How to Make a Tattoo Gun

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Tattoos are personal and creative forms of self-expression. What's more personal or creative than making your own tattoo gun? Note, however, that tattooing on human skin with a homemade tattoo gun and no formal training can be very dangerous; it's best to use this tattoo gun to practice tattooing on fruit or synthetic skin instead.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Creating the Components

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  1. You'll need an electric motor or similar type rotary motor that runs on at least 12 volts; 18 volts would be ideal.
    • The motor will have a small shaft protruding from the center. Take a small four-hole button and attach it to that shaft with superglue. Be careful not to use so much glue that it seeps through the holes of the button and blocks them. They need to be open so that you can attach the needle. Set it aside to dry.
      • Instead of a button, you can use an eraser. Take the eraser from a mechanical pen and push it firmly onto the small shaft of your motor.
    • You can remove the motor from a VCR or remote control car, but the power will be considerably less; it's about 3.5 volts.
  2. The "tube" will guide the needle. It's easy to make one from a pencil or pen.
    • Use a mechanical pencil. An inexpensive plastic pencil will work fine, or you can choose one that's metal. [1] Depending on your preference, you can leave the pencil as-is or cut it down to about a 3" to 4" length.
    • Alternately, you can use an everyday stick pen like a Bic and remove the ink cylinder from inside. If you want a shorter tube, cut the pen to about a 3" or 4" length. File down the brass tip of the pen to get the ball out and make the hole big enough to allow passage of the needle.
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  3. The brace will support the tube when it's attached to the machine motor for the tattoo gun. [2]
    • Take a teaspoon and break off the bowl (the part you eat from). Then bend the spoon back to create an "L"-shape.
    • A second option would be to cut the bristles off of a toothbrush leaving about 4" in length. Use a lighter to heat up the plastic toothbrush handle and bend it into an "L" shape. Hold the bent handle in place until the plastic cools, and it becomes stiff.
  4. Cut a metal guitar string an inch or so longer than the length of your tube. It should reach from the center of the motor to the tip of the tube after assembly. Put soap and water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Drop your needle into the pot and boil it for five minutes. Rinse it in clear water and then boil it again in water only. [3]
    • You can prepare several needles in advance. If you do so, store them in a sterilized jar.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Assembling the Gun

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  1. 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'd hold a gun and tape the pencil to it. The open "eraser" end of the pencil should line up with the bend in the spoon, and the shaft of the pencil should lay on the straight plane of the brace. The point of the pencil will extend off the edge of the brace. [4]
    • Be sure to tape the pencil to the brace very securely; it should not wobble or wiggle in any way.
  2. Tape the motor to the short end of your brace. Be sure that it's straight and that the button is centered along the shaft of the brace. [5]
  3. Place one end of the guitar string through the tip of the pencil and thread it through the tube. When it comes out the other end, pick up your pliers and bend the end of the guitar string into a 90-degree angle. Then bend the tip of the string again to create a second 90-degree angle You're basically creating a hook at the end of your needle. Snip off any extra wire from your hook; it doesn't need to be that long.
  4. Take the hook you just created and set it into one of the holes in your button. When you spin the button, you should see the needle going in and out of the end of your pencil tube. [6] If necessary, trim down the needle.
    • If you used an eraser instead of a button, create just one 90-degree angle on the end of your guitar string and firmly press it into the eraser so that it's secure. Please note: it's important that the needle is intentionally off center. Do not line it up exactly in the middle of the eraser.
  5. Use a plug-in adapter from a CD player, a phone charger or other power source that's made up of two wires. Split the wires apart and attach them to the contacts of the motor.
    • If you don't want to repeatedly unplug and re-plug your power source when you stop to clean the skin, purchase a small On/Off switch from an electronics store and attach it to your motor connection.
  6. Once you've finished your tattoo, you must throw away the needle and the tube (mechanical pencil/pen). Do not under any circumstances reuse these items. They can spread diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Even if you plan to use the materials only on yourself, it's not worth the risk, especially when guitar string and mechanical pencils and pens are so inexpensive.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make a manual tattoo applicator?
    María Fernández González
    Tattoo Artist
    María Fernández González is a Tattoo Artist based in Hamburg, Germany. She works out of her tattoo studio, Alchemist’s Valley, which has locations in both Hamburg and Madrid. She specializes in fineline tattoos with soft shadings. While she mainly works with black ink, she sometimes includes touches of color in her work as well. Her original tattoo designs often reference her love of nature and are defined by graphic and clean elements. María creates unique tattoo compositions that leave an indelible mark on her clients. As an early adopter of the concept of modern tattooing, which features designs with fine lines and unique illustrations, María has become a highly sought-after tattoo artist and is considered a true visionary in the field of modern tattooing. She graduated with a Master's in Fine Arts from the School of Art in Hamburg, and with a Degree in Fine Arts from Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
    María Fernández González
    Tattoo Artist
    Expert Answer
    Get a hold of some basic tools like a piece of needle, a sturdy handle like a pencil or chopstick, and some threads. Then, secure the needle into the handle by tightly wrapping the thread around it and make sure that it's in place and that it won't move. Sterilize both the needle and handle to maintain cleanliness and safety. To start tattooing, pour some ink into a small container, dip the needle into the ink, then carefully poke the skin dot by dot to create your design.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
  • Question
    What size of guitar string do you use?
    Community Answer
    You can use the E string or the B string (the two smallest ones). Sometimes the E string is two flimsy, so the B string is better.
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  • Question
    Do I just dip the tip of the needle in ink?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Put the ink in a small dish first so that you don't contaminate all of it.
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      • I use bleach to clean my needles, but be sure to rinse them off thoroughly before use. The bleach will eat the ink if not rinsed well.
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      Warnings

      • If you choose to use this tattoo gun on real human skin, do so at your own risk. Always follow proper sterilization procedures and watch for sign of injury or infection.
        Thanks
        Helpful 13 Not Helpful 4
      • Ideally, you should only use this homemade tattoo gun to practice on synthetic skin. Do not practice on human skin or live animals.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Rotary motor
      • Mechanical pen or Bic pen
      • Teaspoon or toothbrush
      • Guitar string
      • Black electrical tape
      • Scissors
      • Pliers
      • Multi power supply
      • Tattoo ink (available online or from a tattoo shop)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXaHJi3DrE
      2. ↑ https://www.solidsmack.com/fabrication/making-tattoo-gun-scratch-surprisingly-simple-can-find-parts/
      3. ↑ https://www.designboom.com/design/personal-tattoo-machine-jakub-pollag-studio-deform-designblok-15-11-01-2015/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXaHJi3DrE
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXaHJi3DrE
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXaHJi3DrE

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a tattoo gun, start by finding an 18-volt electric motor and gluing a button to the small shaft protruding from the center. Next, take out the hollow tube from a mechanical pencil, and break the bowl off a spoon and bend the handle into an “L” shape for a brace. Then, cut a metal guitar string to an inch longer than the tube for your needle. After that, use tape to attach the brace to the tube, then tape the motor to the brace. Finally, thread the guitar string through the tube and attach it to the motor through one of the button holes. To learn more, like how to connect your tattoo gun to a power source, keep reading!

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