SHOP TALK

"There's so many Cartridge Types! what kind should I get and what should I expect?"

"Are your needles long tapered?"

"What diameter are your needles?"

"I'm new to using Cartridges- which ones are best?"  

"What's the difference between Curved open and closed?

"Do your tattoo needle cartridges have a silicone membrane?"

"What's a bug pin?" 

These are just some of the many questions we get from tattooers looking to purchase tattoo cartridges. In an effort to help you make the best decision, we came up with a fun guide that may help you find the perfect fit for your style of work.

Tight Round Liners: Great for tight, clean lines, script lettering, stippling, and fine line tattoos and all the details. The diameter of pins/needles is this particular grouping is known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Loose Round Liner/Shader: Ideal for Bold Lines along with using as a super small round shader for filling in tight small spaces, details in portraits and any other unique uses.  The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube.

Curved Open and Curved Closed Mags: Ideal for shading/packing color or pigment with a soft edge. Curved Open mags allow you to view needle visibility better via an open viewing window in the top of the housing while tattooing. This is all a matter of personal preference. There is no advantage using the closed versus open housing cartridges. The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Flat Open and Flat Closed Mag Shaders: Ideal for shading and color packing with a hard edge. Great for getting packing ink close up into those tight spaces against your line work. These are commonly used with more traditional tattoos and by American traditional artists. The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Bug pin Curved Open Mags: These needles/groupings  have a  smaller in diameter pin/needle, also know as #10 and used for soft shading typically found in Black and Grey work and or a softer more smooth fades. These are as smooth as it gets! Super comfortable to work with. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube.

Let us know what you guys think about our needle groupings and if you use them differently by commenting on this blog.  We love to hear from you 🫶🏼

The Metanoia Tattoo Gathering was an absolute blast! I had the incredible opportunity to bring our Support Your Local Tattooer podcast to the event and connect with some truly inspiring women in the tattoo industry.

 We had insightful conversations with incredibly knowledgeable artists and entrepreneurs, and my wife & I even spoke on our own expertise on navigating finances in the tattoo world. The energy at Metanoia was unbelievable, and we were blown away by the sense of community and support.

Huge shoutout to Maribeth Klaar for being such an amazing host and creating such a welcoming and empowering space for women in tattooing. We left feeling energized, inspired, and even more passionate about supporting and uplifting our fellow artists. If you're a woman in the tattoo industry, we highly recommend checking out Metanoia – it's an experience you won't forget!

Jeffrey Bowser

@jckbtattoos

• 📍 Heritage Tattoo Las Vegas, Nevada (@heritagetattoolv)
• Eyes: 😍
• Hair: Fresh 💇🏻‍♂️

This month we are giving a spotlight to an amazing artist located here in Las Vegas! Jeffrey's been a huge supporter of our local events, even donating a hand-painted record to our Vino & Vinyl event hosted by our partner shop, Studio 21 Tattoo (check out how rad his record was ⬇️!).

On top of his participation in our local events, you might recognize him as one of our guests on the Support Your Local Tattooer Podcast from February! If you haven't already, check it out—it's such a great episode!! WATCH NOW

Above everything, Jeffrey is an AMAZING tattoo artist. If you don't believe us—just see for yourself! 👀👇 Make sure to keep reading to learn about the moment that solidified his desire to become a tattoo artist and the challenges he was able to overcome when getting into the industry.

What made you realize you wanted to become a tattoo artist? 

It's a funny story! When I was in 6th grade, I started getting into metal & my favorite band was Avenged Sevenfold! I idolized these guys & I wanted to look just like them when I was younger, but I would always hear things like 'no one will hire you with that many tattoos'. So I would think to myself 'well, it wouldn't matter if I became a musician like my guys in A7x!'

So... I picked up a guitar.... but I was extremely bad & I also realized I had NO desire to learn guitar the same way I had with drawing! 

So I thought, well, if I can do music, what if I became the guys DOING the tattoos! And I really manifested that! Some years pass & I ended up getting my first tattoo at 16 in a tattoo shop, and that's when it really solidified that dream. 

What is one challenge you have had to overcome within the tattoo industry?

One challenge I've overcome within the industry was definitely my apprenticeship! My apprentice taught me so much and opened up my eyes to so many possibilities!

When I got my shot at it all, one of the agreements I had with my mentor was that I had to be at the shop every day 12pm-8pm, but at this time I've been working full-time, graveyard shift at Nobu Hotel when I agreed to being at the shop everyday! Doing this, no doubt, changed my brain chemistry lol. 

I was able to do that for 3 months before I couldn't anymore, and that's when I had to make the decision to give up, or continue with what i've set out for myself!

I ended up leaving my job to pursue my apprenticeship head-on which in turn taught me to believe in myself, be purposeful, and never give up!

The impact that all had on me helped mold the person I am today and I am proud to have gone through a traditional apprenticeship! Tattooing is mystical and I absolutely LOVE IT. 

GIAN KARLE

• IG: @giankarle
• Location: New Hampshire 
• Eyes: 🔥
• Hair: Probably better than yours 😉

Heartbreaker alert! ❤️‍🔥 This February we are spotlighting our Maverick Family Artist, Gian Karle. He has been part of the Maverick Family since the beginning! Gian is a truly talented Neo Traditional tattoo artist originally from Puerto Rico. You might recognize him from the TV show Ink Master, where he represented Puerto Rico and achieved an IMPRESSIVE 2nd place finish—twice! With years of experience under his belt, Gian now travels the US in an RV with his wife, bringing his unique style to studios across the country. He's passionate about using art to heal and inspire, and believes in giving back to the community. When he's not creating stunning tattoos, you can find him painting Warhammer miniatures or hanging out with his wife and puppy. Check out his amazing work!! 

In case you missed it- check out our sticker collaboration that we did with Gian. Pick one up NOW on the shop for ONLY $3! 

SHOP GIAN'S STICKER

Make sure to keep up with Gian on his socials! ⬇️

👉🏼 IG : @giankarle

👉🏼 Website : giankarletattoo.com

In December we had the incredible opportunity to attend and sponsor the Winter Art Show hosted by Wolf & Goat Tattoo Shop in Denver, Colorado. The event brought together over 30 exceptionally talented tattoo artists from across the city, showcasing their creativity and diverse styles in an inspiring celebration of art. It was amazing to see the way each artist translated their skill in tattooing into other mediums, from bold paintings to intricate drawings, all tied together by their unique artistic voices. The energy in the room was vibrant, with artists and art enthusiasts coming together to connect and celebrate the creative community that thrives here in Denver.

As a sponsor of the event, I felt both proud and humbled to support such a remarkable gathering. It was a joy to meet so many of the artists and other attendees who share a passion for the artistry of tattooing and beyond. Each conversation deepened my appreciation for the dedication and talent these creators bring to their craft. The sense of community and collaboration was amazing, and it reminded me how fortunate I am to be a part of something so meaningful. I’m incredibly grateful to Wolf & Goat Tattoo Shop for hosting such a memorable event and to everyone who contributed to its success. This was not just an art show—it was a testament to the creativity and camaraderie that defines Denver’s tattoo and art scene. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to support and celebrate this amazing community!

-Austin Spencer

Make sure to check out some of the photos from the event! ⬇️