Mixing Ink from pigments and powders

So in my research to find what the best equipment to use is, since there is no point in starting out with crap if that crap isn't going to work well and won't aid in learning how to tattoo -- especially if it's a struggle to work with -- I've been considering starting out the harder way and mixing my own inks.

I've noticed some talk around other forums that I've been reading on about Waverly pigments and I know powders can also be purchased and then mixed. But there is pretty much no information on how to mix powders or how to use the Waverly pigments, as it sounds like they aren't predispersed...or maybe I am wrong in that.

I understand that Mom's Millennium inks are glycerin based, which for me is a good thing as I always have vg on hand anyway because I vape and make my own vaping liquids. I also make my own lotions and other things as well, so I have witch hazel, sterile distilled water, and pg on hand as well. I also know a thing or two about bacterial control in stored liquids, so that's not an issue. What I don't get is how the actual mixing process works. I have a magnetic stir plate, so vortex mixing 500mls of ink in a sterilized beaker wouldn't be an issue.

What types of ratios are used, dry powder ink to carrier base? Do you have to have alcohol in it, or can the powders be mixed without it -- I'd prefer to not use alcohol if I can. Does anyone know of dry powders that are meant for mixing with pg or vg and water? And if so, any tips on the amounts that would be used?

I am open to getting the Waverly pigments as well, or any other pigment types. If I understand it correctly, the Waverly pigments need to be mixed with another agent to be thinned out...like water, alcohol or witch hazel. But I'm not sure if I understand it correctly.

I know this might not be the average beginner questions, and it might seem like I am starting out with the difficult methods, but for me sometimes the difficult method is the better way in the long run if it works well but takes a little more effort upfront.

Thanks in advanced.

Wow, I can't help you with your post and I apologise for answering your question with another question, but what can you tell me about bacterial control in stored liquids, as it's something I have wondered about with the inks, wash bottle etc.

Purchase good quality popular brand pre sterilised inks and that removes one possible equation of producing a crap or infected tattoo, next you will be saying you intend to make your own needles

Oh god no. Making needles is far more work that is necessary. I know I can get quality needles that come pre sterilized and are disposable. My desire to mix my own ink comes from two places, 1. I know what's in it and can control what's in it. 2. The color palate is far more expansive when mixing your own inks.

As far as doing things sterile, all large equipment in the clean room, and the clean room itself must be bleached daily. All smaller equipment must go through an autoclave before it comes in contact with any substances. You must wear hairnet, surgical mask, full body suit (disposable kind,) disposable booties, and usually 2 sets of gloves, one in and one outer (you put the inner one on before entering the room, you put the second set on after entering the room.) You also have to scrub up, similar to how doctors do before they enter surgery. All bottles, buckets, or barrels of material being mixed must also be bleach washed before entering the room as shipping is often dirty and most containers wouldn't be considered clean. You need the room to have heavy washable paint, or vinyl covering on the walls and ceiling, and the floors are either a heavy duty vinyl or resin that can be bleached as well. All stainless steel tables in the room. Room needs to have a negative air flow -- meaning when you open the door to the room you feel air moving out against you -- this is so the air from the outside world doesn't contaminate your clean room. You also need an air scrubber to ensure that your air in the room remains clean. Containers are not opened until they are cleaned off and enter the clean room, this is to avoid any contaminants from getting in your supplies. Nothing in your room is ever touched by human hands, and if you are possibly getting sick, not allowed in there.

I take sanitation and cross contamination very seriously. I've worked in the e-liquid industry for years now and I know how a cleanroom works and to avoid bacterial introduction into the liquid standards. At the moment I don't have a clean room setup since I recently moved to a small house, but next year when we move to a larger house and I set up a work studio (not necessarily for tattooing specifically) I intend to have a small clean room in my studio. I'm not an obsessive germaphobe, but I have a very healthy respect for germs, and prefer to not have infected tattoos on myself or anyone else because of some careless behaviour. Quite frankly it's probably not common in the tattoo industry where artists are mixing their own inks for them to have clean rooms or to be to any level of ISO standards in their facilities.

I'm into canning my own foods (which you have to be very careful with as far as contaminations and proper canning techniques) and I make my own lotions and soaps. Anything that is going to be stored for any length of time that is in the cosmetics side generally need some sort of preservatives as well, but I don't think that really applies to inks, as you're not going to have organic oils in them, however it would apply to tattoo aftercare lotions and ointments which I am comfortable in making. I make a diaper rash ointment for my son that works amazing, 12 hours after putting it on any sign of rash that is starting is gone. I also have a burn cream recipe that works well too -- has clove oil and aloe in it.

Part of my thoughts for wanting to make my own ink is knowing what's in it. Buying ink that is premixed you don't know what it might contain or the standards of the facilities that it's made in, as there seem to be very little oversight from the government in this area...which is odd considering it is a product that is literally ending up in the body. There's more standards being employed in the vaping industry than is in the tattooing industry, which boggles my mind, since the liquid that is vaped is generally heated to at least 250F degrees usually closer to 450F before it's inhaled.

Propylene glycol is actually an antibacterial substance, and Vegetable Glycerine also tends to inhibit bacterial growth as well, though it is not quite as powerful as PG. I would imagine using either of those, or both of those and even adding in a bit of witch hazel would essentially give the ink a natural preservative effect so added preservatives like acids aren't necessary. Any water would need to be sterile distilled water, which can be obtained through medical suppliers.

At the moment while I am practicing on non-living canvases I am not too concerned with the inks being done in a clean room -- as they are not coming in contact with living skin. SInce I don't have a clean room at the moment I wouldn't use any ink I mix now on a person --including myself. I just want to get practice on mixing ink colors to use while I practice tattooing on practice skins or fruit. That way when I do have my clean room setup when I move, I can seamlessly move into mixing sterile inks.

I wouldn't have a problem with using premade inks, but there seems to be a serious inconsistency problem in the industry. No two artists have the same favorites when it comes to inks. Some inks are too thin, some are too thick, some cause too much burning and pain during a tattoo, some cause skin reactions, and some are questionable and possibly made in China. I'm not down with using Chinese anything when it comes to something I'm putting in my body. There isn't enough QC in China. The reputable suppliers here in the US won't sell to the general public either, they only sell to you if you're in a verified shop, so that makes getting supplies even more difficult even just to practice with. So buying premade ink from a place that will sell to the general public is kind of a crapshoot as to if it's going to be chinese knockoff ink or genuine supply.

Sooo....does anyone here know how to mix their own ink, and are they kindly willing to share some information?

wish i could help but i use Eternal...if having a vast array of colours is your goal why not buy CMYK or RGB plus white and black and mix from there, i've found that consistency and thickness is very important with ink both of which would be difficult to attain mixing your own from powder... The only person i've ever met that mixes from powder was an old tattoo artist in Seattle...

marked 4 life said:

.... next you will be saying you intend to make your own needles

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Wow, interesting post (I think) and sadly I remember mixing pigment powders to make inks, and painfully (and inconsistently) making up my own needles. NOT doing these two things are a couple of reasons why I love modern tattooing.

Same-brand colors can be mixed safely for extending your palette, and I imagine mixing certain brands wouldn't hurt either, as we often layer colour in the skin without issue.

On my return to tattooing earlier this year I got a bit fixated with DIY and 'old school' practices (which I was familiar with). I dutifully followed a recipe for 'stencil stufff', bought liquids I wouldn't normally buy and hey presto it worked really well. BUT then I bought some Electrum, and acquired some Stencil Care solution, and both of these solutions with their far far superior performance consigned my home brew to the bin...wasted money (again).

(I believe) The job of tattooing is difficult enough with all the variables at play, so my view now is not to try and do what proven experts have got nailed down (like providing consistent, smooth, sterile inks), for the sake of saving a few bucks. Add £1 / $1 / €1 to every tattoo you do and stop worrying about re-inventing the wheel. Instead focus your efforts on the business of inking skin to the best of your ability.

Just my thoughts anyway

So the general concensus is to just not bother trying to mix your own? I wasn't set on doing it, I was just wondering how they are actually mixed, and what bases were generally used. For me it's not about saving money, or going cheap, it was about creating something consistent and to my own specifications. Kind of like possibly building my own machines later on. Hubby wants a CNC machine anyway for stuff he's doing, and a 3d printer, and he is well versed in electrics and electronics, so he has no problem helping me design a machine at some point.

I'm a very curious person, I can't help it. I saw that it can be done and wanted to know how difficult it was, and how it was done.

What about the Waverly pigments? I don't quite get what those pigments are in relation to the other inks that are considered predispersed and ready to use. Is there something that needs to be mixed with the Waverly pigments before they can be used?

you'd want to talk to someone from the "olden" days. I'm sure if you did a little research you'd get a good starting basis. Seems like it would be a lot of fun to do. And since you're only a couple hours from me when you make the most kick ass stuff I'll test drive it for ya. Welcome to the site.

TexasPT said:

you'd want to talk to someone from the "olden" days. I'm sure if you did a little research you'd get a good starting basis. Seems like it would be a lot of fun to do. And since you're only a couple hours from me when you make the most kick ass stuff I'll test drive it for ya. Welcome to the site.

National Dry Powdered Colors

Shop National Tattoo Supply for tattoo supplies including National Dry Powdered Colors Tattoo Ink

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Definitely cheaper to buy it ready made

guess it depends on how far 1lb of ink goes....but I couldn't imagine how long it would take me to go through a gallon or two of one color

x

that would be that old timer I talked about.

Thanks Andy.