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Ink Trails Tattoo Forum _ Q & A Corner _ Stealth Rotary Machines
Posted by: nigelw Oct 31 2009, 11:11 PM
just wondering has anyone or does anyone prefer to use these types of machines and do they really need no tuning or maintainance or ....? thanks
Posted by: Stoneface Nov 1 2009, 08:33 AM
I've often wondered this myself....and am interested in the replies.
I've got a buddy that uses a rotary for lining only.
I like conventional cause I feel like you have more control over it...and feel that 99.9% of the Tattooing community(that I know) can't be wrong.
Different strokes for different folks 
Posted by: JamesTattooMad Nov 1 2009, 02:13 PM
I own a stealth , its a good liner -really consistent lines ,trouble is like most rotaries it can proper carve skin up if you go too deep as it has no bounce, also "stealth " is a crap name for it ,its just as loud as a normal machine despite what they say ,
on the whole I like mine because you don't need to tune it you just plug it in and go also quite light
Posted by: ink-sink Nov 1 2009, 02:16 PM
been thinking of giving some rotarys a try myself for quite some time now
Posted by: bonsairock Nov 1 2009, 07:40 PM
I've tried a few different Rotarys and most have their limitations.
I've never tried the Stealth machines but I now use the Swashdrives almost exclusively.
They are Super Quiet and very gentle on the skin, usually healing in half the time of work I've done with Coil Machines.
They really are very simple to use, set the voltage for the function you want and away you go.
They run very smoothly and consistently and everyone I've used them on has commented how much gentler they are and how quickly they heal afterwards.
Once you get used to the Voltage settings and how these machines run, you will be less likely to overwork skin with them.
There are more and more top artists using these type machines so there must be something in them.
They are expensive, but I think, worth every penny.
My experience would say stay away from the cheaper Rotarys, they're not worth it.
My mentor put me onto these, after 30 years tattooing with coil machines he now uses the Swashdrive only. He sold all his Coil machines.
If you get a chance to try one out, go for it, you may never go back.
Posted by: GODLESS1 Nov 6 2009, 06:27 AM
I have used a few different rotary tattoo machines and have gained a bit of knowledge on them! The stealth rotary is a simple linear rotary machine, it uses 3 different hubs for longer or shorter strokes of the A bar. It has a short stroke for lining, medium stroke for "allround" and long stroke i guess for color packing? The machine has no give/bog down so it hits hard. You adjust the speed by the voltage.
Im sure in the right hands they could do a good tattoo but i only really like it for lining. For shading i sometimes use a Stigma Bizarre or Stigma V2 Hyper, they are both amazing machines and they both have adjustable give so they hit soft or hard with a simple turn of a knob. They are stuck on 4mm strokes though so beware!
Posted by: JohnnyChaos Nov 6 2009, 07:04 AM
I've just got a Stealth and think it's very nice. I got an "all round" one and the stroke is plenty for lining or shading.
I had a Stigma hyper and IMO it hit about the same.. The "give" on the stigma machines simply involves making the armature nipple smaller so the needle isn't on the grommet as tight.
Personally I don't think that warrants calling it "give" and don't think it'd too hard to replicate if you really wanted.
Posted by: GODLESS1 Nov 22 2009, 07:25 AM
Im not aware of how the old Hyper worked but i have the new Hyper V2, it has actual give that is adjustable. Check out Cecil Porters work he is using the Stigma Hyper V2 exclusively. The Stigma Bizarre works pretty much the same. Both machines can hit very soft and do nice shading.
Stigma have a new machine out (forgot its name) but it works similar to the Stealth but uses 2 armature bars, one for lining one for shading.
Ive got a stealth too with the 3 different hubs for lining all round and color packing, i like it for lining.
Posted by: JohnnyChaos Nov 22 2009, 09:24 AM
think the new stigma is called the Voodoo isn't it. I know someone who's got it and loves it, but they were using very basic rotaries before that.
I've seen the new hyper and bizarre with the new "give" system and it does sound a lot better than they used to be. Was reading about them in the last Tattoo Master mag.
I'd be tempted to get one of the new ones.
Posted by: bret Nov 23 2009, 05:08 AM
I've never tried the Stealth machines but I now use the Swashdrives almost exclusively.
They are Super Quiet and very gentle on the skin, usually healing in half the time of work I've done with Coil Machines.
They really are very simple to use, set the voltage for the function you want and away you go.
They run very smoothly and consistently and everyone I've used them on has commented how much gentler they are and how quickly they heal afterwards.
Once you get used to the Voltage settings and how these machines run, you will be less likely to overwork skin with them.
There are more and more top artists using these type machines so there must be something in them.
They are expensive, but I think, worth every penny.
My experience would say stay away from the cheaper Rotarys, they're not worth it.
My mentor put me onto these, after 30 years tattooing with coil machines he now uses the Swashdrive only. He sold all his Coil machines.
If you get a chance to try one out, go for it, you may never go back.
x2
i dont use my coil machines at all anymore, i have a draw full of them but funnily enough i cant get rid of them,
i have a few gen6 but the gen7 is about to be released with adjustable stroke
Posted by: Mario AKA mark Nov 23 2009, 11:02 AM
Can you rebuild the motor if it breaks or do you have go buy a new
Posted by: Grinning Buddha Nov 24 2009, 05:14 AM
Stigma motors run about $100 & Swiss around $200. I've not seen motors for the Stealth (although they probably exist) but considering the Stealth costs less than a motor for either of other two its probably best to just buy a new one and start over as you get fresh bearings too.
Posted by: Stoneface Nov 24 2009, 06:25 AM
Mario nailed my next question. hmmm ..... I feel like it'd be hard to make the change...not that a guy would have to go one-way-or-the-other but when that gizmo wears out... it ain't like buying a set of coild or punching some springs. $200.oo...OUCH.
It is kind of comforting to know that they've got some sort of "give" system to them and are working twards better. For the moment I rely on my tuning and use the soft "gromments" over the hard nipples(hehehe...I said "hard-nipples") 
Posted by: JohnnyChaos Nov 24 2009, 07:14 AM
The stealth motor is £25 and new bearings are £15
I did wonder if the stealth bearing and rod that drives the A-bar could be modified to add a bit of give. e.g drill out the a-bar end add a large rubber grommet or something like that
Posted by: shocker Nov 24 2009, 04:05 PM
Quote : hehehe...I said "hard-nipples"
"quit it Beavis,quit it!"
...and dont even THINK of mentioning "cornholio".... 
Posted by: Stoneface Nov 24 2009, 04:52 PM
.....Yeah...hehehe....need some stealth Rotary for my bung 
hole....hehehe......
....That's an interesting idea Johnny..adding the "cush" ... I tend to tune my coils where the front spring slightly engages the rubber up front...yknow?...I think it rounds things out a little bit if you know what I mean...seems the same could apply there somehow. Got a diagram?
Posted by: ccardi Nov 24 2009, 07:06 PM
I was thinking about it, and it occurs to me that you could take off the armature bar on the stealth model and replace it with one where the grommet post dealy is on a hinge. The hinge could be held in place with first a metal spring to keep it in the down position on the downstroke, but with very light resistance so that it would hit so light it would barely puncture, then behind that have a set screw that would adjust the amount of give in the hinge so it could hit deeper. If you did it right it could have a slight bounce on one end and a pretty hard hit on the other. Hopefully those of you visually minded can picture what I'm saying. Could be a minor money maker right there!
Posted by: JohnnyChaos Nov 25 2009, 04:53 AM
yeah I get what you mean.
I've not got a diagram, but it's a similar idea to the Stigma Voodoo.
you can see from their design that the rod that drives the armature bar in "shading" mode is oval shaped at the end, and that combined with the soft section on the armature bar creates a softer hit.
I'd think it would be fairly easy to adapt the Stealth to run in a similar way. Although stigma patent all their designs so wouldn't be good to directly copy and then try and sell
http://www.stigma-rotary-tattoo.com/images/Voodoo04.gif
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