10 Best Coil Tattoo Machines Of 2023 – Reviews + Buying Guide
Inking with precision without causing any noise is no more just a wish now.
Expertise: Beauty & Lifestyle
Experience: 5 years
Chaitra has a triple main bachelor’s degree in journalism, communicative English, and economics from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication fro... more
Image: Shutterstock
While numerous tattoo machines help you make body art, using the one you are most familiar with will help you achieve professional results using the machine. One such machine is coil tattoo kits that make less noise and are more stable than the others. If you are looking for the best coil tattoo machines, we have exactly what you need. Here are the 10 highest-rated coil kits to invest in.
In This Article
10 Best Coil Tattoo Machines To Buy In 2023
1. Best Innovative: Wormhole Tattoo Gun Aircraft Grade Aluminum Coil Tattoo Machine
The Wormhole Tattoo Machine Gun has an exquisite design made of aircraft-grade aluminum that is lightweight and easy to work with. Its CNC frame helps the tattoo gun run in a more stable, quieter operation mode. Its spring is made of manganese steel, which provides strong elasticity, and the coils are made of copper, which helps increase the life of the tattoo gun. The sterling silver contact screw makes the whole tattoo gun more conducive. This gun tattoo is mostly recommended to use for professional artists.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Great design
- Fatigue resistant
Cons
- Not suitable for beginners
2. Best For Shading:Dragonhawk 2pcs Brass Coils Tattoo Machine Straight Shader Circle Liner
Image: Dragonhawk Dragonhawk is a brand known for its beautifully built tattoo machines. These brass coils tattoo machines come in a pack of two, one for shading and one for lining. The length of the spring helps you determine which is what. The shader tattoo machine has 10 wrap coils while the liner one has 8 wrap coils. You just need to adjust the voltage to 115-120 Hz for the shader machine, and the liner one works at 140-150 Hz. These Dragonhawk coil tattoo machines have a solid brass frame that helps keep the vibrations down, to give you that perfect straight line every time. The liner machine runs fast and gives solid crisp lines with a good punch while the shader has a nice soft pepper finish to it. If you want a detailed review of the product, make sure to take a look at this video.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Easy to tune
- Long-lasting
- Good build quality
- Good for beginners
Cons
- Might feel heavy for some
- Might not be as consistent
3. Best Water-Resistant: Solong Tattoo Complete Tattoo Kit
If you are looking for multiple tattoo creation instruments, you can get them all in one place, thanks to the Solong Complete Tattoo Kit. The kit comprises all tattoo supplies, such as inks, needles, a power supply, machines, and foot pedals in one place. The kit has four machine guns which altogether have more power to penetrate deep into the skin and create lasting tattoo designs. All the inks have positive colors in them and are sterilized by gamma rays. The other accessories are water resistant and supremely reliable to use. It is an excellent purchase for a beginner, a learner, and a professional tattoo artist.
Pros
- Provides set of 54 color inks
- Best for beginners
- Supports speedy procedure
- Convenient packaging
- Vegan-friendly
Cons
- Might not work effectively after a few uses
4. Best Durable Machine:Anself Pro Tattoo Machine Gun
When you worship the art you do, you would want the tools to be as enigmatic as well. The Anself Pro Tattoo Machine Gun has an exquisite design and colorful look with a perfect blend of colors all over its body. It not only looks awesome but stays ‘cool’ despite long hours of use. Made up of high-quality low-carbon steel, it is extremely durable as well. While the ergonomic spring makes sure your hands don’t tire out easily, the iron armature provides superb magnetism alongside. Basically, with its rapid thermal diffusion and stable performance, you can work for a continuous 8 hrs without any heat or fatigue.
Pros
- Exquisite design
- Liner and shader
- Durable
- Ergonomic spring
Cons
- Might not be compatible with disposable tubes and needles
5. Best Machines Compilation : Grinder Tattoo Kit by Pirate Face Tattoo
The Pirate Face Tattoo Grinder Tattoo Kit is excellent for new tattoo artists as well as professionals. This kit is an entire compilation of numerous pieces of tattoo creation equipment, such as a carrying case, sterile needles, disposable tips, gloves, and inks. The four tattoo machine guns are easy to work with, versatile in use, and easy to modify as one progresses. The inks are completely safe to use and made from non-toxic materials. The machinery makes shading and lining much easier which is a bonus.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Pigmented and sterilized inks
Cons
- Inconsistent power supply
6. Best Non-Slip Silicone Grip:YorkTattoo Coil Tattoo Machine Gun
This coil tattoo machine from YorkTattoo is made up of high-quality iron and can be used for drawing simple lines and shading as well. It comes packed in a small kit that includes tattoo tips and a grip tube along with the coil tattoo machine itself. It has a silicone grip that makes it non-slip and comfortable to use. It has a good elastic spring that is not prone to damage. This coil tattoo machine is designed to minimize skin damage and it can be used for coloring in as well. It works at a uniform speed and remains cool even after prolonged use. Being lightweight and with its low vibrations it doesn’t tire out your hands easily. It comes packed in an exquisite iron box making it easy to store and carry.
Pros
- Durable
- Non-slip silicone grip
- Elastic spring
- Tips included
Cons
- Fragile packaging
7. Best High-Quality Cast Iron:Redscorpion Cast Iron Liner Coil Tattoo Machine
If you have been looking for a coil tattoo machine for etching those perfectly smooth lines and contours, then this Redscorpion Cast Iron Liner Coil Tattoo Machine would do that for you in less than a fraction of the price of costlier high-end ones. It delivers an accurate performance working out the tiniest line in detail. It comes well tuned out of the box and is great for smaller needle groupings. Made up of high-quality cast iron, it is a very durable machine with good magnetic and electrical conductivity. It has 8 wrapped coils and doesn’t tire your hands nor heats up even after prolonged hours of use. With a good weight and sturdy frame, it is a great machine for the price it comes for.
Pros
- Durable
- Good conductivity
- Lightweight
- Great for lining
Cons
- Bigger in size
- Might vibrate a bit after prolonged use
8. Best High-Speed Stability:STIGMA CNC Carved Italy Handmade Coil Tattoo Machine Gun
This starter kit from Stigma includes two coil tattoo machines, one for shading and one for lining. They come packaged in beautiful transparent PVC packets that determine which is which. The blue one is the shader while the red packaging is for the liner machine. It has a smooth hit with no recoil and it packs the ink beautifully. It runs so smoothly and effortlessly that you can hardly feel it working on your skin. With imported copper wires and a durable body made of Japanese manganese steel material, it has good conductivity and is resistant to the usual wear and damage. Designed by an Italian tattoo artist himself, these machines not only deliver awesome tattoo etchings but their cool looks also add beauty to the aesthetics of any tattoo studio.
Pros
- Great build quality
- Imported copper wire
- No heating
- High-speed stability
Cons
- Might get shaky after a while
9. Best For Beginners:ATOMUS Tattoo Coil Machine Gun 8 Wraps Coil Liner Shader
ATOMUS Tattoo Coil Machine Gun comes with the excellent build quality and design you would want out of your favorite tattoo machine. The brand Atomus is known for the design, manufacture, and sale of various tattoo products. With a good quality iron frame and copper rod, it is durable with a stable performance. With a rotating speed of up to 3600 R/M (5V 60hz ), it is powerful enough to get the work done fast and easily. It has a good heat dissipation system in place and hence can be used for long hours without any heating. With 8 wraps of the coil, it delivers a stable output and is a good coil tattoo gun to start with, for beginners as well.
Pros
- Good for beginners
- Exquisite design
- Lightweight
Cons
- Doesn’t run at 5-6 volts
10. Best With Study Case:Hawink Tattoo Machine Traditional Handmade Copper Coil Machine 2pcs
This coil tattoo machine kit includes two machines; one shader and a liner machine. It also includes some disposable grips and a few other accessories to help you practice on skin. It comes packed in a sturdy carrying case complete with a lock and key. Made up of carbon steel, the frame is powder-coated to a nice finish with a heavy armature bar as well. All parts come nicely aligned out of the box and the extra spring saddle is a good addition that keeps the rear spring stable for long. It has a strong vice screw that fits the most available grips in the market. With 12 wrap coils and premium 24 gauge enamel coated magnet wire, this coil tattoo machine kit is all you need to get you started.
Pros
- Good build
- Nice finish
- Accessories included
- Comes with a sturdy carry case
Cons
- Heavy to work with
Now that we have a list of the 10 best coil tattoo machines on the market, let us also have a look at the basic criteria you must consider before buying one for yourself.
Buying Guide:
How To Choose The Best Coil Tattoo Machine
Choosing a coil tattoo machine requires some basic knowledge of its parts and functioning. Here in this buying guide, we help you get started with a few pointers.
- Frames
It’s very important to see what feels right in your hand. You may prefer a heavy-weighted machine made up of brass or iron to give you that stable handiwork, or you may want to go for lightweight zinc or aluminum to not tire your hands easily. Either way, the frame should have a good heat diffusion system so as not to heat up quickly even with prolonged use.
- Wrap
You would find coil machines with 8, 10, or 12 wraps of wire around a bobbin or iron core. The number of wraps determines the speed and vertical force of the machine. Most of the good coil tattoo machines would not have any gaps in the wire while cheap machines might have opaque insulation to cover up poor wrapping or fewer coils.
- Spring
The spring length helps you determine whether it is a liner or shader coil tattoo machine. A line machine would have a shorter spring at the back than the shader one. You need to opt for one or both as per your comfort and work required.
- Grip
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, an ergonomic grip would always help make the work easier on your hands and seem softer on the skin. With a good comfortable grip, you can work continuously without straining your hand.
How To Use Coil A Tattoo Machine
Using a coil tattoo machine for the first time is best done as per the user manual provided along with. After the basic coil tattoo machine setup, you can proceed as follows:
- You need to adjust the voltage as per the use you want of it- shading or lining. For outlines and contouring, a voltage between 7.5 and 8.5 volts is usually recommended, while for shading, between 8 and 12 volts is okay.
- When the tattoo machine is plugged into a power supply, the electromagnetic current flows through the coils of the machine to trigger the armature bar.
- Once set in motion, the armature bar makes the needle go up and down vertically, working your piece of art on the canvas of bare skin.
- While working with a coil tattoo machine, one should just be careful not to damage the coils or let the machine get wet anyway.
Types Of Coil Tattoo Machines
There are usually two main types of coil tattoo machines— liner and shader. While the shaders are used to form and fill in gradients inside a design, the liner is used to mark the outer lines and more delicate detailings of a tattoo.
Tattoos are not just style statements; they are the best way to express your feelings to others. There are various varieties of tattoo machines available for professional use. If you hate hearing the sound of tattoo machines, opt for coil tattoo machines as they make less noise. These machines are made of high-quality materials that have good conductivity. These coil tattoo machines are lightweight, durable, and are easy to set up. However, some products may not be compatible with disposable needs. Hence go through the buying guide to select the best tattoo machine that meets your needs.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Chaitra Krishnan, is a makeup and tattoo enthusiast. She has compiled the above list of best coil tattoo machines after in-depth research of different products available on the market and a careful evaluation of user feedback gathered from trusted online forums. These easy-to-setup machines are of great quality, make less noise, and are more stable than usual ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are coil tattoo machines better than rotary?
While coil tattoo machines tend to be less expensive when compared to rotary machines, these usually feel heavy and tend to tire out the hand more often. The coil tattoo machine also requires a certain amount of adjustment and maintenance, more than its rotary counterpart. Having said that, coil tattoo machines offer you more scope of customization in design and parts. Also, it is more efficient for sharp, precise lines because it goes well into the skin with one go. With a sturdier motor in the coil machines, these are known to be more durable as well.
Do coil tattoo machines hurt more?
When taking a jab, you tend to prefer a physician with a ‘good hand’ so that it doesn’t really feel as much. Similarly, while getting a tattoo done, it is very important to do your research about the artists and their work. A lot depends on the amount of grasp and pressure the artist uses to work on your skin. Apart from that, the type of machine would also play a certain role. A good coil machine might make you feel more of that outline being made, but it’s all done and over in one go. On the other hand, a rotary machine needs to have a certain number of repetitions to complete the design, making you feel the pain a couple of times more. But in the end, it’s the workstyle and experience of the artist that would determine how it works out for you.
Which tattoo machine better for beginners – coil or rotary?
Coil tattoo machines are better for beginners as they are more affordable, and durable, and also enable you to customize your lines and figures the best.
What does the coil do in a tattoo machine?
Most tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils to move the armature bar up and down. Connected to the armature bar is a barred needle grouping that pushes ink into the skin to offload the ink.
Does it matter what type of tattoo machine you use?
Yes, the features of your tattoo machine play a big role in your work as a tattoo artist. A good quality machine is easier to handle and lets you take precise strokes.
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