Cartridge needles jamming

Newbie, just got myself a mast tour tattoo machine and mast pro cartridge needles, the machine motor starts getting louder/faster? on it's own and then the needle jams up and wont move, stays out, this happens almost immediately, tried two separate needles so far.

Do the needles end up staying out (forward) or in, once the cart jams?

I have a Bishop wand packer with a 4.2mm stroke, and with some carts it pushes the cartridge depresser too far into the body and it jams with the needles left sticking out. This doesn't happen with most carts…just some. If yours is the same maybe try with a different cart brand.

Thank you, yes i think that might be it, I've found ways around it for now, i panicked at first, but i think I'm getting there. still at the stage of playing with different volt/hand speed combinations but i must say, i havent had this much fun or been this pumped in years,it's taking everything i have not to jump straight on to my own leg and start tattooing real skin and I've only been doing this two days now lmfao somebody stop me.

Hi, my cartridge needles keep jamming (well not moving, just staying stuck out)after a while. Was sick of throwing them away so decided to take it apart, I found that the membrane/plunger part was snapped. Anyone any idea why this keeps happening?

A long throw machine can make this happen if you have your cart right back in the grip (assuming pen machine). The force of my Bishop Wand Packer does this with some carts.

Best option is try a few different brand of carts before dumping your machine…I think you’ll find some that are ok. I use Ghost Hex, Da Vinci, Kwadron, Cheyenne carts without issue…and some cheap chinese carts I use for fake skin. Other cheaper brands give me issues.

Hi thanks for reply, I use a rotary with a cartridge tube/grip.
Can you buy replacement membranes? I'm practising on pig skin at moment but wouldn't want it happening whilst tattooing someone.

The membranes are inside the carts which need to be sterile, so to my knowledge you can’t but new membranes, just new carts (not so expensive).

Yeah you would want to sort it before going on to skin, but try some other brands and see if that helps, also don’t pull the cart so far back in the tube (even as a test) and see if that helps. You simply need the tip of the cartridge depresser bar to meet with the push rod from your machine, when the machine is switched off. This is the minimum amount of travel within the cartridge and can be used for testing. When tattooing you will set the idle needle protrusion depth based on what/how you’re tattooing.

I still have at least one ‘spare’ set up near me when tattooing. So today I had two bishops and two batteries for use, but I still had the RCA connectors on hand and a power supply and foot switch, plus 2 more spare machines in my studio drawer. I also have 3-4 RCA cables in that drawer and a spare foot switch…despite keeping most of my equipment at home. I know it might sound excessive but if one thing F’s up on a job I just pick up the next. last thing u want is a client leaving with a half finished tattoo…as you can bet it wont be at a good stage.