The New Wave

Tattoo machines themselves haven't changed all that much in the last century. The standard coil machine has been the bees knees since nineteen dickety three and continues to be today. Some will argue the only way a tattoo is applied is with a classic coil machine and that some newly developed machine styles simply will not cut it. And with good cause. Other attempts to create new tattoo machine styles have failed in the past and continue to fail today. Mainly because most rotary style machines are essentially glorified prison tattoo machines. But new ideas have emerged from the latest wave of the tattooing elite. After years of fine-tuning, pneumatic and rotary style machines are taking center stage. Foremost would have to be Carson Hill's Neuma machine. The first pneumatic and autoclavable tattoo machine. Endorsed by several of today's heavy hitters, Neuma doesn't appear to be going the way of the buffalo anytime soon. Another fine unorthodox machine is the Swashdrive Rotary. The virtually silent, yet very efficient machine has been known to never leave the machine case of tattooer who has had the chance to use it. But how long will these machines continue to awe and inspire? It's hard to tell. We still have the unbeatable works of Catfish Carl, The Dringenberg Company, the infamous Aaron Cain and many others topping the leader board of today's machine builders. Will the new wave swallow centuries of machine building knowledge? Perhaps another ten years may tell.

Builders and Inventors

Over the last ten years we've noticed big changes in the tattoo industry. Such as the refinement of needles and the quality of ink to name a few. But things continue to evolve. The tattoo industry has spawned far more than a new level of artistic expression over the last decade. Builders and inventors have shed new light on machine accessories leaving a remarkable impact on the way we tattoo today. One of the most innovative creations to surface lately is the Eagle View tattoo light. I've had the privilege of working with one for the past several months and if you try one, be prepared to never tattoo without one again. The reason I'm so fond of this new tool is that it provides a level of clarification which allows you to work on a smaller scale. It's durable, lightweight and despite my initial impression, it didn't get in my way. Eagle View wires directly onto the machine itself and runs off the same power source. Items like this impress me and inspire me to pursue more inventive avenues personally.