Solid video and good suggestions, but, I've also found from my years of tattooing that you can get more bang for your buck with a few simple tricks that I'm surprised you didn't mention. If you just steal everything from your coworkers and blame it on a different coworker. Steal a box of hella tite 3RLs and put the box in a different coworkers trashcan and BOOM you just got yourself a $35 value for $Free.99. This is a long term game and might also require eating their food from the fridge and putting the remnants in another coworkers trash. Now, your other two coworkers are fighting in the parking lot, thus, giving you more clients because they've both been fired. If you're running low on the expensive Starbrite white, you simply fill up an empty dynamic white bottle with your coworkers and they'll just assume they've been overusing white highlights. Never buy a polarizing light and lens and just "borrow" your coworkers until they buy a second one because they keep "misplacing" theirs. When getting into color work it can be expensive because there are so many colors and if you aren't frequently using them, they tend to dry out. Avoid this by telling the one color artist at the shop that has every color that there is no possible way they'll make it through the full 2oz bottle and that you're helping them out by using it. In the event that any coworker questions you, just gaslight them, avoid conflict, and play the victim card. Jokes aside, love the videos brother.
I got started with a pack of needles and a bottle of ink, and I'm still not making money! Lol! Completely agree about the cheap machine thing. It's so much easier to learn with better quality products you can rely on, especially when the cheaper machines can have fun problems like needing a tap to the side to get started looool. One thing I would suggest to add is a pillow that you can get sanitary covers for. I don't think many tattoo artists think about client comfort that far but just having one or two can also help a loooot when it comes to having someone when they're lying on their side and you need that leg raise a little bit (and keep them from fidgeting if they're comfortable)
So not including the crappy amazon pen and kits bought the DF apprentice kit from element was a great starter machine. It brought my girls art to the next level. I just got the EP10 kit for her, it doesn't come with ink, unlike the DF, but it does, for now, offer 4 free boxes of ava aqua cartridges which are seriously premium.
not sure if you'd ever consider doing an updated version of this vid, but just came across it after seeing your more recent recommendations on the Bishop Wand knockoff and I'm curious if your experience with that machine/others since this video would change your recommendation. Would you still recommend a newer artist invest in a better machine, or would some of the better cheap machines available now convince you to save that money for needles/ink down the line instead?
Injoy the info and the time you take to teach us and I m fixing to spend my 1000$.on this list of goodies so thank you so much for.the great list and info
Can you do an update video using the Valhalla. Like explain while tattooing why this is your top 3 compared to your top 2. Or see if it bring back memories on why it was your favorite for awhile
I just haven’t used it since I got the vlad blad avenger 2. It’s was a good machine but after using the VB I haven’t touched the axys. It was my favorite bc it was versatile. Exciting new features at the time, but the VB has the same features but it’s much better.
I see the Peak Solice Pro for a budget friendlier price since I’m not looking to spend near a grand, but I think it’s a little weird that I don’t see any reviews other than on the Painful Pleasure own RU-vid channel. Any experience with Peak machines yourself? Thank you for these videos man 👊🏼
People have suggested that to me before but I tried peak needles before, all their different versions of them, and they are the worst quality I’ve ever tried. So based off of their needles I never had a desire to try their machines.
Hey there! I recently got an Avenger Pro 2 and one thing I'm not too sure about is how to tension a needle bar with it. Theres a groove under where the motor is but putting a rubber/elastic band along there makes it so low that the tube cuts into the band and I've had multiple snapping on me just while trying to line. Cartridges obviously no issues, but I cant find anything online as a solution so wanted to know if you had any advice? Also great video as always! Thanks
I’ve had that issue with only kingpin grips. Seems like the stem goes up pretty far and the band rubs against it. Do you have other grips you could try out?
Hey! Great video :) just asking, have you tried the ava ep8? I bought it before they put the ava ep 7 plus on sale... just wanna know if its good or nah, i mostly do fineline
I recently did a review on a cheap stencil machine but I didn’t use it long enough to call it reliable. It was made out of all plastic, including the gears inside. Stencil machines are pretty pricey if you want a good one
