Equipment List

This is the stencil transfer gel I use for all of my tattoos. It applies cleanly, isn't overly wet or tacky, and holds the stencil securely throughout the day—often lasting into a second session on multi-day projects with very little smudging.

There are plenty of good stencil gels available, but this one is consistently reliable.

The WJX Hyperforce is the tattoo machine I have been starting the vast majority of my projects with. Its 4.5mm direct drive setup gives me the power and control I want for colour realism, making it a reliable choice for most of my day-to-day work.

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There are plenty of excellent tattoo machines on the market, so it's easy to overthink, but I prefer to keep things simple. For my style of tattooing, I generally look for a direct drive machine with at least a 4mm stroke, and the Hyperforce ticks those boxes perfectly.

These are the cartridges I use every day, and I very rarely change my setup. Most of my work is done using a 5 Round Liner, 7 Round Shader, 9 Curved Magnum, 15 Curved Magnum and 23 Curved Magnum, all in 0.35mm Long Taper. Occasionally a 9RL, 5CM, 35CM or 45CM too. 

I'll also use a WJX standard 0.30 3RL if I need to do any marking out.

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On certain skin types sometimes I find switching to a medium taper can help saturate faster, but that's about as much as I change things. Once I find a setup that works consistently, I prefer to stick with it and keep things simple. ​

I've been using World Famous Ink for many years. They've always been consistent, reliable and have healed well for me over the years.

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One piece of advice I'd give is to stick with one ink brand for a good length of time. Every manufacturer has slightly different pigment characteristics and viscosity, so learning how a particular range behaves will help you build consistency and confidence much more than constantly switching between brands.

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Note: the link takes you to the US only shopping, UK and EU can purchase through suppliers like KillerInk etc.

There are a few other products I use regularly that aren't listed above, including Mast Aftercare Wrap, the electric foam bottle and Machine Bio Covers. They're all part of my day-to-day setup, but I wanted to keep this page focused on the main pieces of equipment people ask me about most.

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It's worth remembering that there are a lot of excellent products available, and this list isn't me saying these are the only right choices. Tattooing is about understanding your equipment, adapting it to your own style, and finding what works best for you. What works perfectly for me might not be the right fit for someone else, and that's completely normal.

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Although the WJX Hyperforce is my main machine, I still occasionally pick up my Inkjecta Flite Nano when I feel it's better suited to a particular project or skin type. Over the years I've used a wide range of equipment, and every artist I know has their own preferences.

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The biggest improvements you'll make as an artist come from the time you spend practising and refining your craft. Good equipment helps, but confidence and consistency are built through experience. I hope sharing my setup gives you a useful starting point, and I'll continue to update this page if ever my go-to equipment changes.

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Affiliate Disclaimer

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me continue creating free content, and I only recommend products that I genuinely use myself.

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https://www.worldfamoustattooink.com?sca_ref=12006603.SZ6qh2GVjW

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