Killer Ink Tattoo

Stigma-Rotary® rounded off a great 2019 with the introduction of its latest tattoo machine, the Shot, as well as various click and disposable grips. The company is set to take things up another level in 2020 with the introduction of a brand new wireless system.

But first, let’s have a look at what was released towards the latter half of last year, starting with the brand’s most recent rotary tattoo machine.

The Stigma-Rotary® Shot is the only direct drive tattoo machine with a stroke length that is quick and easy to adjust without the need to exchange parts or use tools.

By simply twisting the motor of the Stigma® Shot, you can adjust its stroke length from 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm in no time at all.

The Stigma® Shot is also the only direct drive machine with forced stay-up function for standard tattoo needles and cartridges, which means that the needles always stop at the upper position. This function makes the Shot the safest direct drive rotary available.

As well as featuring a protected, gold-plated RCA connection, the Stigma-Rotary® Shot is powered by a high-quality 6 Watt coreless motor with a 2 mm shaft and two preloaded ball bearings.

Thanks to its universal screw-on connection, you can use the Stigma-Rotary® Shot with cartridge grips from all major brands, as well as grips with a backstem for standard tattoo needles.

Speaking of grips, Stigma-Rotary® was busy in 2019 with the development and release of not one, but two types of grips: the Comfy Click Grip and disposable click grips.

The Stigma-Rotary® Comfy click grip has been ergonomically-designed for optimum comfort. The Comfy grip has a 32 mm diameter at its widest point and features horizontal and vertical grooves to eliminate slipping.

The shape of the Stigma® Comfy grip also allows you to get closer to the cartridge to achieve precision while tattooing.

Thanks to its click system, you can adjust the needle depth by simply twisting the grip. The click system also prevents involuntary turning, even when using heavy tattoo machines.

The Stigma® Comfy grip comes with interchangeable cartridge receivers, allowing it to be used with both Stigma-Rotary® cartridges and cartridges from all major brands. Both cartridge receivers are included.

Two versions of the Stigma-Rotary® Comfy click grip are available to order from Killer Ink Tattoo: one with a screw-on vice connection and another featuring a backstem that is cross-ribbed for better grab.

Stigma-Rotary® followed up the success of the Comfy click grip with the release of its disposable click grips, which have been designed for use with Stigma® advanced needle cartridges.

As with the Comfy click grip, the disposable grips have been ergonomically-designed by Stigma® for optimum comfort and feature horizontal and vertical grooves to eliminate slipping.

Available in a box of 12 units, the Stigma® Disposable Click Grips are available with either a screw-on vice connection or a backstem connection (with its own needle plunger bar).

So what will be coming in 2020? Well Stigma-Rotary® has started whetting our appetites early with teaser images of its new Pilot Wireless System.

Although Stigma® hasn’t released much information about the Pilot Wireless System, we do know that it consists of a power supply, foot pedal and battery pack – all of which operate wirelessly.

The battery pack element fits on all Stigma® tattoo machines, as well as most machines that feature an RCA connection. It simply clicks into the RCA connector, allowing you to power your machine without the need for cables. You can also adjust the voltage and turn your machine on/off directly on the battery!

We’ll have more information about the new Stigma-Rotary® Pilot Wireless System soon, so make sure to keep checking out our website and social media channels for updates!

At the 2019 Liverpool Tattoo Convention, we took some time out from shooting our main convention video to film two Liverpool-based artists working on a couple of killer tattoos.

Click on the videos below to watch Brad Wallis and Lom lay down some fresh ink!

Brad Wallis

Local lad Brad Wallis won ‘Runner Up Realism’ at the 2019 Liverpool Tattoo Convention for this dope black and grey portrait of the late rapper Prodigy from Mobb Deep.

Lom

Our good friend Lom did this sick custom blackwork piece at the 2019 Liverpool Tattoo Convention.

Math, aka EvenMoreBlack, is a London-based tattoo artist with a signature graphic trash style.

Inspired by trash polka tattoos, Math’s work mixes dark blacks with splashes of vibrant reds, along with graphic elements for his own twist on the eye-catching style.

Originally labelled “dark trash”, Math’s tattooing style has evolved over his 15-year career with more intricate details and freehand elements.

Since becoming a tattoo artist 15 years ago, Math has offered vegan-friendly tattoos to his clients, as he himself lives a vegan lifestyle. This means that he does not use supplies that contain animal by-products.

Math uses a variety of supplies from Killer Ink Tattoo to create his signature work, including Silverback Ink®.

Keep up to date with the latest tattoos from Math / Evenmoreblack by following him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Inkjecta produces some of the best rotary tattoo machines around, with many of the world's top artists opting for the brand.

Perhaps the most well-known tattoo machines from Inkjecta are the acclaimed Flite Nano rotaries.

The Inkjecta Flite Nanos are cartridge-dedicated tattoo machines that are very versatile and suitable for lining, shading and colouring across all styles.

All Inkjecta Flite Nano machines come with a pre-installed 3.25 mm excenter and a custom nanotechnology brushless motor with no start-up delay.

There are three versions of the Flite Nano available to order from Killer Ink Tattoo: Lite, Titan and Elite. Each comes with a semi-rigid bar in the box, while the Titan and Elite models also receive soft, medium and hard torsion bars.

Both the Lite and the Elite variants feature an alloy billet construction, with the Elite also coming with a titanium collar vice. On the other hand, the Titan has a carbon fibre frame, making it extremely lightweight and topping the scales at just 47 grams.

Unlike the Flite Nano Lite, the Titan and Elite both have side cushions for increased comfort and an LED activation light, which is a cool little feature.

Following on from the Flite Nano was the Inkjecta Eclipse, which had huge boots to fill, but managed to exceed expectations.

The Inkjecta Eclipse is a rotary machine designed for use with standard tattoo needles.

Just like the Flite Nano Elite and Limited Edition models before it, the Inkjecta Eclipse features a billet alloy construction – typically used in the aerospace industry.

Powering the machine is the same custom nanotechnology motor that can be found in the Inkjecta Flite Nano machines. This is reinforced and protected by an injection-moulded fibre motor housing.

It also comes installed with a 3.25 mm chrome cam, which is interchangeable and allows artists to choose their stroke length. In addition, the Inkjecta Eclipse is able to push up to a 45 magnum with ease.

Most recently, Inkjecta unveiled a true successor to the Flite Nano: the Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite.

The Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite takes everything that tattoo artists love about the standard Flite Nano machines and adds a few nifty innovations.

As its name suggests, the Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite is incredibly lightweight and weighs in at only 45 g (including all attachments), making it the lightest tattoo machine around! The frame of the Flite Nano Ultra Lite and the newly-developed needle bar are made of injection-moulded carbon fibre, which helps with the weight reduction.

As with the other Inkjecta Flite Nano models, the Ultra Lite version is powered by a custom nanotechnology motor that offers no start-up delay when starting the machine.

The Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite is a complete all-rounder and suitable for all tattooing styles. It’s also compatible with all Inkjecta Flite Nano accessories, such as bumpers, caps and excenters.

Aside from a variety of Inkjecta accessories like bars, bumpers, cams and caps, we also stock Inkjecta Chubby Grips, which are made from either aluminium (black or purple) or stainless steel.

The Inkjecta Chubby fixed grips are comfortable to hold for long tattooing sessions due to their ergonomic shape and have a diameter measuring 25 mm at its slimmest section and 33 mm at its largest point.

Whichever tattoo equipment from Inkjecta you go for, you can be sure that you won’t be disappointed with the results!

For Christmas this year, we headed down to London to visit Jairo Carmona, a tattoo artist known for his bright and colourful cartoon tattoos with a new-school twist.

Jairo really got us into the Christmas spirit with a cosy cartoon cabin tattoo that is sure to put you in a festive mood for the holidays.

Click the video below to enjoy his work and we hope you have a merry Christmas!

You can read more about Jairo Carmona in our Sponsored Artist of the Month blog.

Make sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with his latest work!

The 2019 Liverpool Tattoo Convention may have been moved from May to the middle of October, but even the cold weather couldn't cool our excitement for our hometown show!

The 12th edition of the Liverpool Tattoo Convention was all about respecting the past, celebrating the present and embracing the future, so what better time to shoot our latest video!

Make sure to give it a watch!

This year’s Liverpool Tattoo Convention was another brilliant show and it was great to see so many new and familiar faces alike!

Special shout out to our sponsored artist Yarson Stahowic who won ‘Best Large Black & Grey’ for an incredible full back piece!

In addition, our good friend Lom took home the award for ‘Runner Up Large Black & Grey’ for a dope fighter pilot/killer bee mash-up!

We hope to see you all in Liverpool next year!

Once the last drop of tattoo ink has gone into the skin, it’s time for one of the most important parts of the tattooing process: the aftercare. There are so many different versions of tattoo aftercare out there, from butters to creams, lotions to wraps, and many more, so what is the best tattoo aftercare product?

We’re going to run through the best tattoo aftercare products that are available to order from Killer Ink Tattoo and help you pick one, or more, that is right for you!

Up first is a tattoo care product that you all know and love: Hustle Butter Deluxe.

Hustle Butter Deluxe is a 100% natural, 100% organic, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free replacement for all petroleum-based products like Vaseline.

This tattoo butter is made from mango, coconut, papaya, and other shea butters, so it smells amazing! (But just remember that it’s not for toast…)

Hustle Butter Deluxe is available in three sizes: a large 5 oz (150 ml) tub, a smaller 1 oz (30 ml) tub known as ‘The Ones’, and ‘25s’, which are 0.25 oz (7.5 ml) packettes that are great for one-use only and perfect for taking with you to tattoo conventions and studio guest spots. They are also ideal for selling as aftercare in your studio to clients leaving with fresh tattoos!

Although it’s one of the best tattoo aftercare products out there, Hustle Butter Deluxe isn’t just for use as aftercare. As the tagline ‘BEFORE.DURING.AFTER’ suggests, Hustle Butter Deluxe is the perfect tattoo care for use throughout the entire tattooing process.

You can use Hustle Butter Deluxe to prep the skin before tattooing, as a tattoo lubricant during, and then to care for your fresh piece after the session.

Using Hustle Butter Deluxe has many benefits for tattoo artists. You’ll notice when using it that it doesn’t remove stencils, meaning that you won’t have to reapply or redraw your design. In addition to this, you won’t experience any clogged tubes like you may do with petroleum-based products, and your gloves won’t get worn and broken-down.

The skin will also remain workable when using Hustle Butter Deluxe, which means no more overworked highlights and your yellows and whites will go in the first time with no problem. Plus, it also promotes healing upon contact, so you’ll notice that it minimises redness, swelling and bleeding when applied to a fresh tattoo.

So, after you’ve created one of the best tattoo aftercare products around, where do you go from there? For the guys behind Hustle Butter Deluxe, the answer was three letters: CBD.

Hustle Butter C.B.D. Luxe is the same great tattoo butter you all know and love, but with the added benefit of 500 mg of CBD oil for anti-inflammatory properties. CBD, aka cannabinoid, is a non-psychoactive extra of hemp.

As with Hustle Butter’s original tattoo aftercare, Hustle Butter C.B.D. Luxe is vegan-friendly and brings the same benefits as its predecessor: no clogged tubes, no stencils removed, no overworked highlights, and a noticeable reduction in redness and irritation of the skin.

Hustle Butter C.B.D. Luxe is available in a large 5 oz (150 ml) tub, which makes it perfect for studio use, as well as a card containing 4 x 1.875 g packettes (each with 10 mg of CBD oil) that is ideal for taking to tattoo conventions and studio guest spots.

It may be one of the best tattoo aftercare products around, but make sure to use it throughout the whole tattooing session like you would with Hustle Butter Deluxe for the best results!

You can’t knock the hustle!

Away from tattoo butters, Dermalize PRO is one of the best tattoo aftercare solutions for covering a fresh tattoo and is an alternative to cling film and other dressings.

Used by leading tattoo artists around the world, Dermalize PRO is a breathable, light and flexible film that acts as a second skin to protect fresh tattoo wounds from germs and bacteria, while also allowing the skin to breathe, thanks to its permeability.

Dermalize PRO locks in the body’s natural fluids and enzymes, letting the skin heal naturally from the inside out and resulting in beautifully-healed tattoos.

As Dermalize PRO is light, flexible and stretchable, you can place this tattoo aftercare film anywhere on the body and it will stay there for several days.

By providing a waterproof, anti-bacterial barrier, Dermalize PRO prevents any unwanted contaminants from entering the wound. This tattoo aftercare will also prevent scabbing and the possibility of clothes rubbing against your fresh tattoo.

Available to order in a roll (Dermalize PRO) or a pack of 5 pre-cut sheets. We recommend rubbing on some Hustle Butter Deluxe prior to applying Dermalize PRO aftercare for best results!

INK-EEZE is known for creating some of the best tattoo aftercare around and offers various ointments, sprays, and creams that can all be used after the tattooing process.

We’ll start with INK-EEZE’s range of tattooing ointments, which comprises of Green Glide, Purple Glide, Pink Glide, and CBD Glide. Each is a non-petroleum-based, vegan-friendly ointment infused with essential oils and a formula that was specifically-developed by tattooers and skin care specialists alike.

INK-EEZE’s “Glide” products can be used as a lubricant during tattooing and as tattoo aftercare as well. Depending on your chosen product, INK-EEEZE “Glide” tattoo ointment will be available in sachets, tubes or tubs.

Aside from tattooing ointment, INK-EEZE also offers a variety of other tattoo aftercare products: Ink Enhance, Ink Guard, and Ink Lock.

INK-EEZE Ink Enhance is a fragrance-free moisturiser for daily application that has been specially-formulated to protect your tattoo while reducing fading by keeping your skin hydrated.

INK-EEZE Ink Guard is a spray-on bandage that can be sprayed directly onto a fresh tattoo to lock in the ink and keep out dirt and other contaminants. Ink Guard offers instant protection while remaining breathable and will form a thin layer that will fall off your skin during the natural healing process.

Last but not least is INK-EEZE Ink Lock Aftercare Cream and Spray. The cream-based aftercare version is great for those who are sensitive to ointments and prefer to heal with creams during their tattoo healing process.

On the other hand, the petroleum-free healing spray eliminates the need to rub aftercare into the skin (like you would with a cream), thus increasing pain relief. It’s also a great tattoo enhancer for showing off your tattoos once they are healed, without having a greasy look.

Easytattoo has created a range of aftercare for both tattoos and piercing, although most of its product range is best suited for use with piercings.

Aside from its Easypiercing products, we offer Easytattoo Extreme Sunblock Stick, which helps protect your tattoo against harmful sun rays, thanks to its 50+ SPF.

Using Easytattoo’s Extreme Sunblock Stick will keep your tattoo looking fresh and keep the colours from fading. The stick offers instant protection, does not feel sticky and is waterproof. Make sure to reapply every three hours for maximum protection!

TATProtect Tattoo Aftercare Spray forms a thin breathable layer that will protect and help the skin heal after it has been tattooed.

Unlike most tattoo aftercares, TATProtect is sprayed directly on the skin instead of being wiped on, minimising the risk of cross-contamination. Once dry, TATProtect's barrier will keep all external irritants out, while keeping the moisture in the skin at the same time.

TATProtect has been scientifically designed by one of the best and most renowned tattoo artists around, Randy Engelhard, and can be used underneath protective aftercare film like Dermalize PRO.

Randy also had a hand in designing TATProtect Anti-Aging & Sun Protect with SPF 30, which will help protect your tattoos from fading and your skin from prematurely aging.

TATProtect Anti-Aging & Sun Protect is waterproof and will protect your tattoos against harmful UVA and UVB rays, while also moisturising the skin and helping to keep it smooth.

If you’re not sure on just which tattoo aftercare solution is the best for you and your tattooing needs, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help and give you some advice on which product to go for!

With so many rotary tattoo machines to choose from, it can be hard to know which is the best fit for you, so we’re going to run through the best rotary tattoo machines that are available to order from Killer Ink Tattoo in order to help you find your next machine!

There are a number of benefits to working with rotary machines with many tattoo artists enjoying the low maintenance and ease of use. But no matter which rotary tattoo machine you choose to order from our online shop, you can be sure that it will serve you for years to come!

Killer Ink Tattoo is the global distributor for Stigma-Rotary® tattoo machines, which has designed some of the best rotary machines on the market today.

It’s been a very busy year for Stigma-Rotary®, with the brand releasing three incredible tattoo machines – two pen-style rotaries and one hybrid machine.

Artists who prefer using a pen-style rotary tattoo machine have the choice between Stigma-Rotary® Stylist and Spear models.

Both machines are compatible with all brands of cartridges, including Stigma®’s advanced cartridges and convention cartridges – like Cheyenne or our own brand of Stellar Cartridges.

The Stigma-Rotary® Stylist features a long ergonomic grip, 6W Swiss motor and an adjustable stroke length, while the Stigma-Rotary® Spear is completely adjustable on the fly – offering both adjustable stroke length AND give.

Following on from the Hyper V3 is the Stigma-Rotary® Hyper V4, a smooth-running and versatile hybrid tattoo machine.

The Hyper V4 features a universal screw-on connection which allows it to be used with cartridge grips from all the major brands.

Stigma®’s Hyper V4 tattoo machine pushes both standard needles and cartridges while offering adjustable stroke length and give.

More recently, Cheyenne Professional Tattoo Equipment looked to shake up the tattoo market with the release of its new Sol Nova rotary tattoo machine.

As with the much-loved Cheyenne HAWK Pen, the new Cheyenne Sol Nova has an ergonomic, pen-like shape. Compared to the Pen, however, the Sol Nova boasts more power and softer handling.

By shifting the weight of the machine to the front, Cheyenne has given the Sol Nova perfect balance, allowing for optimum control and accuracy.

The powerful brushless DC motor within the Cheyenne Sol Nova packs a punch, resulting in faster ink saturation. Even with this powerful motor, the quiet and soft operational mode of the Sol Nova means that it remains gentle on the skin, therefore allowing for a faster healing process.

As previously mentioned, the Cheyenne HAWK Pen is well-loved by tattoo artists around the globe and has been since the debut of the prototype back in 2014.

The Cheyenne HAWK Pen was the first-ever pen-style rotary tattoo machine and is still one of the best in its category today.

The idea of the pen-like shape was to give artists the closest feel to an actual pen that you could with a tattoo machine. For this reason, tattoo artists have found that they have more control and accuracy when using the HAWK Pen.

Before they conceived of a pen-shaped tattoo machine, Cheyenne was well-known for its three HAWK-branded rotary machines: the HAWK, HAWK Spirit, and HAWK Thunder.

The HAWK was Cheyenne’s first rotary tattoo machine and the company has now honoured its legacy with a special edition re-release to celebrate its 10^th anniversary.

Following on from this iconic machine was the Cheyenne HAWK Spirit, a light and flexible rotary that is great for all aspects of tattooing.

The HAWK Spirit is a true all-rounder machine, delivering fast strokes and quick punctures, while also being incredibly easy to use.

Next up was the Cheyenne HAWK Thunder, another superb all-rounder rotary tattoo machine that excelled at lining, shading and colouring work.

Cheyenne increased the stroke length of the HAWK Thunder tattoo machine up to 4mm, which makes it one of the best rotaries for colour packing and solid black work.

All EGO Rotary tattoo machines are super-lightweight with wrist-friendly designs, created and designed by tattoo artist Bez from Triple Six Studios in Sunderland, UK.

The latest offering from Bez is the brand-new EGO Polygon, a cartridge-dedicated rotary tattoo machine that follows on from the R12 and R12 Plus.

Featuring a fully-aluminium body with a lightweight, ergonomic design, the Polygon is the smallest machine from EGO Rotary to-date, weighing only 65 grams – or 55 grams without the vice connector.

The EGO Polygon is powered by an enclosed Faulhaber brushless motor and has no start-up delay. This smooth-running rotary has a perfectly straight, true linear drive motion, meaning no sideway vibration.

Tattoo artists can choose the give of the Polygon via seven main and nine disposable drive bars, each offering a different level of give indicated by various colours. Artists can use either the main or disposable drive bars to select soft, medium and hard give, while an aluminium main drive bar offers a solid hit with no give.

Unlike the Polygon, the Vertex 2 and V2 Plus tattoo machines from EGO Rotary utilise the company’s infamous ‘Power Triangles’, which replicate the front and back spring system from coil tattoo machines.

By using the power triangle system, tattoo artists can configure the EGO V2 Plus and Vertex 2 rotary tattoo machines exactly how they want it, in terms of give and throw.

The EGO Vertex 2 also includes a direct drive system option, which allows you to harness the full power of the Faulhaber motor. By using the direct-drive system over the power triangles, you eliminate the machines give, which in turn gives it a more aggressive punch behind the needle.

Not content with creating some of the world’s best coil tattoo machines, FK Irons owner Gaston Siciliano entered the ‘Rotary Age’ with Spektra, a brand dedicated to the engineering of high-quality rotary tattoo machines.

Most recently, Spektra has been riding a wave of acclaim for its pen-shaped Xion rotary, which quickly took to the hearts and hands of some of the best tattoo artists across the world.

The Spektra Xion is a cartridge-dedicated tattoo machine that is both lightweight and ergonomic, allowing for optimal manoeuvrability – the kind of machine that tattoo artists will be able to use over long sessions.

Spektra Rotary has fitted the Xion with a specially-designed 6W MotorBolt that provides maximum torque throughout the tattooing session and ensures optimal performance of your cartridges.

The Spektra Xion is fully-adjustable, with tattoo artists able to adjust the stroke length, needle depth and give.

Permanent make-up artists can also take advantage of the Spektra Xion S, which has a smaller grip and a shorter stroke length – optimal for smaller needles and higher speeds, both commonly used for permanent make-up.

Aside from the Xion, Spektra Rotary also offers three top-class tattoo machines: the Edge X, Halo 2 Crossover, and Direkt 2.

The Spektra Edge X is a sophisticated and versatile cartridge-dedicated tattoo machine that utilises the Hex Drive motor system and Spektra’s MultiVise system.

The MultiVise system from Spektra allowed tattoo artists to use both conventional cartridge grips with a backstem and screw-on-style cartridge grips with the Edge X – which was a first in the industry upon release.

Thanks to an adjustable stroke with variable options, the Spektra Edge X eliminated the need for interchangeable stroke wheels.

After the release of the Edge X, Spektra brought back its original Halo machine with a bang, resulting in its do-all successor, the Halo 2 Crossover.

The Spektra Halo 2 Crossover is a rotary tattoo machine that handles it all, designed to push cartridges and standard needles.

The Halo 2 Crossover comes with a needle clip-on and stabiliser system, meaning artists could say goodbye to grommets and rubber bands.

Spektra’s Halo 2 rotary machine offers both adjustable strokes and gives – the latter of which has been optimised for a flawless response with both cartridges and tattoo needles.

As with the Halo 2 Crossover, the Spektra Direkt 2 Crossover was designed to push both tattoo cartridges and standard needles.

Many of the world’s best tattoo artists have lauded the Direkt 2 Crossover, enjoying its powerful and consistent hit and its silent running at any voltage.

The Direkt 2 Crossover features the aforementioned MultiVise system from Spektra, along with a Hex Drive MotorBolt system that is compatible with Direkt and Edge X motors.

Across the pond in the United States, NeoTat has been producing some of the best quality rotary tattoo machines over the last 14 years.

Killer Ink Tattoo stocks three rotary machines from NeoTat: the Original, Vivace and Stregato.

The NeoTat Original is a consistent, smooth-running rotary tattoo machine that features a lightweight, ergonomic design that is easy to disassemble and clean.

Following on from the Original is the NeoTat Vivace, a lighter rotary machine featuring a removable, interchangeable motor cartridge, allowing for quick and easy adjustments to its stroke length.

The ergonomic design of the Vivace, as well as its low levels of vibration, helps to cut down on the fatigue associated with long tattooing sessions.

The latest offering from NeoTat is the Stregato, a cartridge-dedicated rotary tattoo machine that is smooth-running and powerful enough to push even the largest needle cartridges.

As with all machines from the American brand, the NeoTat Stregato has an ergonomically-shaped body that fits comfortably in your hand and is easy to grip while tattooing.

The Stregato also features NeoTat’s unique EyeLoc locking bar loop system, which allows tattoo artists a choice of soft or hard disposable drive bar cushions. This gives artists the choice between a softer or harder hit.

Rotary machines from Inkjecta are popular with many of the world’s best tattoo artists today, whether it be the Lite, Titan or Elite versions.

All Inkjecta rotaries are cartridge-dedicated tattoo machines that are incredibly versatile and suitable for lining, shading and colouring across all styles.

Each Inkjecta tattoo machine comes with a pre-installed 3.25mm excenter, RCA connection and a custom ‘Nano Technology’ brushless motor with no start-up delay.

The Titan and Elite models are the most versatile Inkjecta rotary machines as they come with soft, medium, and hard torsion bars. These torsion bars offer tattoo artists the ability to set the hardness of their machine just the way they like it.

Both the Lite and Elite versions feature an alloy billet construction, with the Elite also coming equipped with a titanium collar vice. The Titan variant, however, has a carbon fibre frame, making it extremely lightweight and topping the scales at just 47 grams.

Although best known for producing some of the finest tattoo needles and cartridges around, KWADRON also manufactures rotary tattoo machines under the ‘Equaliser’ moniker.

The first machine, the Equaliser Proton, is a pen-style rotary that will run cartridges from all of the major brands.

The Proton is powered by a 5W motor and features an advanced gear system that makes it a very quiet and reliable machine, with a complete lack of vibration when running.

Following on from the Proton was the Equaliser Mikron and Mikron Turbo – both small, cartridge-dedicated rotary tattoo machines that are very comfortable to work with.

The Mikron and Equaliser Mikron Turbo are fitted with a 4.5W Faulhaber motor and have a 3.5mm stroke length.

So, when it comes down to finding the best rotary tattoo machine for you it really comes down to personal preference, but hopefully our guide has helped you in finding a machine that you will enjoy using for years to come.

However, if you need some more information regarding our range of rotary tattoo machines or need some help choosing the best one for you then get in touch with us today!

Colombian-born artist Jairo Carmona has had a great 2019, with the launch of his brand new tattoo studio in London, UK earlier this year!

Long before he even thought about opening his own studio, Jairo was a 17-year-old university student in Medellín, Colombia who had just taken his first steps into the world of tattooing.

Being surrounded by graffiti artists, designers and other creative-minded people helped Jairo to develop the style that he is still known for today: bright and colourful cartoon tattoos with a new-school twist.

After leaving his home town and taking up residence in London, Jairo gained valuable experience at the likes of Extreme Needle Tattoo & Piercing Studio and with our good friends at Kamil Tattoos, before taking the plunge with the launch of his own tattoo studio in the heart of the capital.

Introducing MorningStar Tattoos, a private studio that specialises on colourful, graphic tattoos and has played host to some of the best international artists around.

To create his vibrant, illustrative work, Jairo uses various supplies from Killer Ink Tattoo, including Hustle Butter Deluxe tattoo care, Cheyenne HAWK tattoo machines, and Intenze Tattoo Ink.

You can keep up to date with the latest tattoos from Jairo Carmona by following him on Facebook and Instagram!

Over the last few years, pen-style rotary tattoo machines have seen a huge surge in popularity with many artists preferring the familiar marker pen-like way of holding and using the machines. (New to this style of machine? Then make sure you read our guide on the best rotary tattoo machines.) But with such a wide array to choose from, which is the best tattoo pen machine to use?

We’re going to take a look at the best tattoo pen machines that are available to order from Killer Ink Tattoo to help you decide which is right for you.

As always, the best pen-style rotary for you depends on preference, how you tattoo, your style, plus many more factors. However, you can be sure that whichever tattoo pen machine you opt for you will get the job done to the highest of standards!

We’re starting off with perhaps the best-known pen-style tattoo machine around, the Cheyenne HAWK Pen.

The Cheyenne HAWK Pen was the first-ever pen-style tattoo machine and has inspired countless rotaries since the debut of the prototype back in 2014.

Even years after its release, the Cheyenne Pen is still a shining light in the pen-style rotary machine category, with many of the world’s best tattooists using it today.

Like most rotaries on this list, the Cheyenne HAWK Pen is shaped like a marker pen, which was an innovative design when first released. This design means that the machine is quieter and vibrates less than conventional tattoo devices – without sacrificing puncturing power.

For Cheyenne, the idea of the pen-like shape was to give artists the closest feel to an actual pen that you could with a tattoo machine. For this reason, artists have found that they have more control and accuracy when using the HAWK Pen, making it one of the best rotaries around!

The Cheyenne Pen is powered by a precision DC motor and offers a stroke length of 3.5mm and needle depth adjustment range from 0 and 4.5mm. The pen-style machine can be used with conventional tattoo cartridges from all of the major brands, including Cheyenne’s own HAWK Cartridges and its latest Craft Cartridges.

Just like with the HAWK Pen, the Cheyenne Sol Nova tattoo machine has an ergonomic, pen-like shape. Compared to the Pen, however, the Sol Nova boasts more power and softer handling.

This durable and robust, yet lightweight rotary tattoo machine has perfect balance, with its weight shifted to the front, allowing for optimum control and accuracy.

The powerful brushless DC motor within the tattoo pen packs a punch, resulting in faster ink saturation – although its quiet and soft operational mode means that it remains gentle on the skin, allowing for a faster healing process.

The Cheyenne Sol Nova is a great all-round rotary tattoo machine. With a 3.5mm stroke, the pen-style Sol Nova is best used for precise lining, as well as soft shading.

Cheyenne’s pen-like Sol Nova operates between 25 and 150 hertz. The low frequency operation with 25 hertz makes this tattoo machine great for dotwork and colour realism, while you just need to turn it up higher for fuller and more intense lines.

Stigma-Rotary® is widely regarded as one of the best tattoo machine manufacturers around, and it has not disappointed with its pen-style rotaries.

Measuring just 9.3 cm in length, 32.5 mm in diameter at its largest point, and weighing only 115 g, the Stigma-Rotary® Thorn is the size and shape of grip – it literally feels like you’re just holding a grip when using this tattoo machine!

In addition, most of the rotaries weight is shifted towards the front, making the Stigma® Thorn perfectly balanced and comfortable to work with.

The Stigma-Rotary® Thorn is an all-round master with its fixed 3.5 mm stroke, solid hit and smooth running. We also offer versions of the pen-style tattoo machine with a 3 and 4 mm stroke length.

Stigma®’s Thorn rotary machine is powered by a high-quality, Swiss-made 6-Watt motor with a 2 mm shaft and two preloaded ball bearings, and also features a protected RCA connection, so durability and reliability are a given.

Thanks to the interchangeable cartridge receivers, the pen-style Thorn can be used with the best cartridges from all major brands, whether it be Killer Ink’s Stellar Cartridges, Cheyenne HAWK Cartridges, or Stigma-Rotary®’s own Advanced Needle cartridges.

Before the Thorn was introduced, Stigma-Rotary® launched the Stylist, a lightweight and powerful pen-style tattoo machine that featured a long, ergonomically-designed indented grip and interchangeable cartridge receivers.

The stroke length of the Stigma-Rotary® Stylist can be adjusted in seconds from 3 to 3.7 mm by simply twisting the fixed motor. As with the Thorn, the Stigma® Stylist has a 6-Watt Swiss-made motor with a 2 mm shaft and two preloaded ball bearings.

The Stigma-Rotary® Spear was released alongside the Stylist pen and includes most of the same features, like a high-quality motor, anti-roll design, interchangeable cartridge receivers, and indented grip.

The main difference is that the Stigma® Spear also offers adjustable give, whereas the Stylist does not. The give can be adjusted by simply twisting the dial on top of the Spear tattoo machine.

Which of Stigma-Rotary®’s pen-style machines is best for you simply depends on your tattooing style and preferences.

The Spektra Xion is a pen-style rotary tattoo machine that was the result of over three years of extensive research and development from the great minds at FK Irons.

It is the kind of rotary machine that artists will be able to use over long sessions, and that is in part down to how the Xion was developed and tested in cooperation with some of the best tattooists from around the world.

Powering the Xion is a specially-designed 6-Watt MotorBolt from Spektra Rotary that ensures optimal performance of your cartridges by providing maximum torque throughout the session. In addition, the RCA connection is concealed within the MotorBolt for extra protection.

Depending on your preferences and needs, you can set up the Spektra Xion however you like it, thanks to its adjustable stroke length, needle depth and give. Being fully adjustable means that the pen-style Xion gives you complete control over your tattoo machine, therefore making it suitable for a wide range of tattooing styles.

To adjust the give up to 2 mm, simply turn the dial, while you just need to turn the click grip in order to adjust the needle depth of the Spektra Xion. You’ll also receive 3.2 and 3.7 mm stroke wheels in the box, which you can use to adjust the stroke length of the machine.

The next evolution of the Xion wasn’t far behind. Introducing the Spektra Xion Gorilla, which combines the body of the standard Xion pen with a larger 40 mm Gorilla grip. The addition of the ergonomic Gorilla grip provides optimum comfort and helps eliminate fatigue from clamping around the grip when tattooing for extended periods of time.

The Gorilla grip for the Spektra Xion tattoo machine is also autoclavable, easy to cover and handle, and compatible with all cartridges.

The Switch is EGO Rotary's long-awaited pen-style tattoo machine and the world's first machine to feature an in-built ON-OFF switch!

Created and designed by one of the UK’s best tattoo artists, Bez from Triple Six Studios in Sunderland, the EGO Switch V2 is a cartridge-dedicated rotary tattoo machine that is lightweight, reliable, consistent and quiet. It features an exceptional ergonomic design, with a 28 mm diameter that fits into your hand well and feels great when tattooing.

Powered by a precision Japanese-made motor, the EGO Switch V2 is super smooth and super powerful. The updated version of the EGO Switch added adjustable give. To adjust, use the included give adjustment tool and turn the dial inside the tattoo machine. Turn clockwise for a harder hit and anti-clockwise for a softer hit.

The EGO Switch pen-style rotary machine V2 has two modes. Mode one is constant power on, meaning that you control the power of the tattoo machine via your power supply with a foot switch. Mode two is Switch mode, which allows you to turn the power on and off via the switch at the top of the machine. One press engages the power, and it will stay on until the switch is pressed again.

The Equaliser Proton MX is a pen-style rotary tattoo machine that is made by the popular brand KWADRON, known for developing some of the best needles and cartridges around.

The Equaliser Proton contains a 5-Watt motor and features an advanced gear system, which makes it a very quiet and reliable machine with a complete lack of vibration when running.

This lightweight pen-style rotary is made from anodised aluminium of the highest quality. It offers a stroke length of 3.5 mm and needle depth from 0 to 4.5 mm.

Equaliser followed on from the Proton MX with the release of the Proton Enduro tattoo pen – a rotary machine with a 25 mm aluminium grip that has been designed for trouble-free operation.

Again designed by KWADRON in Poland, the Equaliser Proton Enduro pen is a very quiet tattoo machine that offers almost no vibration when running. Perfect for all types of work, whether it's lining, shading or colour packing.

The Equaliser Mikron and Mikron Turbo are both cartridge-dedicated, pen-style rotary tattoo machines from KWADRON that will run cartridges from all major brands.

For the Equaliser Mikron Turbo, simply attach your cartridges to the included adjustable cartridge grip. The Equaliser Mikron, on the other hand, is compatible with both screw-on-style grips and standard cartridge grips with a backstem.

Both of these pen-like tattoo machines are powered by a 4.5-Watt Faulhaber motor and feature a 3.5mm stroke length. Each one also has a hidden RCA connection, which is at a 35-degree on the Equaliser Mikron Turbo for optimal durability and reliability.

As well as being ergonomically-designed, both of these Equaliser-branded, pen-style rotary tattoo machines are built from CNC-milled, aircraft-grade aluminium, making them very lightweight. The Mikron Turbo weighs in at 104g and the standard Mikron tops the scales at just 55g.

The Equaliser Mikron and Mikron Turbo are great all-rounder tattoo machines that can be used for lining, shading, and colour packing.

Made in Italy and used by some of the best tattoo artists in the world, the Sunskin Stilo is a rotary from a company that has over 20 years’ experience in the manufacturer of high-quality tattoo machines.

Built from a solid aluminium alloy that keeps the weight down to 130 g, the Sunskin Stilo is an all-round tattoo pen that can be used for lining, shading and colour packing.

The combination of a titanium mechanism and 6.3-Watt motor gives the pen-style Stilo plenty of power, as well as a nice and soft, but accurate, hit. Sunskin’s tattoo pen knows very little vibration and is silent in operation, making it a comfortable rotary machine to work with.

The Sunskin Stilo comes with three interchangeable, autoclavable grips: two aluminium and one steel. The grips have different sizes and shapes, allowing you to choose a grip that best suits your tattooing style.

If you find yourself still unsure on the best pen-style tattoo machines, or if you just need some more information about one or more of the rotary tattoo machines, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help!