"the fluid mechanics that make a tattoo gun work are pretty spectacular"
September 25, 2014 5:38 PM Subscribe
"Watching a tattoo needle in slow motion reveals the physics of getting inked"
Previously: Ink Punching
Previously: Ink Punching
next up: Watching a laser beam in what seems like slow motion reveals the finances of getting ink removed. Shot in real time over the course of 10 sessions.
posted by Auden at 6:01 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Auden at 6:01 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is so cool. Thank you for posting it! I also totally subscribed to the channel because YAY SCIENCE.
posted by bibliogrrl at 6:16 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by bibliogrrl at 6:16 PM on September 25, 2014
That was really cool! I did always wonder exactly what the hell is happening, and for some reason even after 5 tattoos I hadn't checked into it. Thanks!
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:32 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:32 PM on September 25, 2014
Can I get someone's blood tattooed into me? Why won't he show me this.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:27 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 7:27 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Q: Does it hurt?
A:Yes.
Q:How much?
A: It depends upon where on your body and what your pain threshold is like.
Q:Pain threshold?
A: Yeah. How much pain can you stand? What do you consider really painful?
Q:Why does that matter?
A: Everyone experiences pain differently. I have been with people that enjoy tattoos specifically because of the pain. It also releases endorphins. It can get you high off of natural brain opiates.
Q: So what does it feel like?
A: To me it feels like being stung by a small bee thousands of times a second.
Q: Do you like that?
A: Not that it's any of your business. But yes.
posted by Splunge at 8:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
A:Yes.
Q:How much?
A: It depends upon where on your body and what your pain threshold is like.
Q:Pain threshold?
A: Yeah. How much pain can you stand? What do you consider really painful?
Q:Why does that matter?
A: Everyone experiences pain differently. I have been with people that enjoy tattoos specifically because of the pain. It also releases endorphins. It can get you high off of natural brain opiates.
Q: So what does it feel like?
A: To me it feels like being stung by a small bee thousands of times a second.
Q: Do you like that?
A: Not that it's any of your business. But yes.
posted by Splunge at 8:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
Never call it a gun. It's a machine. I know some tattooers that will take serious issue with it being called a gun, and threaten to boot people from their shops for it.
posted by still bill at 1:32 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by still bill at 1:32 AM on September 26, 2014
This is really cool! The artist who did my tat is a specialist in blackwork and has a reputation for deep, clean work. I meant to watch while he worked but ended up having to look away and focus on not making embarrassing yelping noises. What I didn't realise until it happened was that tattoo artists don't always keep the needle on the skin -- it's more, draw, pause, draw, pause, dip ink, wipe, draw, pause. To me it felt very much like being scratched by a cat over and over.
That said, oh god I can't wait to get more.
posted by fight or flight at 2:05 AM on September 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
That said, oh god I can't wait to get more.
posted by fight or flight at 2:05 AM on September 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
Nice piece, fight or flight! Also, the cat scratch analogy is a good one. I've always likened it to a sunburn happening at an accelerated pace, or a very drawn out bee sting, but I think the cat scratch one fits better.
posted by still bill at 2:30 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by still bill at 2:30 AM on September 26, 2014
Thanks! :) It was done by Michele L'Abbate (@maic on instagram) at The Family Business in London. The triangles are dotwork. It was originally going to be a tesseract type thing, but the space isn't really big enough to get it in. It took three hours in total, much less than Michele originally thought but apparently I have great skin for tattoos (which means I just HAVE to get more, natch).
posted by fight or flight at 6:51 AM on September 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by fight or flight at 6:51 AM on September 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
I know some tattooers that will take serious issue with it being called a gun, and threaten to boot people from their shops for it.
Sounds like the best course of action (leaving) for all involved if that's such a major issue. Wow.
posted by Dark Messiah at 10:04 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Sounds like the best course of action (leaving) for all involved if that's such a major issue. Wow.
posted by Dark Messiah at 10:04 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't totally disagree, Dark Messiah, but I can imagine it gets irritating hearing it called a gun all the time, and so I don't terribly begrudge tattooers who snap at it.
Common sign in tattoo shops: "To call one's mother a whore is a lesser crime than to call the sacred instrument of tattooing a gun. -Capt. Don"
posted by still bill at 12:15 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Common sign in tattoo shops: "To call one's mother a whore is a lesser crime than to call the sacred instrument of tattooing a gun. -Capt. Don"
posted by still bill at 12:15 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by zardoz at 5:47 PM on September 25, 2014