Before becoming a tattoo artist, you must have quality tattoo equipment

. Your equipment should be durable, reliable and high quality, as well as able to be sterilized

. The main piece of equipment for a tattooist is the machine itself

. There are two types of tattoo machines: liners and shaders

. These machines are built slightly differently so that they can be used for different purposes

. A general machine, whether a liner or a shader, consists of a frame, removable tubes, and needles

. The machine and the tubes (which the artist uses to grip the machine) are usually stainless steel

. The tubes are removable for sterilization, since they may come into contact with blood or contaminated ink

. The first type of machine, a liner, can hold up to ten needles in a small area, and is used to create lines and fine details

. A shader is a larger machine used for filling in large areas of skin with tattoo ink

. These machines puncture the skin and insert ink to create the permanent body art

. Both types of machines need a power supply, which is usually an electrical outlet, but sometimes a battery pack

. A floor pedal is used to turn the machine on and off

. Besides the machines (the liner and the shader), there are other vital pieces of tattoo equipment for a tattooist to have

. The machines must have the correct power cords, foot pedals and power supplies to function

. The artist also needs tubes and needles to connect to the frame of the machine

. Needles and tubes often come together in disposable packaging for easy cleanup

. Needles come in a variety of sizes and two different shapes, flat and round

. Tattooists also need quality ink, which comes in many different colors

. The ink should be poured into small ink caps before use

. Dipping a needle directly into an ink vial will contaminate the ink

. Stencils are also useful tools for some artists, especially beginning artists

. They help to create a better quality outline for the tattoo itself

. Razors are also helpful for shaving hair on areas that will be tattooed, and gauze is useful for wiping away extra ink or blood that may collect on the skin

. The most important thing for a tattoo parlor or artist to have, however, is sanitation equipment

. To protect both the tattooist and the customer, the artist should wash his or her hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap and wear disposable gloves while tattoo

. There should be a safe place to dispose of used needles and any materials with blood or body fluid on them

. Autoclaves are a type of medical-grade equipment used to sterilize reusable parts and are a must for any professional artist

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