Hummingbird Rotary

I'm a coil man usually and after going through lots of machines from budget starter kit Chinese specials to rather super hand made lightweight adjustables.
Instead of just being happy with my 2 decent coil machines I decided to venture into the rotary market once more, having previously bought a swash drive whip replica last year for about *£50 (I know you can get them cheaper but mine says swashdrive on the side and came with a spare arm you cant actually fit and a shiny metal case).
I have been getting a koi half sleeve in local shop (currently 16 hrs and *£500+ gone and still needs "bits") and the tattooist there uses a Dragonfly. The lines flew in and the colour is superb as well so I fancied me some rotary action plus the less arsing about setting up was appealing and the one I got is miles lighter than my lightweight coil machines which were loads lighter than the previous bunch.
As the title may have suggested I decided on the Hummingbird from the scratcher sorry the tattoo shop, It arrived in a Bizzare rotary tattoo box with no instructions and a few allen keys.
It looked pretty sexy (I got a purple one fnar fnar) The dial on the top is a turn left for more / right for less kind of affair i'd kinda worked out and the little needle reatiner guide thing seemed cool (never had a blag firelfy etc).
Ive had it less than a month now and the needle retainer has come off twice and is a pain to get back on plus there seems a lot of play in the arm even when set on the tightest setting.
The tattoo shop have offered to replace it but it seems like a design flaw as the circle though which the thread attaches it is not a complete circle or mine just snapped at weakest point?
Also its not really good at lining or colouring it seems even though ive had a good fiddle and tried it on a few willing volunteers? I have recently changed from pin up to ultra disposable tubes as I like the see through tips but could this be part of it? they seem ok on coil machines so I'm thinking not?
Any tips for voltage on rotary for lining / packing or anyone got one of these and likes them?
I know this has gone off track a bit and theres now like 4 questions all for different sections in here but my main point is Hummingbirds are they any good? It was *£120 so I was expecting it to out perform my pishdrive?

I have the hummingbirs too and can say .. yes, the needle adjuster came off here too but else it runs fine ..
I'm new and only use some china coils once .. so I'm NOT someone that really can be seen as "knowing the difference"
I only work with rotaries and my first one was a cheap (30€) china sledgehammer machine ...

For the volts it depends on the needle grouping ...
lining with smaller groupings ... I work around 7.6 - 8 Volt for bigger groupings f.e. 18 round liner I go up to 9 volts ...

Lining works o.k. (but like I said, I'm new so not someone who knows the difference ...)
dotwork works good
didn't do any fills yet ..

maybe someone else has better experiences for you ..

I got mine from the tattoo shop too and I've had no problems with it at all :icon_cheesygrin: Lines, Packs and shades with ease.

btw. just for the note ...

I loooooove scratcher shops ... pro shops won't let me buy stuff ;-)
And the tattoo shop has better quality rotaries and coils ...
morphix grips ..
dettol, ..
green soap ...,
even magic moon needles ...
stencil stuff/stencil pro ..
ultrasonic cleaner ..
intenze color ...

name it

Dark Reign said:

I got mine from the tattoo shop too and I've had no problems with it at all :icon_cheesygrin: Lines, Packs and shades with ease.

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Does your needle bar seem to have excessive play side to side? It seemed t have a bit of wobble in it? I know the dial adjusts the throw and will obviously give it play up and down but should it not be rigid side to side? The fact the needle retainer has come off makes me worry the side to side motion of it made it become loose in the first place? I have spoken to customer services and they are very helpful, I have also returned it today and they said they would replace it straight away. I refer to the tattoo shop as the scratchers shop in jest as all bitter "proffesionals" call it that, I have had no problems with them or any other products from them. I think the supply laws in UK are a bit more relaxed (Just ask the Daily Mail!) but i'm regretting not just paying the extra for an ego machine tbh.

I use needle runners and they keep the needle stable in the tube :icon_cheesygrin:

Well I special delivery posted it back yesterday at 4pm got an email today saying they'd received and replaced it and the new one should be back with me before 5pm tomorrow so I cannot fault there customer service one bit! Hope the new ones a bit less pingy offy with the needle runner as I like it more than "lazzy bands".

Although I did do a key lock ribbon type foot tat today with the old mon tattoo lightweight machines (shameless plugging for no commission) and I don't know why i'm dabbling in the rotary market? the vibration seemed less on these than the hummingbird? Think maybe 8v was a tad fast but its hard to hear the sweet tone like I can on my coils plus obv my super power supplys extra readings are non functional. God I wish I had an apprenticeship off Kevin Paul or some other genius maybe my retainer wouldn't of fallen off and i'd have half a scooby doo what the shizzle I was doing? :icon_wink:

I've never had a hummingbird but I've had NI fire flys and now use stigmas. 8 volts should be fine maybe you just had a bad one. The most important thing I've found with rotaries is the torque of the motor and the stroke of the machine. Cheap motors may rev but torque pushes not revs. You said the artist used a dragonfly so the chances are it had a good quality motor in it. Also stroke length makes a big differance depending on the application.

barcode1973 said:

Well I special delivery posted it back yesterday at 4pm got an email today saying they'd received and replaced it and the new one should be back with me before 5pm tomorrow so I cannot fault there customer service one bit! Hope the new ones a bit less pingy offy with the needle runner as I like it more than "lazzy bands".

Although I did do a key lock ribbon type foot tat today with the old mon tattoo lightweight machines (shameless plugging for no commission) and I don't know why i'm dabbling in the rotary market? the vibration seemed less on these than the hummingbird? Think maybe 8v was a tad fast but its hard to hear the sweet tone like I can on my coils plus obv my super power supplys extra readings are non functional. God I wish I had an apprenticeship off Kevin Paul or some other genius maybe my retainer wouldn't of fallen off and i'd have half a scooby doo what the shizzle I was doing? :icon_wink:

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Did you know that John has stopped building machines?, MONs is no more, I think I got some of the last ones made, pity, they where very unique and almost completely hand made, and run very well with a little tinkering, packer and 2 shorties, the shorties weigh less than some rotaries! I have 2 liners, if anyone is interested in 1 of them PM me, I'll not put it in the for sale section as I'd sort of like to keep it!!!

Lee ,
If you like the MONs machines and are looking into rotaries, check out Rotary Works, same deal, hand built machines, steady as a rock.

I just checked his page and I got the second to last one (for I am very_witty_user_id) He rebuilt my original cutback liner as well not long before. He had told me about his ex missus and stuff but didn't think he'd quit! Does our lifetime warranty still stand? They were the best machines I found and I sure bought a few in the past. I did try to sell 8 of them but the buyer never showed with the wopping *£68! I know have a nice wall murial. Hopefully the new hummer will be here tomorrow so i'll let you all know (like you gives a shit) peace out homies :icon_cheesygrin:

Hummingbird [Archive] - The Rotary Tattoo Machine Forum it's a identical entreprise for all Shit Rotary.... Point ! http://www.facebook.com/joycewenlixia being ten times better buy a Direct drive in metal with a quality engine... zero real Swiss motor cost $ 20 ! Switzerland engines are very expensive... I have a direct drive with a Falhauber top (German motor) = engine is very expensive price ! But the machine Run PERFECT for All, liner, shader or color pack ! the Humminburd is a FAKE, a Fake $20 is not dramatic price... but a FAKE a *£100 it starts to do expensive for the Chino-Shit-machine... Why always give your money to the Chinese for some shit ? With all the good Builders Europeans ? STRANGE... With *£130 you have a real European Handmade (first prize!) machine! Do much publicity for Chinese crap still blocking you in the universe scratch need a moment to spend at the higher speed! forget a little the shit Chinese material ! Stop giving your money to the Chinese for crap in bar...
In England or USA there are superb Builders!!!!!!!!!!! respect.

Dark Reign said:

I got mine from the tattoo shop too and I've had no problems with it at all :icon_cheesygrin: Lines, Packs and shades with ease.

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I like using a 3rl, any tips on volts? I had a print out in my box saying not to run the machine faster than 5-6 volts, do you bend your needles slightly to make sure there sitting at the bottom of the tip? And when lining do you turn the adjustable give knob all the way to the right? Also different grommets give a different feel to the machine, what grommets do you use. My email address is - jamiejayzinkphelan@gmail.com- if you can share any information with me please email me, I've been tattooing 10 years and do prefer rotary, when using coils you adjust the machine to the way you perform, but using a rotary you adjust the way you tattoo to the machine.. I've used so many but love the feel of the hummingbird, also I need to lubricate the machine as its getting louder, I don't run it hard, usually 3rl, and 13curved mag for black and grey, any tips on using larger needles for thick outlines as a 9rl is pulling the same as a 5rl usually would, I also used to use a 9rs for thick lines and the hummingbird just seems useless for that

Jayzink88 said:

I like using a 3rl, any tips on volts? I had a print out in my box saying not to run the machine faster than 5-6 volts, do you bend your needles slightly to make sure there sitting at the bottom of the tip? And when lining do you turn the adjustable give knob all the way to the right? Also different grommets give a different feel to the machine, what grommets do you use. My email address is - jamiejayzinkphelan@gmail.com- if you can share any information with me please email me, I've been tattooing 10 years and do prefer rotary, when using coils you adjust the machine to the way you perform, but using a rotary you adjust the way you tattoo to the machine.. I've used so many but love the feel of the hummingbird, also I need to lubricate the machine as its getting louder, I don't run it hard, usually 3rl, and 13curved mag for black and grey, any tips on using larger needles for thick outlines as a 9rl is pulling the same as a 5rl usually would, I also used to use a 9rs for thick lines and the hummingbird just seems useless for that

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Your post can of course be relevant for another member, but the one you're addressing haven't been seen here since 2015. The post is from 2013.

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