Cobra 2

[Butternuts]

Just put an order in for the Cobra 2. I have an Evader and absolutely love it, without a doubt the best tattoo machine I have used to date. Anyone have the Cobra 2 and if so how do you like it for black and grey and color shading? With the Evader I am able to adjust it to shade and color beautifully as well as adjust it to be a really nice shading liner. I'm hoping the Cobra 2 is every bit as good.

[Patrick]

I think the cobra2 is the best version of the centri yet. Works great with standard needles and carts. With lining, try riding the tip of the needle first. It can snag pretty easily if you're riding the tube.

[Butternuts]

I think the cobra2 is the best version of the centri yet. Works great with standard needles and carts. With lining, try riding the tip of the needle first. It can snag pretty easily if you're riding the tube.

I am loving lining with the Evader using standard needles. I am hoping to use the Cobra 2 as my black and grey and color shader.

[Jesse Phillips]

I am loving lining with the Evader using standard needles. I am hoping to use the Cobra 2 as my black and grey and color shader.
How are you setting it up for lining? I haven't had a lot of luck lining with mine.

[darkness]

on my older cobras i think i need a lot more time as with my coils and have it to run mostly on the fastest seetings

[Butternuts]

How are you setting it up for lining? I haven't had a lot of luck lining with mine.

I am not certain what I have the stroke length set to exactly but when the machine is running there is a dime size gap in between the (figure 8) when you look at the armature bar if that makes sense? I run the machine slow, a little over 9 volts and I go through and basically sketch the lines in, like I am shading almost, to commit the stencil and then go back over and sketch over them again to darken them up to where they need to be. I have found that adjusting the stroke on the fly to be extremely freaking useful because if I feel it is hitting too hard I shorten the stroke a tad or when shading I start in a non critical area and do some light shades to see how the dot spacing is and adjust the stroke till she is nice and smooth. These things are crazy versatile and am pretty excited to give the Cobra 2 a go.

[Jesse Phillips]

I gave my evader another go at lining yesterday with that stroke length and it worked great. Except I ran mine at 14+ volts. I like a very zippy liner. Im a single pass kind of guy.

[Butternuts]

Good to hear it worked for ya! I suck a single pass so slow and steady wins the race for me when it comes to lining haha.

[darkness]

is 14+ volts not to much for the envader - ialways think i can go only to 12v

[Jesse Phillips]

is 14+ volts not to much for the envader - ialways think i can go only to 12v
My box is marked 14.5 volts max. The amperage is so low due to the lack of resistance too, im not too concerned about it.

[Butternuts]

Just got the Cobra 2 in the mail this morning...Man is this thing beautiful!! Can't wait to tattoo with it today.

[Butternuts]

Got to log some time in the past few days on this bad boy. Although the machine is very well capable of doing everything, I do prefer the Evader for shading and color blending. Lining, for me anyways, is where the Cobra 2 kicks ass and I am sure it would equally kick ass as a color packer. I'm finally going to retire my AXYS as my main outliner which I have been using for well over a year. I am hoping Cyberitual can chime in on this but I have noticed with the Evader that while shading I can basically leave the voltage alone (I have it set around 9.3v) and am able to get the dot spacing where I want it by making small adjustments to the stroke wheel. I noticed today while lining with the Cobra 2, that I could have the voltage set the same (9.3v) and was able to fine tune the hit by making small adjustments to the stroke wheel, like if I was going over a delicate spot and felt it was hitting too hard I shortened up the stroke a hair and it felt good. Am I correct in thinking this? Instead of fiddle fucking with the power supply I can basically get the same results by adjusting the stroke wheel which is much faster and efficient to do it seems. Where you incorporating this into the machine design? If so then that is genius b/c with a bagged machine I am able to start the piece out just seeing how it is putting ink in/how hard or soft it is hitting and am able to get into my feel good range by twisting the stroke wheel a bit in the direction I want to go.

[Cyberitual]

Well yes and no lol, but more yes... What we are doing is shorting the travel time in the stroke when you close the adjuster and in a system that has no friction a shorter travel would create less impact so your hit would be softer and vice versa, the larger the stroke the stronger the impact. Now here is were it gets weird, If you change the voltage you obviously are making it faster or slower which has a effect on the force of the hit as well. But if you leave the voltage alone and you just use the adjuster, shortening the stroke will speed up the stroke "and hit softer" and lengthening the stroke will slow your stroke down "But hit harder". longer distance = longer time = slower speed. This is why this machine and the Evader are so adjustable. When using both power adjustments and stroke adjustment, every artist should be able to find their sweet spots. Im glad your happy with all the goods you ordered. You like my Auroras cables?

[Butternuts]

Makes sense!! I'm finding, for my hand speed, I am able to get away with not having to touch the power supply so much and just make small adjustments to the stroke wheel which is pretty convenient. The cords are awesome, haven't had any issues at all. I am actually rocking a full Centri set up now that I think of it haha well, minus the foot pedal. I will be getting the Evader 2. I won't make the preorder list b/c I just got the Cobra 2 but probably beginning of summer I will be picking that up. The Cobra 2 body style is bad ass looking in person, pictures don't even do it any justice and it makes me bummed having to bag it for a tattoo lol.