Tattoo Needle Sizes, Counts & Groupings
| Needle Grouping | Tube Size | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1RL, 3RL | 1 – 3 round | Lines, intricate shading, and fill-in |
| 4RL, 5RL | 4 – 5 round | Outlines, shading, and fill-in |
| 7RL | 7 round | Shading and color fill |
| 8RL, 9RL | 8 – 9 round | Shading, thick outlines, and color fill |
Also know, what size needle is best for tattoo lining?
#12 gauges are highly popular across all needle groupings and tattoo styles. Anyone referring to #12 or 0.35mm needles may also call them Standards. Common in lining and traditional work as they have a faster ink flow. Great for bold lines and colour packing/shading large areas.
Subsequently, what needles are best for stick and poke?
The most popular one used for stick and poke tattoos is #12 with a diameter of 0.35mm. You may also want to use #10 or 0.30mm as it is great for finer lines. The smaller the diameter, the less ink flow. That said, smaller needles such as #6 and #8 do provide more control.
What angle do you tattoo at?
between 45 and 60
What each tattoo needle is used for?
RL or round liner needles are used for lining. RS or round shader are used for shading. Flats are used for areas with geometric shapes and shading. Weaved magnums are used for shading, blending and coloring large areas.
Can I use a shader tattoo machine as a liner?
Hereof, can you shade with a liner machine? You can put a liner needle in a shader (not a color packer with a hard hit!) for that effect or you use a soft six wrap liner for small needle settings. You can whip shade with liners which gives you a traditional style of the tattoo but not a soft shade.
How do I choose a tattoo needle?
Choosing the size of a needle is all about what kind of tattoo you’re doing.
- Round and low for lining small tattoos.
- Thick lines, large canvas designs (think back work), or shading, you’ll want a needle that’s more round.
- Mags are versatile and are the best thing for working with color.
What is the thinnest tattoo needle?
For example, a 3RL would be 3 needle points, and a 9MS would be 9 needle points. The smaller the number, the smaller the mark. A 1rl is the smallest needle available, but can be hard to work with. In our kits, 3rl is the smallest needle in our kits.
How deep do tattoo needles go?
The tattoo needle punctures your skin around 100 times per second, with the aim of depositing the ink in a region of 1.5 to 2 millimeters below the surface of the skin. The reason for this depth of penetration is to bypass the outer layer of the skin, or the epidermis.
What is a textured tattoo needle?
Textured needles are needles that have not been polished on the tapers (ends). This means that these needles hold the ink better.
How long do stick and poke tattoos last?
between five and ten years
Can you get ink poisoning from a stick and poke with pen ink?
The ink from pens and markers is considered minimally toxic and it’s difficult to be exposed to large quantities of it. Thus, the likelihood that you‘ll get ink poisoning by ingesting ink from a pen or getting some on your skin or in your eye is slight.
Are stick and poke tattoos illegal?
Are stick and pokes illegal? Stick and pokes are not illegal if they are done by a licensed artist.
How do you sterilize a stick and poke needle?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , moist heat is the most effective way to sterilize needles. That’s because of its ability to kill microorganisms. In a medical setting, autoclave machines may be used to sterilize needles or other medical equipment by pressurizing saturated steam.
