Picking the right machine

There is many wireless pens on the market, and if it’s like the fitness industry then most of it just marketing and paid actors to use products and claim it works when it actually doesn’t.
I have tried researching particular machines and they all have bad and good comments which is the problem.
I’m new to tattooing but I need to try something else down the track beside a $100 eBay kit.
I don’t want multiple machines as I don’t have the money to do so.
These 3 look good, I need your help

- Peak Solace (changeable stroke)
- Fk Iron Spektra Flux (4mm stroke)
- Bishop Wand Shader or Packer (3.5mm stroke for shader and 4.2mm stroke for packer)

Obviously there is skill involved in it all.. but if you had one choice… what would it be?
If you have a suggestion please share.

A pen machine with an adjustable stroke is probably the best way to go.....although fixed stroke machines can be used to line, shade and pack you have to use the correct technique to achieve the result you want.

Wasted thousands of ££ on this journey, bought at least 10 pen machines, 4 at premium price.

I agree that a variable stroke is the way to go if you only plan to buy one machine. I own and endorse the Axys Valhalla, though I don’t use it so much now. A very experienced (and trusted) tattoo friend of mine highly recommends Stigma Thorn 2 fro Stigma-Rotary.

I personally ended up with Bishop packer and Shader as my 2 daily drivers…and it’s love

I do have at least one 4mm stroke clone (Hello) that I have used many many times in the shop. However, I tried to get ‘the same’ as a spare, but the second one is nowhere near as good…so consistency from Hello may be an issue (or cloned again (??))

Alright both of your answers for this question is good.
I feel like getting the bishop packer and use that as an allrounder but I think I’ll choose between the Peak Solice, Axys Valhalla & Stigma Thorn 2.
Everyone has made choosing a machine very difficult because people are in paid promotions all the time.
It reminds me so much of sports supplement industry.
Thanks bros,
I’ll end up letting u know what I get and how it goes.. might be a few months away yet.

The real pain in all of this is that you can never "test ride" a machine like when you buy a new car to see if you really like it.
Because after all, even though you buy an expensive highly reputable machine, you may like it or.... maybe not so much as you thought.
In the end, it's all in you hand.

MirandM said:

The real pain in all of this is that you can never "test ride" a machine like when you buy a new car to see if you really like it.
Because after all, even though you buy an expensive highly reputable machine, you may like it or.... maybe not so much as you thought.
In the end, it's all in you hand.

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So true…my barely used Spektra Xion is sitting pretty in it’s box 18 months after purchase, less than 20 hours live tattooing and unlikely to get any more miles on the clock from me.

It would be awesome to have "tattoo machine fitting rooms" where you can come and try different devices on fake skin, for example, since we all have different hands and movement patterns, aside from performance requirements.
How much time do you usually need to understand that this specific machine isn't for you (except for those that are immediate "no-no")?

ElenaY said:

It would be awesome to have "tattoo machine fitting rooms" where you can come and try different devices on fake skin, for example, since we all have different hands and movement patterns, aside from performance requirements.
How much time do you usually need to understand that this specific machine isn't for you (except for those that are immediate "no-no")?

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You’re not wrong, what a great idea. Maybe companies could do that at tattoo expos just to give customers a better feel

Not quite a fitting room, but if you’re in a shop with other artists quite a lot of machine ‘trialling’ happens through sharing. This is how I knew I didn't want the FK Irons Flux or Cheyenne sol nova.

whippet said:

Not quite a fitting room, but if you’re in a shop with other artists quite a lot of machine ‘trialling’ happens through sharing. This is how I knew I didn't want the FK Irons Flux or Cheyenne sol nova.

Click to expand...

I thought about it as well, but wasn't sure how willing the owners would be to let someone try they equipment? Feels like it's quite an intimate thing unless you let your friend or coworker to do it