Coil tattoo machines are distinguished In liner & Shader with the following differences:
1.
The coils In liner tattoo machines are smaller in terms of their strength or otherwise the layers of wire with which they are made. Specifically on these machines we have 8-inch coils that produce a sharp and fast sound. In Shader we have coils larger in layers of 12 arias and they give a more bass sound when they work. Of course, we also have the 10-inch coils, which are the most common in our times because they have less weight and they are quieter than the 12-inch ones, but they have enough power for most of the needles on the market.
2.
Springs, there are 2, front spring (the spring on which the contact screw rests. It is small in terms of length in Liner tattoo machines and larger in Shader. The back spring (it’s the one that screws the bar that goes up and down with the saddle-chassis of the machine). This spring in the Shader machines is thicker than in the Liner.
3.
The contact screw is an easy and fast way to turn a Shader machine into a liner and vice versa. In order to become a liner, you must screw and reduce the distance – gap, of the bar from the coil (to 1.25mm specifically). To become Shader again, you simply unscrew (remove the bar from the coils – at 1.85mm specifically). I strongly believe that it is best to do this in Shader tattoo machines and not in liner because the second one is still suitable for a gentle blow – something unsuitable for open and spread needles, such as shadow needles (RS, M1, M2, RM)
Differences :
Liner:
Lighter. Faster. Operation on fewer volts usually (8-10V). Soft tap. Sharp sound. Short front spring. 8-inch coils. Thin back spring. Bar-coil distance 1.25mm.
Shader:
Heavier. Slower. Operation usually (9 – 12V). Loud bang. Bass sound. Long front spring. 12-inch coils. Thick rear spring. 1.85mm coil bar distance.
Calibration checkpoints:
Ears:
I hear that the machine rolls well without struggling but also where it sounds.
Eye:
I check the image that the bar gives me, if I look at the machine from the front while it is working. When I have an image of 2 circles that intersect the tangents then I have a Liner setting, if I have circles that are spaced then I have Shader. The circles I mention are the image of the protrusion of the armature bar where we put the nipple – rubber, and the loop of the needle.
Nail of the little finger:
I place it under the armature bar and if the machine stops I give more volts, if it hurts I low the volts, until I get to where is tolerated.