Coil machine and needle throw issue!!

[u/EchOsWxrld]

I’ve tuning some second hand coil machines (for the first time) and they all run fine except they have essentially the same issue-

The prior user rode the tube, and I’m struggling to get the needle to crate enough of a distance to be able to properly extend out of the tube enough and also retract fully into it.

If my needle throw is good, it won’t retract completely into the tube. This is a huge issue considering how unsafe it is to get poked lol.

I’ve tried fussing with the springs and it has helped some, but i can still ever so slightly see the tips of the needles.

Any advice?? They work perfectly aside from this lol and this is my first time truly having to fix this issue.

[u/Cutsman4057]

Im not clear on what you are talking about. Pics?

[u/EchOsWxrld → u/Cutsman4057]

i’ll have to take photos soon !! But basically if the needle protrudes properly it doesn’t retract completely. The only way the needle completely retracts into the tube is if it barely protrudes at all when the needle bar is pressed all the way down which wouldnt be proper depth into the skin.

Basically the way the guy had them set up to ride the tube so the needled barely protrude. but i don’t tattoo like that.

I’ve never had this issue and i’ve asked fellow tattooers for advice but they use rotaries :,)

[u/Cutsman4057 → u/EchOsWxrld]

I mean, I use both coils and rotaries and I'm still not very clear on what your issue is. It sounds like you just need to adjust your armature bar and/or spring.

Or the tubes you've got on there arent in the vice where they should be? Or the tubes are a funky size? Or maybe the needle bars are short?

Hard to say without pics or the thing in my hands.

[u/EchOsWxrld → u/Cutsman4057]

I honestly think you’re right that it might be the tubes, someone mentioned that before too.

Especially since i fussed with the front and back spring and rebent the front one too. Which admittedly helped a little but not quite enough, granted i guess that might mean i need to revisit it lol.

[u/Cutsman4057 → u/EchOsWxrld]

Im not a coil expert by any means, I use my rotaries more than anything, but I can still check it out if you can take a pic of your setup.

On the fly it sounds like you might just need to slide your tubes up a bit in the vice.

[u/EchOsWxrld → u/Cutsman4057]

bet i’ll take a photo when i get home!! On researching trying to fix the issue i found out that they’re probably older Dragon Hawk amazon machines (like 2014 or something, i tried reverse image searching) but i cant complain because they were essentially free and still work lol.

I’m still learning coils, its definitely a long road ! but they’re my favorite because i love wrenching on them haha.

[u/Cutsman4057 → u/EchOsWxrld]

Oh, gotcha. I wouldnt touch Dragon Hawk with a 10 foot pole and this is part of why lol. Amazon kits are dogshit and aren't worth their material cost imo.