Needle Help

Hi everybody im new to the site. Im a total newbie to actually tattoing althogh i have quite few tats ive had done. I have recently become the owner of a tattoo set up and thought what the heck im gonna learn to tattoo lol. I have been doing extensive research on the net about the whole machine set up and feel comfortable with that. i want to practice but before i do there is somethng puzzling me and thats needles! There are so many types lol. Im hoping for some help on all the different types. I understand the lining needles are for lining doh. And the different sizes for different thicknesses. But say for instance you have a tattoo with different thickness lines do u use several different needles or just the one and if you have a line that is thicker at one end than the other do you go over the thicker end several times or draw a line next to the line to make it thicker? Also what is an average size liner for tats? I understand about flat needles for geometric shapes and that you have shaders for shading, would you use them for colouring aswell? I have read that you have magnums, are they also used for colouring and shading? If so why use the shading needles? And what is the difference between magnums? Im sorry if i sound thick but it is very confusing to me and any help would be most appreciated. Thank you

What did you find out when you googled "tattoo needle types and uses"? Because I found TONS of information.

Rather than give you a fish...I'll teach ya to fish. :icon_cheesygrin:

Like i said i found out about magnums etc but not sure when i would use the different needles and what for. How to vary the thickness of the same outline. Please help

yeah, use google and fish what you need .. there are different philosophies with needle sizes ..
OR the "video" section of this great place

http://www.helpmetattoo.com/forum/media.php?do=details&mid=30

tight or liner for lining
shader for shading and fill
Mags for shading and fill
Soft edge mags for shading
flat's for fill if you are good

you can use different sizes to work on one design OR you shape the lines with one needle ..
some artist (Mario Barth f.e.) tattoos whole arms only using one 15 MAG ....

for the needles .. don't buy cheap stuff .. that is what goes INTO your skin
find a dealer that delivers smaller quantities, too, that gives you the space to experiment with the needles on pigskin

Thankyou. You have given me a lot to thimk about. Still confused on when to use a shading needle and when to use a flat or magnum though lol.

they are just needles and there are no rules. Use them all in practice and then decide which suit you best. You can line with a shader and fill with a liner and shade with a magnum and line with a flat and fill corners with a mag and make corners with a liner etc. etc. etc.

Mark

Thx Mark. Will practice

For the start use liner vor lining andere round shader for filling and shading
the rest will come with time