Arts Entertainments

Using the Magnum Tattoo Needle

A magnum is a tattoo needle with two rows, one on top of the other. They are stacked as if soda cans were stacked on their sides, four on the bottom and three on the top for a seven magnum. The two rows are more than one round apart to make the pigment dispersion a little smoother. It would be like comparing a fine point pen to a magic marker. Small details are for the ballpoint pen, while the magic marker is for larger works.

Magnums are made by welding the needles in a row and laying flat. Weld on the back, then use a single-edged razor blade to knit the needles. One up, one down, then one up, etc. Then, with the razor in place, another coat of solder is applied to maintain this setting. A stacked magnum is where they put four and solder them, then they put three and solder them. Then solder the two layers together. This would make a seven magnum stack. Because they are closer than they are smaller, a stacked nine magnum will fit on the tip of a seven magnum tube.

The proper use of a magnum is at an angle. You want the magnum to lie flat on your skin, but position it so it can penetrate at such a slight angle. Trying to use a magnum directly on the skin, as if holding it, would pinch the client and dig into the skin causing the needle to jump. If the needle is flat on the skin, then you should raise the eye loop to about a forty degree angle. You should drag a magnum, not push it. What this means is that you need to move the machine away from the tip of the tube, similar to driving a car in reverse. If you push the magnum forward, it will tend to go under the skin, making it difficult for the needle to retract and advance again.

Solid staining with a magnum is very similar to staining with a liner needle. You want to color in the circular motion, but because the magnum is wider like a brush, it covers more area faster. Think of using a magnum like using three liner needles side by side for coloring. If you go slower, you will cause more damage to the skin. Pay attention to the texture of the skin by wiping off all the extra pigment while tattooing. It takes practice, but you can turn a magnum on its side to use the edge needles as a liner. This will make filling near the line work much faster.

One way to practice using a magnum needle is to buy one of those big black markers that have a tapered tip. Practice using the marker at a flat angle to make a bold line and then turn the marker for a thinner line. Just remember to back off to simulate needle use.

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