8 Best Liner Tattoo Machines – Tattoo Machine for Lining
As a tattoo artist, having the best tattoo machine for lining is crucial in your studio collection to create precise lines and outlines in tattoos. However, finding the perfect machine with the required features and specifications takes time.
But after testing and using various tattooing tools, we’ve narrowed down the 8 best liner tattoo machines:
- Mummy Wireless Rotary Pen
- Mast Tattoo Flip Pro
- Ambition Flamingo Rotary Pen
- Rattlesnake Wireless Rotary Pen
- BRONC v2 Rotary Machine
- Dragonhawk Extreme Rotary Tattoo Pen
- CNC-X-WE-1 Pro
- TATELF G12
These tattoo machines require features such as a 3.5mm or 4.0mm stroke, precise voltage adjustment, a comfortable grip, and lightweight and ergonomic designs. Moreover, they have decent quality, consistent power supply and are compatible with the best tattoo cartridge needles.
Continue reading this comprehensive review of the best lining tattoo machines to discover your perfect match.
Top 3 Pick
Editor Pick
Rattlesnake Rotary Pen
Overall Best
Ambition Flamingo
Budget Pick
Dragonhawk Extreme
8 Best Liner Tattoo Machines
1 Mummy Wireless Rotary Pen
Mummy Wireless Rotary Pen
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
The Mummy Wireless Rotary Pen is a powerhouse with many premium features that a lining tattoo pen should have. For example, a 4.2mm stroke length, a 2200mAh high-storage battery, a powerful direct-drive motor, and fully adjustable voltage. This is a rotary tattoo machine, and its pen is wireless, making it easy to hold and use. Since it’s a wireless tattoo pen, you can take it outside the studio rather than being bound to a direct power source.
Its 2200mAh battery storage can last all day with a full charge, probably 7 to 8 hours. Moreover, the battery has a fast charging capability, which can be fully charged within 2 to 3 hours. Mummy Wireless Pen comes in two different stroke lengths: 3.5mm and 4.2mm. We tested and reviewed the black version with the 4.2mm stroke.
This is the ideal stroke length for lining artwork, capable of providing a long stroke to achieve perfect bold lines. Moreover, the pen is superb for creating solid and delicate lines, allowing you to create beautiful tattoo designs.
Furthermore, its powerful direct-drive Swiss motor with 10800 RPM speed is super smooth to run smoothly in longer sessions without heating up. Do you know?: The direct drive system is directly connected to the tattoo needle, eliminating the need for additional components. As a result, it provides more efficient and smoother tattoo operations.
Moreover, the Mummy machine runs very quietly without creating extra vibration. The machine also allows for voltage adjustment between 5v to 12. This means you can adjust to a speed that is comfortable for you. Further, the Mummy Rotary Pen comes with necessary accessories, including 1 grip, clip cord, USB C-Fast charging, RCA Adapter, and 1 wireless rotary pen.
Mast Tattoo Flip Pro
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Mast Tattoo Flip Pro is one of the best rotary liner tattoo machines available, offering seven adjustable strokes ranging from 2.6mm to 4.00mm. This versatility allows it to be used for various types of tattoo designs. For example, a 4.0mm stroke is perfect for creating traditional and bold lines, while a 3.5mm to 3.8mm stroke is ideal for lining and shading.
On the other hand, a 2.8mm to 3.2mm stroke is great for producing fine lines and light shading. Similarly, if you want to use the pen for permanent work, the 2.6mm stroke is the best choice. Not only can you achieve a perfect tattoo design with these variable strokes, but also, thanks to its wireless design, the tattoo pen fits comfortably in your hand.
This pen is specifically designed to handle various demanding tattoo artworks, and it’s one of the most excellent pens we have ever tried. However, its shape and design are complicated. This machine comes with a powerful direct drive motor, which can easily handle both lining and shading work. Moreover, the motor operates quietly and produces minimal vibrations, transferring smooth ink onto the skin.
The device is heavy on the topic of weight, especially the top part. For example, when equipped with a battery, it weighs 268g. And it is considerably more severe than other wireless machine such as the Rattlesnake, Mummy, Ambition Soldier, and Mast Lancer.
Another issue is that this machine has only one button, which is used for various tasks such as powering the device on/off, adjusting the voltage, and checking the battery and voltage status. Handling multiple tasks with just one button can be complicated.
The battery life of the Mast Flip Pro is amazing and can easily last for 6 to 7 hours on a single charge. For example, during our testing, we conducted more than 5 hours of tattooing sessions, and the battery still had 10-15% of life left. Moreover, this device allows usage through an RCA cable instead of solely relying on the battery.
Ambition Flamingo Rotary Pen
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Ambition has always impressed us by producing the best wireless tattoo machines. This rotary tattoo pen also has some quality premium features at a very affordable price. Even this one is much cheaper than Ambition Ninja and Soldier.
Ambition Flamingo is crafted with an aluminium alloy frame, making it lightweight with a weight of only 205g. However, the Flamingo is slightly heavier than other top brands’ wireless rotary pens, such as the Mast Archer, Rattlesnake, and Dragonhawk Mast Pen Rotary Tattoo.
But it’s still great to hold easily in your hand without hurting your wrist during long sessions. This rotary tattoo machine has an ergonomic design and a smooth CNC-carved shape, making it very comfortable and easy to use, much like an actual pen. This is an ideal tool for beginners who want to practice their tattooing skills on fake tattoo skin.
It comes with a powerful Japanese-made coreless motor that smoothly transfers tattoo ink to create solid and bold lines. The machine operates quietly and with almost no vibration. Moreover, the voltage can be easily adjusted between 5v and 12v. Further, the battery of this device only takes 1.5 hours to charge fully and provides more than 6 hours of battery life. A digital LED screen displays voltage and other battery-related information.
Let’s discuss its stroke length. The Ambition Flamingo Rotary Pen has a stroke length of 4.0mm, which is great for creating bold and fine lines. In simpler terms, this pen is excellent for producing artwork with solid lining.
Furthermore, it enables you to adjust the needle depth from 0 to 4.5mm. The manufacturer claims it is compatible with most tattoo cartridge needles. However, it must fit properly with certain cartridge brands, such as Big Wasp.
Rattlesnake Wireless Rotary Pen
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Rattlesnake is a fully wireless pen-style rotary tattoo gun with many premium quality features that a machine should have. This machine has a custom Japanese motor with a maximum running speed of 10,800 RPM at 12V. From a performance perspective, this motor seems highly reliable and stable, consuming minimum energy. However, the manufacturer recommends running the machine between 4 and 6V for the best motor performance.
Unfortunately, the motor is quite noisy while running, especially at high voltage. But in the lining case, we generally use a voltage of 7V-9V to get fine lines. However, it allows the device to operate between 5V to 12V. Further, voltage adjustment is easy, like a snap by pressing the +/- button. Also, there is an LED screen to show all of this stuff.
Furthermore, Rattlesnake has a 3.5mm stroke length, which is super good for providing smaller needle groupings but needs to be more potent for larger ones. However, creating smooth and fine lines is still good with this machine. Further, this wireless pen is also compatible with 0-4.5mm needle protrusion.
Like most other tattoo machines, this rotary pen is also made with space aluminium, making it lightweight (only 136g) and even lighter than Ambition Ninja and Mast Lancer. Also, its pen is well-designed and easy to hold. However, Rattlesnake has a minimal grip, which seems uncomfortable to hold without wrapping.
Since Rattlesnake is a wireless tattoo machine, it comes with 2200mAh battery storage (also available in 1800mAh). This battery can perform up to 6 hours on a single charge. Further, it has a USB-C interface that provides fast charging, capable of fully charging the battery within 2 hours.
BRONC v2 Rotary Machine
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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
BRONC v2 is a premium quality rotary machine. Thanks to its shape, the pen is excellent for solid lining and shading work, making ink-lining processes easy. It’s a perfect tool for beginners and experienced tattoo artists, as it’s suitable for any ink design work.
The machine has a 3.5mm stroke, suitable for pushing smaller needle groupings. Additionally, it supports an adjustable stroke length of 4.5mm. However, we have observed a particular issue with cartridge needles, such as a 2mm gap between needle adjustments.
However, the BRONC rotary machine is quite large when connected to a battery power supply. But, when using a wired connection, it feels rather comfortable. Despite its size, it is still lightweight compared to other top machines, such as the Mast Tattoo Flip Pro, Ambition Flamingo, and Ambition Soldier Tattoo Machine, making it easy to hold and use. The device weighs only 154g.
Furthermore, unlike other tattoo machines with a Japanese-made motor, the BRONC v2 is installed with a Swiss motor. This motor provides a smooth and stable continuous performance with minimum noise and vibration. Further, the voltage is adjustable from 6v to 12v.
Moreover, the product box contains around six to eight feet of RCA cable made with solid copper and natural rubber. Other items included in the package are an o-ring, a machine stand, a cartridge needle, and 1 rotary pen.
6 Dragonhawk Extreme Rotary Tattoo Pen
Dragonhawk Extreme Rotary Tattoo Pen
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
If you’re on a limited budget and prefer traditional-style rotary machines, then the Dragonhawk Extreme would be an excellent choice. This machine features an ergonomic design, is well-built, and has a super lightweight gun, which makes it an ideal example of a classic coil tattoo machine.
When it comes to performance, the Dragonhawk Extreme is a versatile machine capable of performing a variety of tattooing tasks. For example, with its 3.5mm stroke, you can do some of everything, including lining and shading work. Further, its design and size are perfect to easily fit in your hand to create precise and clean lines.
We tested it by running it at 8.5 volts for lining work. During the test, we found it was incredibly fast at hard-hitting, enabling us to pull decent lines and pack color efficiently. However, we also noticed that it vibrates too much during use.
Furthermore, the Dragonhawk Extreme is equipped with a direct drive motor made in Japan, which is great for lining work. In addition to this, the voltage can be adjusted to the desired speed.
Moreover, the tattoo power supply provides stable power with good quality. However, we were disappointed with the foot pedal’s performance, as it was cheaper than others. Despite this, the Dragonhawk Extreme is the best tattoo machine at an affordable price.
CNC-X-WE-1 Pro
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
The CNC-X-WE-1 Pro is a premium-quality tattoo machine for lining with many high-quality features. Its rotary pen is perfectly designed to provide a smooth and easy-to-control tattooing experience, even at high voltage. This machine weighs 188g and is lighter than the Mast Flip Pro and Ambition Flamingo. However, it’s still a bit heavier than some of the devices mentioned on the list, such as the BRONC v2 and Rattlesnake Rotary Pen.
When it comes to strokes, the CNC-X-WE-1 Pro is unique. For example, it offers three stroke lengths, including 3mm, 3.3mm, and 4mm. You can use it for various tasks like colour packing, shading, and lining. Specifically, a needle size of 4mm is perfect for creating fine and solid lines through larger hits, especially when using larger needle groupings.
However, it is also considerably more expensive than all the other sizes listed here. CNC-X-WE-1 uses a German-made motor that is powerful in performance and does not produce noise or vibration. Further, it comes with two 1000mAh storage batteries. Both have excellent battery life, 3.5 hours each, which is quite good combined. Moreover, the voltage is adjustable between 5 and 12 volts.
TATELF G12
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
If you’re looking for the best lining tattoo machine at an affordable price, then the TATELF G12 should be at the top of your list. It’s the second cheapest option after the Dragonhawk Extreme. This pen offers excellent value for its price and is a fantastic choice for those on a budget.
The ITATELF G12 kit comes with all the necessary accessories to get started with tattooing work. It includes a rotary pen, fake tattoo skin for practice, tattoo ink, cartridge needles, disposable gloves, an RCA connector, a charging cable, and an ink cap.
This kit is an excellent choice for beginners and offers superb value for newbies. The pen is specially designed to perform any type of tattoo work, including lining, shading, filling, and permanent makeup.
It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and comfortable, providing a realistic pen-like experience. The gun is particularly effective at creating fine, clean lines. However, some users may find the pen too thick to hold comfortably.
Furthermore, the TATELF G12 has a 3.5mm medium stroke length, ideal for smaller needle groupings. This stroke is suitable for beginners to experiment with different techniques. Further, the gun is compatible with significant cartridge needles, and adjusting the needle is easy – rotate it to adjust depth.
Let’s discuss the motor and battery performance of this machine. It is configured with a coreless motor and has a 2000mAh capacity battery. This means you can use it for longer tattoo sessions, as the battery can easily last 6 hours on a single charge. Moreover, it comes with a standard RCA cable that can be used to run the machine without the battery.
Besides this, the motor can run at a maximum speed of 10,000 RPM and allows you to adjust the voltage between 4 and 12 volts. Running the machine at 4 volts is particularly significant for those who want to operate it slower, such as those learning the art of tattooing.
Buying Guide on Best Tattoo Machine for Lining
Here are certain specifications or features you should consider.
Stroke Length
Regarding lining, the stroke length is the most important factor to consider. The stroke length should be long enough to push a larger needle grouping to create solid lines. Therefore, a stroke length of 4.0mm or more is the best option for transferring large inks onto the skin. This length also provides greater accuracy in achieving smooth, solid, and beautiful lines.
On other hand, a medium stroke length of 3.5mm is powerful enough for lining artwork with small needle groups. However, it may struggle to hit larger needles. The Mast Tattoo Flip Pro, CNC-X-WE-1 Pro, and Ambition Flamingo Rotary Pen are the best lining tattoo machine, as they have a stroke length of 4mm or more.
Adjustable voltage
Adjustable voltage” refers to the ability to adjust the current that runs through a tattoo machine. This determines the amount of power delivered to the device, which affects the movement of the needle.
Typically, an adjusted voltage determines how deep a needle will go into the skin and how fast it will move up and down. However, what voltage is suitable for lining work? As mentioned earlier, a stroke of 4mm or more is necessary to push large needle groups.
To achieve this, the motor should be powerful enough. Therefore, a tattoo machine designed for lining should have an adjustable voltage of 7v to 9v.
Design and weight
An ergonomic design and lightweight machine make the inking process smooth and comfortable. Therefore, when buying a tattoo machine, always look for the design and weight of the device.
An ideal tattoo machine should have an ergonomic design and be lighter in weight. So you can hold steadily without causing strain to your hands and wrists.
Motor and power supply
A motor is the most critical component of a tattoo machine as it runs the machine. Tattoo machines are usually configured with different motors having different power levels. For instance, most motors have a rotating speed of 8000 RPM to 12000 RPM. But most tattoo machines typically have a speed of 10,800 RPM.
Therefore, a motor with this speed is powerful enough for any tattoo artwork. Further, the machine should have a decent quality power supply to provide a consistent power supply.
FAQs
What voltage should a tattoo liner run at?
Although it depends on the tattoo and the artist’s skill, like how fast he likes to run the machine. But 7v to 9v is the perfect voltage for the lining process.
What tattoo needle is best for lining?
In our experience, flat needles are best to create perfect and clear lines
What stroke length is best for lining?
The stroke length that pushes larger needle groupings and delivers harder-hitting strokes, such as 4mm+, is best for the lining.
Conclusion:
The lining is the baseline of tattoo artwork; a perfect tool is necessary to achieve this. This means a tattoo machine should have all the required features and specifications, including stroke length, adjustable voltage, powerful motor, and necessary configurations.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far, as this list includes more than eight of the best liner tattoo machines, such as the Mast Tattoo Flip Pro, Ambition Flamingo, and BRONC v2. If you’re on a budget but still need a quality machine, the TATELF G12 and Dragonhawk Extreme can meet your requirements.
Flora Jones is a licensed professional tattoo artist with over 5 years of experience working at various studios in Arizona. In addition to her artistry, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise on various tattoo-related topics through her writing.