New to Rotary.. lookin for my first!

[beardown210]

hi guys, im in San Antonio TX, been tattooing for 3yrs and was taught with and have only used coils.
I got to toy with a couple the last few weeks from some friends at other shops and i have to say... im shopping! So ill be honest, cash is tight and times are slow. At this very moment i have the go ahead from the wife to get a new machine, SO, do i play it safe and check out the STEALTHs, or do i stick my neck out a bit and go for something in the $200 - $300 range?

Now remember, ive never used a Rotary, i may stick with coils if it doesnt work out but i have the chance to grab one now. ive seen a buddy of mine really pick up his game with a STEALTH so im interested, is there something in the stealth price range worth trying or am i gonna have to up the cash a bit ... what do you guys suggest?

[OwlsDen]

Neo Tats are awesome and are only about 250$ new. I have one and only want more. Also whatever you get, if you don't like it, you can sell or trade on here. My wife has two stealth machines and they just can't come close to a better machine. Stealth is fine don't get wrong, but if you don't like a stealth you won't have much luck selling it for what you got it for.

[Dreviltattoo]

if you are used to coils then u should get a rotary with adjustable give. i would look into Nedz micro machines. they aren't too much money and they are very adjustable and if you search on here you will see they have great reviews. that way you can dial it in and if you start wanting it with less give then you can adjust it. it's def a learning curve, but you will love rotaries.

[beardown210]

thank you very much... where can i find a Neo Tat machine? the link on your profile shows non available.

[Dreviltattoo]

needlejig.com

[Dreviltattoo]

needlejig.comget a 3.5 stroke if ur getting a neotat. the vivace is lighter. i had two originals and one vivace and wasn't that big a fan(great for big mags though). everyone tattoos differently and likes different things about different machines. if you can stand to lose the cake then try to find a stigma hyper v.2. thats the one machine i miss since i turned over to air, and i've owned tons of rotaries.

[wildboy]

If you like the beauty of a classic coil frame design you should aim for one of Slavas Ink-ing handmade hybrid machines. http://www.rotarytattoo.com/album.php?albumid=54 I recently bought one and its my favourite machine now. The machines will have a safety spring from now.

[OwlsDen]

Wildboy makes a great point, a machine like that will be a perfect transition from coils. Tattooed pirate makes one kind of like that too and it may be cheaper than 250€ and the time to have it shipped from Europe. But if you are willing to spend the money and wait for shipping, then you will have a truly special machine.

[Mr.Taboo]

Everyone tattoos different but I'll say this I've got a Dragonfly , Bishop , and Neotat and I plan on getting at least one more Neotat if not more.
Ray from Neotat is a forum member. (http://www.rotarytattoo.com/member.php/32-rjdadio)

[skinmech]

I prefer coils,however, I would suggest a Nedz, or a German Evolution...I know Deakon on here used to stock the Evolution, might be an idea to pm him...P

[OwlsDen]

Search eBay.de the evolution is always on there. 130€ might just search for rotary tattoo and sort thru you will most likely find it.

[beardown210]

Man, u guys are being ridiculously helpful... tons of option that I have research. I have to stress, for my first rotary, price IS an issue.I wasn't able to find that Evolution on eBay, if u guys run across a link please post it. Thank u guys very much for the input!

[OwlsDen]

Did you go to eBay.de? That is the German eBay site.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.de/viewitem?itemId=320823384698&index=7&nav=SEARCH&nid=39886415549

[beardown210]

Wow, very interesting!!!! Ok, I'm gonna need as much info on this as possible, gonna have to hit some contacts today.

[beardown210]

This evolution, anybody have any info on it? Voltage it runs at, takes standard grip and tube, good for lining or shading?

[skinmech]

Check the Review page, I will throw up a Review I done on another site a while back...P

[peter clements]

Did you go to eBay.de? That is the German eBay site.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.de/viewitem?itemId=320823384698&index=7&nav=SEARCH&nid=39886415549

and here's the Ebay UK link...........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROTARY-Tattoo-Machine-MADE-GERMANY-High-Quality-Liner-Shader-/320823384698?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Tattoos_BodyArt_S M&hash=item4ab2905a7a

[beardown210]

Great write up.. this is looking like the perfect machine so far.

[OwlsDen]

Have you converted euro to dollars? It's about 200$ plus shipping. Just want to again say that stateside Neo Tat is a steal at 250$ everyday I like my Neo more. I am starting to really be able to one pass line with it and make the no give work for me. You will spend about the same on an evolution after shipping. Just keep that in mind.

[beardown210]

Funny cuz I'm sitting here rebuilding a coil while u guys make my brain hurt debating rotarys!

[chris-in-cali]

I would listen to owlsden...
me personally, the most bang I have gotten for my buck was with the neo-tat.
super smooth, quite and dependable....a true workhorse

[tattoosbybill]

it may be beyond your price range but if not you won't find a better machine than the Centri (thread on here) it as close to a coil as I have tried and Ive tried the hawk, dragonfly, swash gen7, Bishop, and Neotat and while they all had good features to them covered the whole spectrum like a Centri ....just my opinion I have 3 of them and use them everyday

[beardown210]

haha... yeah, for now im gonna pretend i didnt see that Centri.

[Gabetexas]

Where you working at in San Antonio? I Say My Bishop is pretty rad all around. I love the Neo Tat as well.

[schlick]

My first "rotary" (besides a tape player motor) was a neuma-hybrid and I feel that it was a great stepping stone to get in to rotary machines, not that it is very cost effective. Once I decided to take the leap I feel it was much easier to acclimate to machines with no adjustable give. I now have the Vivace which exceeded all expectations (although I will probably do something to the body because I feel having the name blasted down the side is a little much), and I love my bishop. But I have to say that for the price, and if you can deal with a machine that has no give, Rotary Works is the way to go (although I think Dale made an adjustable machine now). Not only do the do everything I ask of them (literally from 3r to 35m) but i got two of them shipped to me for almost the same price, and about 2 weeks faster than I got my Bishop. Aesthetically I like the Bishop and RW best, RW for simplicity, and Bishop for the sleek look, but the Bishop is almost Silent and while a RW is more quiet than coils, they definitely make noise and were heavier than I expected, but at least I had the same amount invested and had two machines to try different things with

[beardown210]

thanks guys for all your input.
right now im curious as to where or how i can go about purchasing a Neo Tat. After really looking around and doing research this seems to be the machine i would like to start my rotary trials with. So where can i put an order in for one?

[OwlsDen]

http://taptatdaddio.com/ that is the builders website.

[slicksteel]

Also:
http://unimaxsupply.com/ (http://unimaxsupply.com/)
http://www.needlejig.com/
http://www.eikondevice.com/ (http://www.needlejig.com/)

[Neo]

I say go NEDZ, His machines are built well and are able to hit super soft like coils. Depends on what you like but i liked the Nedz better then the neotat. I dont like a no give super hard hit and nedz hits soft to hard the neotat just hits super hard. Nedz are built as well if not better and are very nice with the needle tensioner. Has a life warranty for the machine, motor is a year i think but motors are cheap to replace. The Neotat has a one year warranty and is cheaper. The no give and one year warranty is what i dont like about the neotat but it is a well built machine. It all depends on what you like.. Give or no give ? both ?

Everybody throw ya Nedz up !....

[slicksteel]

Nedz are very nice and can pretty much hit hard, soft or med to suit your style, and you can buy replacement parts for it.

[vsprotoss]

Nedz is great. If you want to try out a good quality armature bar driven rotary like the stealth, I suggest the new storm rotary machine. Had a chance to run it and it's been doing great and it's only 150 dollars with free shipping. You can get both the storm or nedz at www.frictiontattoo.com

Best of luck to you. I would avoid stealths, don't support World Wide Tattoo. The company has no ethics in the industry. They ripped the Swiss and FK Irons and also Hendrick's tattoo pens and their quality sucks. There's been a bunch of bad press on that supply company.

[OwlsDen]

This storm machine looks cool but it is just another Swiss copy, and they sell a bunch of knock offs.

[Dman]

Just got a Nedz this Saturday and gotta say I love it!! did some lining and black n grey shading with it and was just a great machine all around im verry happy with it.

[Gabetexas]

So the site above sells starter kits.Wasnt there a huge thread about this earlier this month?

[OwlsDen]

Yeah kinda, I think it was about kits and tattoo schools. The machine does look great though. Tempting too.

[nivek]

I used to prefer coild machines, had a swash gen 6 that barly got used. A freind insisted I try his neo tat - so I did - I own two now.. I don't have an adjustable one yet, but I do recomend them, as I find the lack of give holding me back from doing black and grey with rotaries.

[OwlsDen]

Truly you can easily do black and gray with a neo. Make the give in your wrist. Push a little bit less, just graze the skin. I swear it works.