to master. Once you finish your first bag of grapefruits...buy another, and another, and another. Once you feel like you are completely in control.... DON'T INK ANYONE!!!!... buy some balogna... or some hotdogs. Do a few tattoos on each piece of meat. Have you ripped the meat? If you did, then you just scarred someone for life... go back to grapefruit...start over. When you can get through 4 packs of balogna or hot dogs, you will probably have 4-8 months of studying completed. Once you get there, you can then feel free to try a small tattoo on your leg. Do not try your arm, as it is too hard to stretch the skin this early in your learning process. That's all for now... these are all things that I have done myself, and I have 2 completed tattoos, and one that is 1/2 finished. Demand the very best of yourself...do NOT SETTLE!!!! If you want to be good at anything, it takes a lot of hard work. If you truly want to be a good tattooist, then you should be willing to do the required work...whatever it may be. If you are not willing to do the work...then you should find something else to do...where you are willing to do the work necessary to achieve what it is you want. E-mail me for any additional questions I may have missed, or for any support I may be able to offer. [email removed]