Tattoos are a personal and creative form of self-expression. What's more personal or creative than building your own tattoo machine? Follow these simple steps and you'll be ready to get some new tattoos on yourself or a friend in no time.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Creating the Components
Step 1. Find a moped
You will need an electric motor or a similar spinning type that runs at at least 12 volts - 18 volts would be ideal.
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The scooter will have a small shaft protruding from the center. Take a four-hole button and attach it to the tree with glue. Be careful not to use too much glue, which would slip into the holes of the button, blocking them. They have to stay open, because you will have to attach the needle to them. Set it aside to dry.
Instead of a button, you can use an eraser. Take the eraser from a mechanical pencil and push it onto the small shaft of your moped
- You can remove the moped from a VCR or remote controlled toy car, but the power will be considerably less - it's about 3.5 volts.
Step 2. Create the tube
The "tube" will guide the needle. It's easy to make one using a pen or pencil.
- Use a mechanical pencil. An inexpensive plastic pencil will work, or you can choose a metal one. According to your preferences, you can leave the pencil as it is or cut it 7 or 8 mm in length.
- Alternatively, you can use a common ballpoint pen like Bic and remove the ink straw from the inside. If you want a shorter tube, cut about 7 or 8mm in length. File the brass tip of the pen to pop the ball out and make the hole large enough for the needle to pass through.
Step 3. Design a brace
The brace will support the tube when it is attached to the tattoo machine motor.
- Take a teaspoon and break the cup (the part where you eat). Then fold the spoon back to create an "L" shape.
- A second option would be to cut off the bristles of a toothbrush leaving about 8mm in length. Use a lighter to heat the plastic handle of the toothbrush and fold it into an "L" shape. Keep the handle folded in that position until the plastic cools and becomes stiff.
Step 4. Make a needle
Cut 4mm of an electric guitar string or more, depending on the length of the tube. It should come from the center of the motor to the tip of the tube after assembly. Put soapy water in a saucepan and boil it. Drop the needle into the pot and let it boil for five minutes. Rinse it with clean water and then boil it again, just with water.
You can prepare several needles in advance. If you do, store them in a sterilized jar
Part 2 of 2: Assembling the Machine
Step 1. Attach the tube to the brace
Remove the eraser and any lead from your mechanical pencil. Hold the short end of the spoon (or toothbrush) brace in your hand, the way you would hold a gun, and seal the pencil over it. The open end of the pencil (where the eraser used to be) should line up with the curve of the teaspoon and the shaft of the pencil should rest on the straight plane of the brace. The tip of the pencil will extend beyond the edge of the brace.
Make sure you securely seal the pencil to the brace; it should not wobble or move in any way
Step 2. Attach the scooter to the brace
Attach the scooter to the short end of the brace. Make sure it is straight and the button is centered along the shaft of the brace.
Step 3. Insert the needle
Place one end of the guitar string through the tip of the pencil and thread it through the tube. When the other end comes out, take the pliers and bend the end of the rope into a 90 degree angle. Then fold the end of the string one more time to create a second 90 degree angle. Basically, you are making a hook at the end of your needle. Cut off the extra yarn from your hook; it doesn't have to be that long.
Step 4. Attach the needle to the motor
Take the hook you just made and pin it into one of the holes in your button. When you turn the button, you should see the needle go in and out of the end of the tube made with the pencil. If necessary, adjust the needle.
If you used an eraser instead of the button, just create a 90 degree angle at the end of the guitar string and press it firmly into the eraser to make it secure. Note: it is important that the needle is intentionally off-center. Don't line it up exactly in the center of the eraser
Step 5. Plug in your power source
Use a plug adapter for a CD player, charger, or other power source that consists of two wires. Divide the two wires and attach them to the motor contacts.
If you don't want to repeatedly unplug and plug in your power source when you're done cleaning your skin, buy a small switch at an electronics store and attach it to the moped connection
Step 6. Throw away the disposable items
Once you have finished making your tattoo, you have to throw away the needle and the tube made with the pencil. Do not reuse these items for any reason. They can spread diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Even if you think you're only using the materials on yourself, it's not worth the risk, especially as guitar strings and mechanical pencils are very cheap.
Advice
Prepare several needles so they can be thrown away after each single use
Warnings
- ALWAYS follow the correct sterilization procedures.
- It's not a game. It should be considered a medical procedure. Be careful: follow the sterilization guidelines and practice on yourself before messing around with anyone else.
