newfiebackflip Report post Posted January 16, 2011 Has anyone else attempted to use a tattoo machine to do some work on their leather? I have a lot of friends in the tattoo industry so hanging around with them gave me a curious idea and that was to try and use a tattoo machine to do some leather work. I was in the process of making my fiance her belt when I worked up the nerve to attempt using my machine on the leather. It didn't turn out to to bad. I only used it to do some shading in the flower, didn't try to use and dye's with it in fear I would fling it across my living room making a major mess. Here is a little about what the belt means. My fiances middle name is Ayelen and in Quechua means flower of the moon. So I carved out a Calla Lilly with my Swivel knife and stamped the rest. This is a before I stained it picture. Lost the after picture so I will have to track down her belt and take another photo. ayelen.tiff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted January 16, 2011 Has anyone else attempted to use a tattoo machine to do some work on their leather? I have a lot of friends in the tattoo industry so hanging around with them gave me a curious idea and that was to try and use a tattoo machine to do some leather work. I was in the process of making my fiance her belt when I worked up the nerve to attempt using my machine on the leather. It didn't turn out to to bad. I only used it to do some shading in the flower, didn't try to use and dye's with it in fear I would fling it across my living room making a major mess. Here is a little about what the belt means. My fiances middle name is Ayelen and in Quechua means flower of the moon. So I carved out a Calla Lilly with my Swivel knife and stamped the rest. This is a before I stained it picture. Lost the after picture so I will have to track down her belt and take another photo. ayelen.tiff yes a photo with the ink would be a sight to see..................... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cem Report post Posted January 16, 2011 newfiebackflip you might want to check out these two threads http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19050&hl=tattooing&st=0 and http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19531&hl=tattooing&st=0. The first one contains a few links for other artists that have tattooed leather and the second one is from a member here though I don't think he has been on the board for awhile. There may be some other posts around but from what I can remember these are the main ones, I started the first one and I'm still quite interested in it so I would love to see you belt photo with ink. Cheers, Clair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mendedbowl Report post Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) I've never done any kind of tattoo work, but I would love to learn how those who are successfully tattooing leather are doing it. is it veg tan or chrome tan? if they are sealing it, or treating it before tattooing what are they using? how are they keeping the ink from bleeding or staining when wiping it off the surface? newfiebackflip would you be willing to share a pic of your work and explain a little about how you did it? thanks for any help, ken Edited January 16, 2011 by mendedbowl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newfiebackflip Report post Posted January 16, 2011 Thanks, Lesson learned is I should probably search things before i post lol So I responded on yours and I think it could be vaseline. Ill try it tomorrow. Darren newfiebackflip you might want to check out these two threads http://leatherworker...=tattooing&st=0 and http://leatherworker...=tattooing&st=0. The first one contains a few links for other artists that have tattooed leather and the second one is from a member here though I don't think he has been on the board for awhile. There may be some other posts around but from what I can remember these are the main ones, I started the first one and I'm still quite interested in it so I would love to see you belt photo with ink. Cheers, Clair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cem Report post Posted January 16, 2011 No worries Darren the more threads about this the better I say cause the few tattoo artists I've asked around where I live look at me like I'm an idiot, mostly cause they can't understand why I would want to tattoo leather instead of people. I'll keep an eye out on the other thread though to see how you go I'm thinking it probably is Vaseline but it would definately be nice to know for sure. Cheers, Clair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FatSmitty Report post Posted January 18, 2011 Superior Tattoo Supply sells a "practice skin" for learning to tattoo, in the instructions they say to wipe down the "skin" with vaseline or A&D ointment. I don't know what the "practice skin" is made from, but from the pictures, it appears to be like foam board or the like. I do know that A&D is by far the goo of choice for most pro tattoo artists and most claim that vaseline blocks in bacteria and such. Maybe this will lead you to an answer on what they seal it with. Nevada Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites