Many people wish to get tattoos. They probably know exactly the kind of design they want or where they would like to get it inked. Social media groups with friends are known to exist to discuss tattoo ideas and exchange opinions and perspectives. However, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of getting a tattoo at a tattoo parlor.
Numerous reasons could exist as to why someone would want to avoid going to a posh tattoo parlor or a tattoo parlor in general. While not everyone can afford the high price charged at such establishments, others can’t find known, reputed, or safe environments where they can get a tattoo.
So, what do you do in such a situation? You resort to the next best thing, a homemade tattoo gun. Yes, indeed, you can make tattoo guns at home. This is for the comfort and convenience of someone who wants to get a tattoo within the four walls of their humble abode.
Are you wondering how safe it is to create a homemade tattoo gun? Well, the truth is that getting a tattoo can be a tricky procedure in terms of safety anywhere, be it in a professional ambiance or at home. All you need to do is create a hygienic and sanitized atmosphere before you begin.
This article will discuss how to make a tattoo gun at home in a few simple steps. Keep reading to make one for yourself and enjoy the convenience you crave regarding getting inked.
How to Make a Tattoo Gun At Home?
If you want to know how to make a tattoo gun at home, here are the steps to follow:
1. Get a Motor
Making the components for the tattoo gun is where everything begins. An electric motor or a rotatory motor of a similar type is needed to initiate the process. A tiny shaft sticks out from the middle of a motor, to which you need to attach a minute four-hole button using super glue. While 18 volts would be perfect, you can go with something that’s 12 volts as well.
Make sure you use the glue in moderation, or it can ooze out of the button’s holes and block it. It needs to be open so that the needle can be attached properly, which is why it’s a good idea to keep it aside and let it dry.
You can use an eraser in the place of a button as well. Grab a mechanical pen, get the eraser from it, and attach it to the motor’s shaft. Some think that the motor from a remote control car or VCR will work, too, but that’s incorrect since it has a lower voltage than what is required to make a tattoo gun.
2. Make the Tube
The tube is what is needed to guide the needle in the gun. You can either make one using a mechanical pencil or a normal stick pen. If you’re using a pencil, just a simple plastic pencil will do even if you don’t go for a metal one. Based on its length, you can either cut it down to about four inches or let it be as it is.
When using a stick pen, start by getting rid of the ink cylinder placed within. You will have to cut the pen if you require a shorter tube. Take the ball out by filing down the pen’s brass tip. Ensure that the hole is large enough for the needle to pass through.
3. Develop a Brace
Once you attach a brace to a machine motor for the purpose of creating a tattoo gun, it performs the function of supporting the tube. Grab a teaspoon and detach the area that you use to put food on, which is known as the bowl. Bend the spoon in a manner such that it creates an L-shape.
An alternative to creating a brace is by using a toothbrush. Chop off its bristles and bring down the length to about four inches. The toothbrush will have to be heated up with the help of a lighter and converted to an L-shape.
The bent handle will then have to be held in place till the heat cools off and the hardness or stiffness sets in.
Bonus Read: 10 Best Tattoo Pen Machine Reviews 2022
4. Create a Needle
The next step is to create a needle. For this, start out by getting a guitar string, which should be about an inch bigger than your tube. Make sure it reaches from the middle of the motor to the tube’s tip after assembling it.
Take a pot, pour some water and soap into it, and start boiling the concoction. Put the needle in it and continue boiling it for about five minutes. Rinse the needle using clear water and re-boil it using just water. This way, you can create numerous needles and keep them in a sterilized container.
5. Connect The Brace And The Tube
Once the components have been assembled, you can then move to the second stage of making the tattoo gun, which entails assembling it. This begins by attaching the brace and the tube.
If your pencil has any lead or eraser, remove them carefully. The pencil and the spoon then need to be taped together. This is done by holding the smaller part of the spoon brace the same way one would hold a gun and attaching it to the pencil using tape.
The bent part of the spoon needs to be aligned with the part of the pencil where the eraser would usually be placed. The pencil’s shaft must rest on the straight surface of the brace. Ensure that this entire setup is sturdy and solid.
6. Make the Motor Meet the Brace
Taking the smaller end of the brace, attach the motor to it with tape.
7. Put the Needle In
One end of the string from your guitar needs to go through the pencil’s tip. It should then be coiled through the tube. As it emerges from the other side, take the pliers and bend the string in a way such that it forms an angle of 90 degrees.
After this, you will have to bend the string’s tip again to form another angle of 90 degrees. This is to develop a hook on the needle’s far end. Cut off any extra wire if needed.
8. Bind the Motor And the Needle
The next step begins with the hook you made, which needs to be set inside one of the holes of the button. As the button is spun, you can see the movement of the needle. As mentioned, the needle can be moderated and trimmed as required.
If you happen to use an eraser instead, you will have to create a singular angle of 90 degrees on the string. This should then be pushed inside the eraser so that it stays safe and firm.
9. Bring in the Electrical Source of Power
Get a power source that is double-wired. The wires will have to be separated and then connected to the motor’s contacts.
10. Throw Away the Unnecessary Material
Once you have been inked, make sure to throw away the items used during the process, such as the tube and the needle. These shouldn’t be reused even if you plan on using them on no one else but yourself. Reusing these items can cause diseases such as HIV.
The materials required to make a tattoo gun aren’t expensive. Hence, it’s always a wise idea to just get fresh items to remake at home.
Also Read: How Long Does It Take To Get A Tattoo?
FAQ’s
Yes, you can make a tattoo gun at home once you have the required components.
The things needed to make a homemade tattoo gun include a mechanical pen, a rotary motor, a pair of scissors, pliers, a guitar string, a toothbrush or teaspoon, black tape, tattoo ink, and a multi-voltage power supply.
It is indeed safe to get a tattoo at home if you follow the right procedure and aftercare. Ensure that the ambiance is hygienic when you get inked at home.
Making a tattoo gun at home is easier than you’d expect. The materials required for a homemade tattoo gun are easily available in stores for you to purchase and get going with the process.
The duration required to get a tattoo in the comfort of your home is dependent on the skills of the person doing the tattoo, the size of the tattoo, and the pain threshold of the individual getting inked.
After getting a new tattoo, you can indulge in aftercare at home in many ways. This includes applying tattoo wax as required, moisturizing the area, not wearing tight clothes over the tattoo, and keeping it protected from sunlight. Avoid going swimming while your tattoo is still in its healing stage.
Before getting a tattoo, remember to avoid medicines and alcohol, as they’re both blood thinners. Don’t wear tight clothes to the tattoo parlor since this makes the tattoo area inaccessible. Make sure you’re well-rested before getting a tattoo and also eat well prior to the procedure.
Yes, it’s definitely cheaper to get a tattoo at home. A DIY tattoo just requires you to spend on the items needed to make a tattoo gun. A professional tattoo parlor, on the other hand, charges based on the square inches of a tattoo. They can also charge as per the hourly rates of a tattoo artist, costing you a lot overall. With a homemade tattoo gun, you end up saving a lot of money.
With DIY tattoos, you need to maintain a sanitized environment at home. One of the major things to remember is to throw away the needle and anything else that was used. Make sure never to reuse them because it could otherwise lead to diseases, including HIV.
Conclusion
Making a tattoo gun at home might seem like a difficult task at first, but it’s definitely not impossible. With the right tools and items, you can make one yourself in no time. It really is a convenient, affordable, and simple way to get a tattoo at home.
If you are capable enough of designing a tattoo on yourself, or you want to get inked without paying too much money, a homemade tattoo gun can do wonders. Just go through the steps mentioned above to see how you can go about making one. Remember to be safe and careful, and you will thank yourself for making this decision.
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