426 Hemi Engine Swap! (machine Upgrade), Hot Rodding your tired old frame |
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 Jul 16 2007, 01:20 AM
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#1
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I’m not swapping a HEMI into my tired old Dodge Swinger but when it comes to
tattoo machines this is the equivalent. I dug up my first tattoo machine. It was 65 bucks new unassembled. It’s an entry level Joe Kaplan 8 wrap coil cast aluminum machine. It was cool at the time but burnt out long ago. I wanted a couple new machines at the time so I just left it in case I ever wanted to comeback to it. I thought now would be a good time   Kaplans are cool because If they break, unlike other premium machines it’s easy to go to the hardware store and get metal screws and washers and fix them or just rig them to get you through while waiting on replacement parts. I know some Time Machines have hand turned fasteners, tube collars and yokes and that’s not going to fly. What I did here was Hot Rod it, from the above pic you can see like an old 55 Chevy 510 6 cylinder. There is a ton of room for a bigger motor. Unlike other frames the Kaplan’s has the width and height for a coil upgrade. Some off brand frames are set up for one coil size and it’s usually 10 wrap or lower typically 8 wrap. They also have shorter clearances so bigger coils hit the armature bar. You can try and shim it with washers but it will be to out of balance putting stress at the attachment point of the spring and like what happened to my friend it was good for 6 months of shop use before the spring cracked. I ordered some 12 wrap Bad Asses from technical tattoo supply only 19 bucks. As you can see the difference is night and day  (Why are the black one's always bigger?) I actually had miscellaneous parts from some other machines made by a guy off of e-bay I think he tried to get into the machine game but it didn’t work out and I haven’t seen his machines since; and some premium parts I had purchased for other machines. Make sure when you break the machine down wear gloves and scrub in hot soapy water and use a wire brush if the machine has been sitting for a while or has ink in places it shouldn't. I used some 120 grit to remove the dulling from the machine and smoothed out some of the casting pits. I used the nice armature bar and spring off the scraped machine along with the premium fasters that came with it. The Kaplan had rubber insulators that cracked I upgraded to plastic ones. I just kept the frame and spacing yoke that is used to raise the coils up to the proper height. I can get longer coils and remove it another cool thing about the Kaplan machine. I also bought a premium Paolini brass contact point but since the Kaplan frame is thicker I have to go get a longer fine thread machine screw in order to use it until then I have the shitty contact on there for now.   This is the completely Hot Rodded Kaplan Machine. The coils fit like a glove and make the machine look like it means business. The great thing is it runs like a Sharpz with a third of the weight and cost. This machine cost me less then 100 dollars and it runs like a champ at 5-5.5 volts and I can slow it down to three with out it stalling on me under a load. I plan on tearing this down again and using my dremel to shave some of the frame clean and of course aluminum can be mirror polished. If you come along a busted Kaplan on ebay for under 75 I suggest buying and and doing a coil swap you’ll have a really good machine for cheap. Kaplans are about 125 new from Kaplan tattoo so don’t let any one say otherwise. I hope this helped-Mark -------------------- |
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Jul 16 2007, 06:55 AM
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#2
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If anyone is intrested..
http://cgi.ebay.com/JOE-KAPLAN-EAST-COAST-...tem290139119544 needs EVERYTHING.. is the frame only.. but for 40.00 or 80.00 buy it now.. the dude has a sweet looking old scholl copper machine for auction too.. -------------------- No forgiveness for my sins, I preffer punishment
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Jul 16 2007, 09:21 AM
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#3
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QUOTE(synner @ Jul 16 2007, 02:55 PM)  If anyone is intrested.. http://cgi.ebay.com/JOE-KAPLAN-EAST-COAST-...tem290139119544 needs EVERYTHING.. is the frame only.. but for 40.00 or 80.00 buy it now.. the dude has a sweet looking old scholl copper machine for auction too.. I think thats still expensive for Kaplan frame but you would still be able to make a sweet machine for under 125. -------------------- |
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| Guest_HallowsVictim_* |
Jul 17 2007, 04:41 AM
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#4
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How do you get it to run at such a low voltage? All of my machines with bigger coils require more juice to get going.
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Jul 17 2007, 09:35 AM
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#5
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QUOTE(HallowsVictim @ Jul 17 2007, 12:41 PM) How do you get it to run at such a low voltage? All of my machines with bigger coils require more juice to get going. Because I'm fucking awesome! Actually I don't know, it just does. I have a supierior power supply with single adjust knob and two analog gauges. It just runs that low and it hums pefect at 5.5 v It's really weird. -------------------- |
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| Guest_HallowsVictim_* |
Jul 17 2007, 09:40 AM
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#6
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That's nuts. Oh well guess I'll just stick to my 6 wraps.
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Jul 17 2007, 11:46 AM
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#7
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QUOTE(HallowsVictim @ Jul 17 2007, 05:40 PM) That's nuts. Oh well guess I'll just stick to my 6 wraps. I know I was shocked too when I turned it on and was adjusting it. -------------------- |
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| Guest_HallowsVictim_* |
Jul 18 2007, 05:58 AM
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#8
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I made a liner the other day out of a national "Jonesy" frame and some coils I made. It runs at 155Hz at only 4.5 volts. Granted it only has 6 wrap coils on it. It doesn't create any heat and is awesome to work with on stuff with extensive outlining to do.
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Jul 19 2007, 10:22 PM
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#9
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I brought myself a pair of those exact same coils but then when i got them i noticed that the coils where exactly the same coils as aset that i had taken out of an ebay machine.They are the exact same coils i have a set in a superior machine and it buzz's and hammers along hard at 6volts and i can slow it down alot more aswell.They are atop set of coils for the price and i've put both sets in the machine and it runs exactly the same i wanted to make sure they where exactly the same they are.As i said i got the coils out of a cheap ebay machine but it was'nt one of those chrome / brass chinese ones.I've seen some tattoo supply w/sites sell the exact same machine i got the coils out of for US$89 - $99.
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Jul 20 2007, 01:14 AM
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#10
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QUOTE(ROCKET ROB @ Jul 20 2007, 06:22 AM) I brought myself a pair of those exact same coils but then when i got them i noticed that the coils where exactly the same coils as aset that i had taken out of an ebay machine.They are the exact same coils i have a set in a superior machine and it buzz's and hammers along hard at 6volts and i can slow it down alot more aswell.They are atop set of coils for the price and i've put both sets in the machine and it runs exactly the same i wanted to make sure they where exactly the same they are.As i said i got the coils out of a cheap ebay machine but it was'nt one of those chrome / brass chinese ones.I've seen some tattoo supply w/sites sell the exact same machine i got the coils out of for US$89 - $99. I'm all about quality and not name when it comes to machines. I think it should work well. -------------------- |
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Jul 20 2007, 05:26 AM
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#11
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I hear you ! there Mark i know what ya! mean i'm the same thats what i was trying to say the coils are top coils they are heaps better than supposedly hand wrapped coils that are $50 aset at 1 of the tattoo suppliers here Down Under [Australia].
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Jul 20 2007, 03:14 PM
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#12
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what do you have it set up as ? a shader? and what size Capacitor do u have on it?
-------------------- My first thought was, he lied in every word,That hoary cripple
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Jul 20 2007, 08:34 PM
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#13
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QUOTE(ROCKET ROB @ Jul 20 2007, 01:26 PM) I hear you ! there Mark i know what ya! mean i'm the same thats what i was trying to say the coils are top coils they are heaps better than supposedly hand wrapped coils that are $50 aset at 1 of the tattoo suppliers here Down Under [Australia]. I can do either shade or line with it. I haven't used yet. It can be slowed down for fine shading and then I can crank it up for nice lining or some solid fill. The capacitor is what ever it came with it's shrink wrapped so I have no idea what ever it is that technical sells with it in their complete coils. -------------------- |
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Dec 11 2007, 02:49 PM
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#14
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Mark,
I have a Kaplan Machine that was purchased in the spring. Same construction but already has 10 coils. I like the way it runs. My only question to you is...when you put the rubber bands on, do they seem like they ride the needle to one side? I have tried putting them between the frame as well to give a more even pressure on the needle. Kind of a pain in the rear to do that. What do you think? |
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Dec 11 2007, 04:11 PM
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#15
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I have to run the band between the frame. What you can do is if you have a dremel notch and shave the frame where you run your rubber band.
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Dec 11 2007, 04:13 PM
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#16
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I too have a set of Kaplan machines !!
How do you know the size of the coils ? I am about to take mine apart. Hope I can get it back together and WORK !!  
-------------------- The only difference between tattooed and untattooed people
is that tattooed people are way more cool and can kick you ass ! |
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Dec 11 2007, 04:38 PM
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#17
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those are 8 wrap i think
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Dec 11 2007, 06:11 PM
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#18
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The washers dont protrude, leads me to think they are 10 wrap.
-------------------- Doing time in a jail called LIFE!
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Dec 12 2007, 12:50 AM
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#19
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QUOTE(Texasframer @ Dec 12 2007, 02:11 AM) The washers dont protrude, leads me to think they are 10 wrap. they could be was this messed with did you put the coils on it because stock kaplans are 8. -------------------- |
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Dec 12 2007, 03:11 AM
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#20
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Those are Kaplan originals, and they are 8 layer, he just uses larger gauge wire, which is good. If you have any brains, you will leave them on there. Kaplan makes a decent set of coils, WAYYYY better than any bunk from TTS.
I have Kaplan units, and although some things do need to be replaced, the coils are not one! I have taken a coil down to core from one of mine and they are made well. I have also taken one of TTS coils down, and they suck ass. Plastic bobbin, junk steel core, metric threaded JUNK! I tried this type of thing with my first machine, which is a Kaplan a couple of years ago and it didn't do any good at all. I had much better luck replacing the parts on it that DID need to be replaced. The binding posts are crap, the yoke and a-bar are crap and the springs are crap, as well as all the screws and washers on it. It's all nickel plated garbage and should be replaced with brass binders and low carbon steel yoke, a-bar, and screws and put some good springs on there, she'll run top with the ORIGINAL coils. -------------------- An it harm none,
Do what ye will. Ink is for life, don't make it a scar! "In any attempt to learn things, a systematic method of study is required... In any case of trying to prove things, accurate measurements must be made. A world without measurements would be a world of chaos" Bill Baker. |
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