Is it Worth the Trade-off? Coil Tattoo Machine Talk | BJ Johnson (Soba One) | EP 268
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2023
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The rotary machine craze came fast. In fact, if you began tattooing in the last 10 years, there is a good chance you have never used a coil machine at all.
In today's episode we talk with long-time coil machine builder and co-founder of the super popular "Workhorse Irons", BJ Johnson (Soba). BJ is best known for his Mini-Rusto liners and Pilot shaders which were (and are still) used by thousands of tattooers ( including me!)
We discuss the rotary revolution, why and how it took place, pros and cons of both rotaries and coils, and try to answer the question "Is it worth the tradeoff?"
Enjoy!
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No machine comes even close to the properly build coils! I've been away from it for a few years trying to find myself with the rotaries.. kinda started loosing that excitement tattooing I had for years.. but returning to my coils brought this feelings back again. Now I feel the same way I remember when I started this journey.. Coils have brought everything back!
I've used pens for Large needle grouping for shading. I've been using coils for 19 years and tried pens for the last 5 years, I Like the pens for shading large groupings but always, always depend on my coils. Sometimes I worry if my Pen will go out but never ever worry if my coil machines would die out during a session.
Always great to see come content on coil tattoo machines, once you understand how they work and how you can tune the machine to work better for you, everething become easier on the tattoo process, you start working much faster and more precise on lines, shades and color packing, it's such a joy to tune a machine to work better for you and see the benefits in a long run, tattooing become more natural. Anyway thanks for the content and the great work on the channel.
I've been tattooing with all top of the line rotaries and carts for the seven years i've been tattooing and it's like a never-ending struggle with consistency - like BJ mentioned even when you find carts that work great and are from the best needle companies, they are all over the place with quality over time. I've gotten to the point where i use cheyenne needles and machines only, but i'm more and more tempted to try coils after all these years for these exact reasons. I'm curious if the tattoo club would be a good place to get some more specific suggestions for tattooers looking to make the switch to coils, or even machine building in general. Love to see these convos, it's so interesting to see the way rotaries and especially cartridges have changed tattooing in such a short time.
I'm actually just getting into the machine building myself. I want to learn more about coils so bad
My first machines were Time Machines (the Original ones, in aluminum) at the insistence of my mentor. I probably had more downtime just having to deal with those things (especially the adjustable saddle) than actually working. It was mind blowing when I bought a Micky Sharpz and suddenly it just worked all the time. Still have one of the original machines I bought, but only for the nostalgia.
I had the same thing happen to me back in 03! I still have those G force Danny Fowlers, and his Flatliner machine he put out, only for nostalgia as well of course, reminds me of how good I have it now a days 😂
The seminar sounds great. I think alot of people ran from coils due to the mystery of tuning them. I got lucky the guy who taught me to tattoo was all about efficiency and being a cheap skate. He couldn't afford to just have a spring break and interrupt a tattoo nor was he willing to buy tons of machines to have spares. If a spring broke he already had spare armature bars with springs on them that he had made up. Part of his teaching was me sitting there making springs and tuning them then setting them aside. If it was slow he would sometimes grab one of my a bar set ups and slap it on a machine, if he couldn't get it to run just by a quick bit of contact screw turning he would chew me out and make me redo it. As much of a hard ass as he was i did learn to love the ability to customize my machines. Its something that is impossible with the new pens. Do i need a short stroke soft shader? Do i need a fast long stroke liner, why do i need long or short stroke and how its related to what pigment im pushing. With coils i have contol of all this. Sure its not super convenient to do but it can be done. For these reasons ill stick with my old spaulding machines. In my opinon corporate convenience martial aids have no soul.
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Hello Jake. Great episode. I use Vlad Blad coils daily. Comes ready to go. Never had to turn a single screw on it. I learned with rotaries. Upon discovering lining power of traditional machine, I never looked back. I believe we shouldn’t forget these tools.
Omg. I got out of the joint in 2016. Was gifted a set of “DragonHawk coil machines-April 2016. By fall 2016 I was buying the power tools to start building. I learned to weld, cut metal and because of UA-cam I learned how to build my own coils/machines. In less than a year I was selling hand wound coil sets I would buy the coil cores from Timeless Tattoo how I found on eBay.
If this seminar happens ..Can we be or will this be able access this online where we can download and watch on our time and pace .. some of are curious to learn more so we can improve and add to our knowledge
I mean Dan Kubin has basically nailed it on the rotary front with needle on bar. that's why he's probably the most successful machine builder in the world now.
I miss coil machines but I gotta save my arm.
Still use coils alot of my machines are from workhorse but i also use rotaries
Dans working on something right now...maybe it will have us back to coils more
Thank you
Coils are fun and they look fucking cool. I tattoo better with them as I feel like the coils are calling the shots and I’m just here for the ride
I wonder what y’all’s thoughts are on the mp5 tattoo machine from centrimachines or John Clark magnetic rotaries
I actually want to learn to make tattoo machines! Preferably coil tattoo machines! I have wanted to learn for over 5 yrs now. unfortunately ill have to wait for another oppertunity. I have done my research and have gathered alot of information on google but mostly UA-cam. There are still many questions. This has helped me understand how tattooing works though. It is unfortunate that the new generation of tattoo artist prefer to rotary pens. Yes it benefits them for long session , but like you said the quality. I am personally not a huge fan of rotary. Maybe when i am older.i am fairly new to tattooing, at least legitimately, but these are things that i have been looking in to since even before my apprentiship. I may be old fashion when i say that coil tattoo machines paved the way and learning how they function all the metals and different elements for shading lining and coloring has started to help me as an artist. I only hope to make my own tattoo machines some day so i can fully understand every inch of how tattooing is properly done.
Try to interview Mike Pike!!
Work horse irons are overrated lol get yerself a Spaulding Rogers supreme and learn it inside out It wont let you down and it has the quick change grip!!all the pen and rotary machines are cool too but there is something special about tuning your ear to a coil machine!!
Time machines.. are still great. I'd like to get one of the more Jensen style machines man I like them this is the style of those ... I love the Jones .. you see .. there's so many great machines out there and really great machine builders it's kind of hard you know pick just a couple good machines to use but I always like coils more than rotaries... I always liked a white machine all the guys out there saying oh I like the weight of it bulshit... But I got to give it to these guys they'll look up to all the machine his whole team was amazing.. I'm sure he's got some stories
Why are you wearing a baby hat?
I can't believe people have to send machines back to the builders to tune it to send it back to them that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life you're not a tattoo artist
Its not that unbelievable considering everyone is so entitled to things just being given to them , the generation of instant gratification. Its not surprising those make-up rotary pens where such a success considering everyone and their sisters want to be "tattoo artists"
Some people simply were just never taught