The INDEX Rotary

Until now, there hasn't been a name for the cam-operated version of our Axis/Slingshot model rotary machine. It's pretty annoying that the word 'cam' is sort of taken, by a company full of people that have no tattoos.

Anyways, I have been reading up on cam terminology. The word 'index' describes one phase of a cam operated device's position. Often, a curve or graph is used as a visual display to describe this 'index.'

This term INDEX pertains to cams, sounds important, and has an 'x' at the end of it so it's extra cool. I think we will call the cam-operated Slingshot the INDEX ROTARY.

What do y'all think?

March/April 2011 Cam/Index Rotary Machines Update

Sorry i don't have a regular online store. I know this makes things harder. We sell the machines as soon as we make them, so it's hard to build up any inventory at all.

We pretty much just make one style of machine at a time. When I have 10 employees this will change a lot ha ha. So, the machines right now are looking like this:

Cam/Slingshot(Index) style machine in brass and aluminum(CSLSSP) - This machine(see photo) has a low torque swiss motor turned around backwards. The armature pivots like a see saw. A cam lobe pushes the back end of the see saw up and 2 springs push it back down. You have to adjust the springs and also run your rubber bands just right. It's easy. Read more here: http://specialtechnique.blogspot.com/2011/03/cam-operated-slingshot-rotary-machines.html

Cam/Slingshot(Index) rotary machine in Delrin/Acetal plastic polymer(CSLSXUL) - The Cam/Slingshot in Delrin is incredibly light, around 80-90 grams. Combined with a disposable tube, you will hardly notice this tool while you are using it. The plastic is hand milled from a block(we buy scraps) and won't ever change. A machine this light requires you to push with your hand more. Most people like this feeling.

Upcoming machine projects include a collaboration with a machine building GIANT(May 2011), and some more of our very popular Slingshot rotaries(June 2011). Both of these machines will involve using a Drive Bar to power the armature. The Cam/Slingshot does not make use of a Drive Bar. Both styles tattoo well and feel nice to both artist and client. I recommend you pick up one of EVERY style we make :]

Cam Operated Reverse-Armature Rotary Machines - The INDEX Rotary

the cam driven design is pretty much a slingshot with a cam lobe instead of a drive bar. i have put a lot of time and thought into this, and i really believe a cam driven rotary with dampening is the best way to push a needle in. of course i am keenly aware that every artist's hand has different preferences. i believe this cam design is the best for all-around use, and for the greatest variety of artists. i am just going to list my reasons here for you. i'm not trying to force my ideas on you, i just want everyone to see where i'm at.

1. the cam driven slingshot is precise and predictable. most rotaries have some play in the mechanism. this play causes shock damage to the parts, and makes the device very slightly imprecise. i have been wrestling with this issue since my first build. when the cam style is adjusted correctly, there is no play in the mechanism. this makes for almost robotically precise perfomance from the machine.

2. the needle acceleration curve produced by a cam is OPTIMAL in my opinion. i have used the cam style in ultralight delrin and heavy brass a bunch in the last week. the way the needle increases in speed and pressure against the skin feels super perfect to my hand. again, your hand may be different and not like this sensation.

3. we don't have to make a frikkin drive bar. the drive bar is a bitch to make, really. we have some manufacturing in the works which will make them more accessible, but for now we hand mill them out of delrin. it's too time consuming to make this part by hand. every one is different and gets adjusted to match the machine it's on - no two are alike. we can't overlook how horribly inefficient this process is when they can basically be printed out by a computer.

4. they are quite easy to repair and get parts for. there's really nothing to them but geometry, and a motor that's being treated rather gently by the rest of the mechanism. the parts are easily accessible from me or from the hobby store, and they are all identical. we basically cannot survive if we have to keep repairing machines - we need you to do it like you do with your coil machines. we made these so anyone who can turn a screwdriver can fix them. no rotary lasts forever although i have seen some pretty miraculous performance from most of mine. if we streamline our operation by shortening our time spent in the repairs department, we might be able to stop worrying about bills and start getting ahead in life. since our clients really punish our machines, i will end up replacing motors on a lot of them. the repairs will be cheap or free, depending on the circumstances. i'm committed to this knowingly and gladly, but i do like to make time for other projects.

the cam driven slingshot can be very simple or very fancy. at the moment we are primarily building brass ones with very little extraneous bling. the first round will all cost around $450-$500. when we make aluminum ones they will be around $400, and the hand milled delrin plastic version will be around $350.

to sum up, the cam slingshots drive a needle well, are easy to repair, and easier to build. our aim with this design is to make a device that has a fair price tag, works well, repairs easily, and lasts a long time.

Special Technique's assistant, Karen

Special Technique is thankful and proud to enlist the help of Karen Yoo as frontperson, task manager and secretary. With her help, we can get your machines and repairs back to you faster. It will also allow us to make new prototypes and do production work simultaneously. Karen is heavily tattooed(by both rotary and coil) by Ugly Bill and has been a friend for many years. During normal California business hours, Karen can often be found managing a retail spot in Pacific Beach. Since our clients live in every time zone, this won't always matter. Please help us help you, by being up front about where you tattoo in an actual licensed tattoo shop. We do look at your shop's website/Facebook/Myspace.

Karen is committed to the same standards we are: thoroughness, friendliness, and forward movement. She understands the spiritual and intimate nature of the tattooist's tools. Karen can answer most of your questions, and can contact us quickly if needed.

Thanks Karen, your help is really a lifesaver!

Special Technique Rotary Tattoo Machines - International Orders

this is a response to a machine inquiry from an artist in indonesia...

hi.. thank you for looking. my name is bill. sometimes my assistant karen also logs in to this account. please also watch my youtube videos here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BJI9WJFRkE.

the price of our machines depends on the amount of time each machine takes to build. of course the more pretty machines take the most time. they all tattoo very nicely. the stroke has been about 3.5mm lately and the speed can usually go past 180-200hz! if you want it slower or faster or big stroke or light weight, just tell me and i will show you a machine. i have been making them VERY fast lately. they go faster than you can tattoo, if you turn it up, and the motor will be still only running at 5.5 volts! or, you can turn it down to 4 volts and pack in thick, gooey colors.

the ones in the latest video are the style i have been making. i make a new video each time i make/sell a few new machines.

i guarantee my parts for a year, and i don't charge much for repairs after that.. like $25-$75 usd. shipping internationally for repairs can be a lot of trouble.

i'm getting better at building, so repairs on the newer machines are getting easier and easier. one day soon i will make rotary machines that the artist can repair himself.

please let me know when you can spend money on a new machine :] and we will help you choose one, or build one for you.

also, have you ordered items from usa before? it is difficult to ship to some places. england post is terrible, for example. they charge a lot of money when you go to pick up your package sometimes.


thanks again
--bill

SFO Tattoo Convention Stories

ok so here goes.. i'm tired as hell, excuse the gibberish

sold copter 2 to grime. what an amazing guy. so much enthusiasm. he gave it back today so we can put an rca cord on it since he only uses that. rca rules.

my friend clay decker gave me an rca clipcord adaptor that is sick. the rca pug is CERAMIC inside so we can braze brass to it and add it to the copter 2, with bling..

sold the machine we called 'the nameless' to uptown charlie, a machine builder and collector and shop owner.

i mentioned to him i would kill for a first generation swashdrive and he said he had one almost new in the box.

without telling me, he drove home to wherever and got this thing, it's sick looking and historical too. in the box with extra clips and bushings and the directions.

he was so smitten with our newest brass tracker that he had to have it. he was mostly trying to trade me for the swashdrive, which i wanted very much.. i told him no like 300 times, and said i don't have money to buy museum pieces. he said he couldnt afford to spend any more cash so that was that. which i was relieved at because my partner had asked me not to sell it yet but to jus ttake deposit

at 630 the entire hotel lost power. some dim emergency lites but no outlets at all. this outage lasted til 8 - closing time.

at that moment me n my buddy clay decker were sitting next to his partner RICHARD STELL who was tattooing a rad looking tiger on a kid's leg. richard is a very intimidating person who was vocal about his dislike of rotaries in the past. his friends always said he was a sweetheart but i was terrified of him.

i mentioned to clay that our machines run perfect off usb and he was like yeah and then we can use one of those spelunking lights blah blah and before you know it we had rigged clipcord footswithch usb no rheostat.. i basically PUT the brass tracker in richard stells hand and said TRUST ME YOULL LOVE IT. richard shoved it right in there and took to it immediately, was hauling ass right away. his wife held the spelunking light.

all this happened as every famous motherfucker in the industry was standing around waiting for the power to come back on. it never did. many folks went home with unfinished work including DAVE HARTMAN. anyways richard sure was awful sweet to me after that. he was the only one that tattooed any more at the convention, 1 hour and 2 laptops worth of batteries later the tattoo was finished and looked awesome. richard quite liked the machine..

uptown charlie sold like 4000 dollars worth of shit right at the end an came up and offered me cash for my partner and the swashdrive for me, which i accepted.

Rotary Tattoo Machine Answers

Here are some answers to questions I have recieved about Special Technique rotary tattoo machines.

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when a rotary tattoo machine has a spring to make the 'hit' softer, it is called 'dampened.' we also say 'it has a dampening mechanism.'

this dampening feels nice to both artist and client. some dampening mechanisms have too many parts. more parts means more chances to break. i like to make the dampening with no extra moving parts, just a well placed spring that softens the 'hit' a little bit. ALL DAMPENING FEELS NICE and you don't need to adjust it on the machine. just turn the power up or down a little bit.

ADJUSTABLE dampening means there is a screw to adjust the tension on the dampener spring. i think these adjustable ones will break down too soon. i made a few, but i worry....

i think our Tracker machines like the first one in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SXvQRj87aI will all have the dampening spring but with NO adjustment screw. two reasons for this: i don't want tattooists messing with my devices, and you should NOT be using one machine for every tattoo task. you should have at least 4 or 5 machines you use every day. no machine can be used by itself to support a tattooist's ENTIRE career. it just doesn't work that way.

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the machines get tested under the WORST and also BEST possible conditions. i put oil instead of ink in the tube and run all rubber real loose, and i also dry needle that hard rubber practice skin with metal dust and crap all over it... using a 15 mag a lot of the time. it really hammers at the machine's working parts. i really try to give these things some punishment before i send them out. i really go over these things in detail. if something is amiss, i find it right away. when i get all the parts to behave correctly, nothing will change the machine, even in the roughest tattoo conditions, for a year to two years. our parts are becoming more durable and easier to replace as we progress: this aspect of making the machines is a huge emphasis for us. we also buy extra motors well over and above the number of machines we make, just to be on the safe side.

you get a surprising look at other factors in tattooing when the machine never changes. i'm really concerned with nothing else other than showing tattooists this different and enjoyable perspective on their daily task. i've shut off basically everything in life, and devote ALL my time to stressing out about sending mechanical devices to england and switzerland and india.

my partner, brian campbell and i charge a lot for our creations because we know what it's worth to buy a product backed by people who are so devoted to their craft. right now we are obsessed, low-tech mechanical innovators, but we're both interested in machining, mass-production and even engineering classes. who knows what we will turn into, but the point is that we are so into making and sharing mechanical devices that you literally buy a piece of us when you get a machine from us. we have made roughly 60 machines at this time, and we'll have the same attitude after we've made 600 and 6000 machines.