The best tattoo pen machine for 2022

Why did this tattoo pen gun get the best? There are a few of the most important reasons:

• It’s one of the best rotary machines out there.
• It’s wireless, which we think is one of the major trends of the next few years.
• Its operation is flawless, and it’s very reliable.

So, to the review.

This stylus tattoo machine is not thick but long, making its weight well balanced. It comes with several manuals, a battery charger, an extra battery, a Cheyenne protective case, and a zippered travel box.

User experience

Batteries come in a kit with this product are internal, that is, you can buy it in any store. The tattoo pen keeps the power up to the last, that is, the low charge of the device will not lose power. The minimum battery life is 5 hours. Indication: The lower LED indicates the degree of charge, the upper LED indicates the enabled mode.

The machine operation is made with an accelerometer. There are only one button and two LEDs on the control panel. You need to press this one button to turn the machine on. If you want to increase voltages, press the button and tilt the machine up, and, so, if you want to reduce voltages, press the button and tilt the machine down (the device comes with a detailed manual).

This rotary pen tattoo machine has two modes Steady and Responsive. When a responsive mode is turned on, the needle slightly changes the impact energy and “softens” its stroke. Many who have used these modes with other Cheyenne devices have said that this adaptation of the machine to the skin is very helpful in tattooing exactly the right contour, without unnecessary traumatization. It’s so soft when shading with Responsive mode. Whereas Steady mode has a completely flawless hitting, so it’s perfect for lines.

As with most reputable manufacturers, FK Irons has gone to great lengths to make the box and packaging look good. Combining gloss and matte, the box is easy to unpack. There are rings, keys, a replacement eccentric, and a short manual inside, in addition to the machine. The machine leaves a great first impression right away. Very stylish looking feels comfortable in the hand. The connection is the usual RCA cord. How does it run and what features is it hiding?

User experience

The tattoo machine seems to be more weighty and noticeably shorter than a standard pen. The conventional FK Irons grip – with edges – is very handy to hold and work with.

The needle stroke is adjusted with a ratcheting swivel on the needle grip.

It comes with two replaceable eccentrics, which are also easy to replace. This is something the FK Irons have pioneered, never before has there been an interchangeable eccentric on a pen. The machine is easy to disassemble. First, remove the grip, then the body of the tattoo machine is quickly dismantled in two parts. The eccentric is easy to remove and the other one is installed on hexes. This allows you to adjust the tool to your type of work not just on the voltages, but specifically on the hardware level.

The Swiss Maxon 6W MotorBolt motor inside was designed specifically for this device.

When you take the machine apart, there’s another cool feature at the section where the motor force is transferred to the needles: the softness/hardness of the needle impact can be adjusted. This has never been seen on a pen before, which makes this machine very different from the others reviewed here. However, as you may have already guessed, to adjust the needle strike during a session, you have to take everything apart, from the barrier protection to the pen body itself. Accordingly, this requires you to think through the necessary needlework before the session.

The jointless grip is combined with all modules. Autoclavable.

200$ it is much more manageable and reasonable than six hundred plus dollars for like a Cheyenne or FK Irons or whatnot. So, that’s pretty much why this CNC Q2 tattoo machine is in this review.

Inside the box, there is a manual you can check out, an O-ring, and a tiny Allen wrench. Another box holds a clip-cord and the machine itself. At first, let us note that the kit comes with a very thin clip-cord. It certainly works, but it is hardly possible to say with assurance how well or how long it will work.

User experience

It’s really tiny. Although it is a bit thicker than the Cheyenne, the CNC Q2 is very short. This is especially handy if you plan to work with wireless power. By inserting a wireless power supply into this short machine, the device will not be too long and heavy.

The device is easy to disassemble, so there should be no problem with repairing it. You can easily unscrew the body and see the internal mechanism.

The German Faulhaber Motor inside gives us a reliable and powerful machine. The manufacturer recommends working on 5.5V-9V, warning that it is better not to work on 9 volts for a long time without interruptions.

Note, don’t run it higher than 10 volts, or you’ll overheat the motor and cause mechanical wear.

Kwadron is a Polish manufacturer of tattoo equipment that has rapidly found its niche in the tattoo industry. A lot of tattoo artists are familiar with this company due to their power supplies. The Equaliser Proton is one of the few machines represented by Kwadron, but this does not make it worse.

Moreover, there is one indisputable advantage of this device: its price. It costs half of the other competitor machines’ price, so you get good value.

User experience

The body of the Kwadron Proton is made of anodized aluminum, so it is very light. You’ll notice the complete lack of vibration when you run the Equaliser Proton.

Its advanced gear system makes it a very quiet and reliable machine. The Kwadron feels very comfortable in your hand and is versatile, as it will run cartridges from all the major brands. Moreover, Kwadron is also suitable for working with permanent tattooing.

Since the Equaliser Proton has a spinning element, the machine works clearly with even the smallest details. Therefore, you can be sure that you get an even line or dot without any smudges or curvature.

This tattoo gun can even be compared to the Cheyenne in quality and painting style. For example, the Cheyenne requires either an original power supply or an adapter because it lacks an RCA connector; the Equaliser works with any power supply and has an RCA connector.

When continuing to compare this Equaliser to the Cheyenne Hawk Pen, one senses a slight difference in the cartridge fixation. The Cheyenne makes the cartridges slide in and out with no effort but still stands firm. In contrast, the Equaliser requires a little more pressure; but this does not affect the quality of the tattoo, just a slight difference in usage.

There is a 5W rotor motor inside. It works stable, but if you listen carefully, you can hear a little pop and gurgle, resulting from the inconsistency of this motor. That’s why we should say that it is not the most consistent runner while you’re working. You can feel like the hit is compromised a little bit. It doesn’t sound right, and that’s the biggest cons of this machine. So you should decide if you are ready to deal with that.

The weight balance of this machine is also not the best. The weight is slightly shifted to the top of the pen. This is one of the major advantages of this design. But, because it is quite light, probably not everyone would feel it in operation.

It is worth noting that it is Cheyenne, who is the founder of modular tattoo machines. This Hawk Pen, when introduced by the manufacturer, was a real innovation in the tattoo world. It is a genuinely epochal pen tattoo machine. Many subsequent products of other manufacturers in this area were only replacements or cheaper Hawk Pen analogs.

Inside the box, in addition to the pen itself, there is a clip cord, adapter, o-rings, a stand for the machine, and a very detailed manual. By the way, the manufacturer’s manual and the rules of using the equipment talks about its recommendations for the instrument’s barrier protection.

It comes with only one 25mm aluminum grip, but you can buy a thinner one with a diameter of 21mm.

If you want to use the Cheyenne with a non-proprietary power supply, you will need a special cable.

User experience

Now, let’s discuss the machine in detail. It has a glossy, ergonomic body. It feels sturdy but not heavy and is relatively thin. The gravity center is balanced along the entire axis of the device, allowing for excellent balance. The machine’s weight does not shift and does not pull your wrist anywhere, so your hand should not get tired after long hours of work. The needle stroke is 3.5 mm, and it is easy to adjust by rotating the grip without clicking into place.

It is very powerful in operation, but at the same time gentle, running as softly as necessary. That is, it is not too soft, but it does not cut the skin either. Moreover, there is enough power for different works: contouring, shading, and sketching.

The Hawk Pen has a low noise level and minimal vibration.

Keep in mind; it is possible to destroy Cheyenne with low-quality cartridges that do not have a fluid membrane, as there is a chance of fluid entering the machine system through them.

Bronc, Big Wasp, and Hummingbird are subsidiaries of one another. The Chinese manufacturer Hummingbird-Rotary produces these pretty good quality machines for their price, many of which have been highly valued by professional tattoo artists worldwide. One of these machines is the Bronc pen-style rotary tattoo machine.

Everyone is looking for a universal tattoo machine. Look no further! Everything about this pen is amazing, and It has everything that you can look for in a pen. It’s tiny and lightweight, but it’s got some weight behind it to make it kind of sturdy. It comes in a nice black box with a serial number and with a few cartridge needles, lubricant, RCA-cord, rubber o-rings, and a holder for your pen. Thus, if you’re laying your machine down, you don’t want it to roll off your cart. This holder helps you to be more effective at any point in time during a tattoo session. The RCA-сord included is well made of solid copper and natural rubber. But you should remember that this kit assumes that you already have a foot pedal and a quality power supply.

The device is a bit longer than the pen machines’ average size, but it is comfortable to use. Maybe some find it inconvenient, but this Bronc remains the best option available on the market.

Features

You’re going to get both great lines and great shading with this affordable but quality tattoo pen machine. It simplifies tattooing and makes it easy to apply tattoo ink for long periods.

A Japanese rotary motor is inside, which pledges to last a long time with no loss of power.

The Bronc works with cartridges, so you can easily tattoo lines, color, or shadows just by replacing the cartridge.

The needle length is adjustable by rotating the grip.

It’s not the quietest motor, but it’s not loud either; the sound of the machine running doesn’t strain or distract from tattooing.

It feels great in your hand, allowing you to create any tattoo idea you want. Just take it in your hand like a pen and create!

It’s a new, unknown to users machine with a lot of peculiarities. Before you buy it, you should look at it carefully and see if it’s a good solution for you. Usually, the first impression is not the best. However, once they get used to it, most tattoo artists are interested and have a special attitude toward it.

What’s the point? The thing is that this device has a slightly different mechanism inside than other tattoo rotary pens. Instead of the standard rotor, it has a magnetic system. That is, the force of the magnet pushes and moves the needle. Let’s take a closer look at how this system works.

User experience

The innovation of this machine lies primarily in the fact that it solves the hygiene problem inherent to pens. The magnetic cartridges do not contain a single extra hole through which cross-contamination can occur, and the cartridge storage system ensures the greatest possible hygiene safety concerning infections. Plus, most of the machine’s main parts are open to the user and available for at least some kind of antiseptic treatment.

The most important thing is that clients note that the machine doesn’t hurt at all. Even those who find it very difficult to tolerate the pain during sessions say so. The needle movement is driven magnetically, and this is something you have to get used to. But once you get over the adaption period, you will feel how much quicker and easier the clients “heal” and how much less painful this machine works. This is an invaluable advantage because one of the main goals of every tattoo artist is customer happiness.

This machine is very thin and light in use. Be aware that for large hands and long fingers, this is not a very comfortable pen configuration. Also, you need to understand that when the needle protrudes, it meets some skin resistance. So the machine should still have some weight for better penetration into the skin. In case you are comfortable working with such lightweight devices with a diameter of only 22 mm, this would be the best choice for you.

The needle stroke is easily adjusted at the top of the device. This adjustment is provided with a click mechanism, which is also very handy.

The RCA connectors and clip cord location on the side cause some difficulties with barrier protection. Although there is a detailed manual in the instructions for use on how to wrap this pen, you still need to be prepared for this because it takes time. It’s also a little awkward to use because the weight balance shifts.

The innovativeness of the Scorpion leads to a higher price tag for the purchase of all the necessary equipment. The magnetic cartridges are not cheap; the holders have also only recently started to come out and cost a lot. Only Ink Machines cartridges are appropriate for this machine, and they are more expensive than even Cheyenne cartridges.

By the way, it comes with a stand for the cartridges, 2 magnets (drive and standard), oil, tool kit No.90, and conversion kit No.110.

This is a liner from the Bishop Wand product line. It comes in a box, with the case, lubricant, and RCA. Hence, right after unpacking it, you understand its first advantage as a convenient, high-quality, and sturdy case to transport your device.

The Wand Liner is only 95 mm long which is a short tattoo pen machine. Its recommended speed is anywhere from 6 to 8 volts due to its power. Inside is a powerful commutatorless motor Faulhaber that will last for years.

User experience

The main reason why this Liner deserves our attention is 5 mm stroke. There are no more such on the market. Thus, it’s so efficient and so powerful. As a liner, this Wand is like a laser. You work off the tip of the needle and you start moving and your lines are going to be solidly saturated, they’re going to be one pass lines and the skin is going to be minimally damaged.

At the same time if you want smooth black and grey this is not the machine for you. You can either go with the packer or the shader model; those would be better suited for smooth black and grey. It’s no the device for beginners because you can chew up the skin really easily with it

It is a quiet and very low vibration machine, you can barely really even notice when you’re tattooing. As the Wand is very compact and the RCA is right on the top of the machine it’s no difference when it comes to using RCA or wireless battery. Moreover, the Wand is a very maneuverable machine. It’s very easy to get in any type of position that you need in order to tattoo with. So you can turn it and move like you want to be able to move and feel comfortable with this.

Bishop’s disposable grip selection is really wide. they have four different sizes depending on what size you want. There are bulky ones or really thin ones. The grip indentations are really comfortable while you’re holding this machine and tattooing. The grip spins in and out really smoothly. It doesn’t have any type of clicking mechanism, it’s just a tight smooth twist and it stays where you want it to be.

It is so easy to barrier this tattoo pen machine. All you have to do is put a clip cord cover over it without the grip on, you tape the cover to itself so it doesn’t slip off and you screw the grip over the cover. It’s a small and sleek machine so there’s not a bunch of dirt traps that you have to worry about getting into.

Verdict. You should buy this machine if you’re looking for a solid liner because that’s exactly what it is. It does exactly what it is advertised to do. The Wand by Bishop-Rotary is the best for lining, stipple shading, whip shading, traditional tattooing, anything you would want a hard-hitting aggressive machine for that is what you want the liner for.

This is a wireless tattoo gun pen from FK Irons. It is sold in two configurations: with one unit and with two units.

User experience

This tattoo machine is tactilely very pleasant and ergonomic. It lies very comfortably in the hand during operation. The motor is in the center of the body, which ensures perfect weight distribution. It practically does not vibrate and works very quietly. The construction is very reliable inside, there are no elements that are unreliable, so there is nothing to break. The 4mm stroke provides good lining. So the Flux is a very versatile pen, it is suitable for both lining and shading.

The battery lasts for 7-8 hours of operation, with a full charge of 1.5 hours. One battery lasts for 600 charges. The battery can be locked into sleep mode. It is easy to change the battery without much effort, it is inserted into the slot.

There are two buttons to regulate the voltages. In the process you quickly get used to the intuitive and fast operation. The indication is done with numbers and colored LEDs. The battery charge level appears with a colored LED, too.

The Flux works accurately, concentrates, and hits the skin perfectly, even low voltages.

Dragonhawk Atom is powerful enough to make a solid tattoo and do what you need. For a Chinese device at a price of about 50 dollars, this device is great; you are unlikely to find anywhere else such a good Chinese tattooing machine for that kind of money.

User experience

The machine looks very good, nice, and reliable externally. There is a thinning on the grip, which makes this pen more comfortable to hold than thicker or convex grip holders. This is important, for example, for a woman’s hand.

Yes, you can do a lot with China Pen. It is recommended as the first pen a new artist should use. After about six months of use, it can still work well. Over time, there is a loss of power, and occasionally there is a feeling that you can’t transfer pigment to the skin, and you don’t even notice if you are getting under the skin.

It’s not noisy. Inside is a Japanese motor rated 8000 rpm at 8V. Although at 10.2V, the Dragonhawk runs harder than the Cheyenne, which sounds a bit quieter.

It’s not noisy. Inside is a Japanese motor rated 8000 rpm at 8V. Although at 10.2V, the Dragonhawk runs harder than the Cheyenne, which sounds a bit quieter.