Tattoo Machines or Tatto Kit

I am aspiring tattoo artist, and i jus wanted an honest opinion on what is the most affordable tattoo machines or kit for a starter. I plan on gettting an apprenticeship soon, but i am jus trying to get all my equipment in order since i dont have that much of a large budget. So which brand should i look to an which shud i stay far from. And is it advisable to buy a "kit" or should i buy machines and needles etc. separatley? Thanks for you time an help in advance.

Stay away from the kits. They are all garbage. Get your apprenticeship first and your mentor will help you find the perfect machines for you when you're ready. For now just focus on lots and lots of artwork. Try drawing stuff that you're not good at. Improve your weakness'. Not the answer you wanted but it's the right one.

thanks for the advice skindeepink

I would definitely agree. For starters if you try to buy any equipment on your own, especially in the form of a kit, your mentor would probably laugh and tell you to throw it away. Any worth while apprenticeship will show you the ins and outs of some machines the artist probably personally owns, before you have to worry about getting your own. Not to mention you shouldn't be tattooing right into an apprenticeship anyway. Spend your cash on some good sketch books and art supplies, make yourself a fantastic portfolio to show to artists you're seeking the apprenticeship through. Any shop will be way more impressed if you come in with a well put together portfolio of flash designs, sleeve designs, sketches, whatever you come up with, then if you go in saying you bought a tattoo kit to be ahead of the game. Good luck!

Definitely pass on the kit! I'm on my second apprenticeship, my first mentor had me pick up a shit kit off e bay because that was "The best place to get equipment and supplies" .... my current mentor told me to hang on to the machine, to remind myself of what junk equipment looks and feels like, and to show others what NOT to buy. If you must go the kit route go to Huck or Superior and pick one up to practice with, save your money in the mean time to get some good equipment. Definitely RUN from the Chinese kits!!!!!! The "Sterile" needles aren't (if they are in fact even sealed when you get them!!), the pigments are oily, and the machines are shit, and the stainless tips, grips and tubes aren't stainless, they are plated. Kit machines aren't built well to cut cost and by the time you rebuild it to bring it up to a decent quality......you are into it a lot more than you would have been if you bought you a good one to start off with and you will still have a marginal frame in the end..... it's only the foundation of your machine. In my young and new opinion (Second mentor...remember) it's best to find a machine close to what your mentor is using if not the same, it will cost more but be easier for your mentor to teach you if the equipment is familiar to them.