I bought a 928 series thermal copier of ebay a few months back and ive been using atsui thermal paper and was wondering if anyone else users the same machine but with different thermal paper as the atsui paper is alright but if theres better out there id like to try it...cheers

try the spirit brand i know dannys still stock spirit

Whats the copier like? Is it the little black chinese number i'v seen for cheap? Was tempted but wasnt sure wether it would be any good.

There not bad for the money but hoping to find a better carbon paper than atsui

Hey Bro ... The Chinese model we bought off ebay works the best with the really really cheap transfer paper. I couldn't get it to work with the Spirit paper and was really disappointed until I got some no-name brand and now it works great. Only problem so far is it doesn't stay as good on the skin as the Spirit ie wipes off really easy. So now I whack on the outline without wiping as fast as I can and then wipe.

Always sumfin

What are you using to put stencil onto skin.

I use STENCIL PRO with ATSUI transfer paper, stencil stays on skin,
I found the Atsui paper is not as dark (stencil is lighter on the skin) as Spirit transfer paper,
I do my stencils by hand, no thermal copier used.

Spirit brand all the way. I've used the 928 series with Spirit master and gives a very nice clean stencil and stays on well. I found ATSUI no where near as good.

Briz Ink

This post has been edited by Briz Ink: Nov 12 2009, 03:56 PM

Hi Waz

I have my own concoction for stencils being water (carrier), metho (sterilises the water)and sterilising solution (gives a soapy lube and helps to stop evaporation of the other two ingredients). The sterilising solution is Microshield #4 which is an Australian version of Greensoap and available at most chemist shops for under $20.

I apply it to the skin and dab most of it off with paper towel and apply the stencil. Then I spray some of the mix onto a paper towel (this is the only time I use paper towel by the way) and then dab on the outside of the stencil until the paper becomes transparent and the stencil has 'taken' well and truly. This mix costs about $3 for 4 litres and lasts for years.

Or I use Dettol, but I find it grabs the stencil really quick and tends to blur a bit if there is excess Dettol. It's trial and error to get the right amount on the skin, but it's easier than rocket science (which isn't really that hard as you know lol)

Either way I clean the skin after shaving with alcohol to remove any oil or other impurities.

As far as the paper goes, I use Spirit for hand-drawn stuff and putting through the dot-matrix and the ATSUI or it's Chinese equivilent through the thermal copier. I prefer the thermal for the cleanest stencils. I know if I use Vaseline over the stencil it will hold the stencil better but I don't use any oil-based products with my tattooing. Others swear by Vaseline, I don't. Personal preference ...

I do use a water based A & C gel to help hold the stencil with the Spirit paper but it doesn't work well with the cheaper brands. Guess I will be doing some more research, might even try some of that Stencil Pro.

As far as making stencils by hand goes, I guess I am too lazy in this area . I tend to buy all my flash with outlines included, so all I am doing is resizing the design on the computer (making changes if necessary) and then looking for a quick way to get it onto the skin. Once again, a personal choice and I wished sometimes I had the time and the patience to kick back and hand draw a stencil. It does give you a better feel for the art you are about to do and you get used to the composition of the piece so by the time you are ready to tattoo you are familiar with where everything is going and what line goes where.

Kind Regards

Devo

Stencil pro, or stencil stuff, should available at all good tattoo supply stores.
I know Oztatz.com sell stencil pro,
Whatever works for you.
Try dabbing ink off stencil instead of wiping it,
Or if you are right handed start at the bottom right of stencil, then work your way up and across, always wipe away from stencil, not over it.
It sounds like you have experience anyway, so most likely telling you what you already know.