Tattoo Gear: Is it Worth the Tradeoff Coil Tattoo Machine Talk BJ Johnson Soba One EP 268
Is it Worth the Trade-off? Coil Tattoo Machine Talk | BJ Johnson (Soba One) | EP 268
The rotary machine craze came fast. In fact, if you began tattooing in the last 10 years, there is a good chance you have never used a coil machine at all.
In today's episode we talk with long-time coil machine builder and co-founder of the super popular "Workhorse Irons", BJ Johnson (Soba). BJ is best known for his Mini-Rusto liners and Pilot shaders which were (and are still) used by thousands of tattooers (including Jake!)
We discuss the rotary revolution, why and how it took place, pros and cons of both rotaries and coils, and try to answer the question "Is it worth the tradeoff?"
This episode was made possible thanks to:
Interview By Jake Meeks —
Writing by Daniel Pushcarich
Topics: Tattoos, Tattoo Machines, Rotary Tattoo Machines, Coil Tattoo Machines
“I was like, Well if I wanna be good at tattooing I really need to understand my tools, I need to be able to tune these things on my own.”
— BJ Soba
BJ “Sobaone” Johnson (@sobaone) BJ “SOBAONE” Johnson began tattooing in 1997. By 1999 he had already begun figuring out how to manufacture, from scratch, his own tattoo machine models. In 2002 he began working with Seth Ciferri, Adam Ciferri and Aaron Cain to co-found Workhorse Irons.
BJ now builds machines and makes tattoos in his private studio Green Lion Studios located in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Please enjoy!
INTERVIEW LINKS, MENTIONS, AND SHOW NOTES BELOW…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
- Connect with BJ “Sobaone” Johnson:
Social Links | IG | Workhorse Irons
SHOW NOTES
- [00:00] Intro
- [02:41] Enter Soba, Machine Building While Learning to Tattoo
- [04:49] How Did You Find Resources in 97’
- [07:10] Brief Origin of Workhorse Irons
- [10:00] Springs and Things, Using Repurposed Materials
- [14:00] Branded! What’s the Difference Between Builders
- [17:42] The Rise of the Rotary, But What’s the Trade Off?
- [22:17] Ad Break: Come Join the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club
- [24:27] Convenience over Quality, An Issue with Cartridge Consistency
- [28:39] Is It Fixable or a Lost Cause?
- [31:24] Do New Tattooers Even Care About Coils?
- [36:29] Coil Machines Might be The Comeback Kid
- [40:40] Reach Out to Soba
- [43:23] Outro
More SOBA Quotes From This Interview
Branded! What’s the Difference Between Builders
[14:00] “All the builders always had their hands on the machines. They were tuned and signed by the associated builder for sure.”
— BJ “Soba”
One of the standout things you can say about coil tattoo machines is that they are unique. Each individual builder has a specific style and quality to their machines. No one machine is the same, even if it’s the same model.
And though they are different, that’s not to say anything about consistency in their work. Each custom builder has exceptional standards they adhere to. Those are the main reasons why custom builds are so coveted in the tattoo world. Uniqueness and quality.
In this way I think that’s what makes Workhorse Irons unique. From the very beginning they’ve tried to exemplify those qualities with their roster of machine builders over the years.
Is It Fixable or a Lost Cause?
[28:39] “I went through so many cartridges to find one that had it all, and then when I finally found one and then reordered…they’d be different…they’re inconsistent. It’s very frustrating.”
— BJ “Soba”
We’ve mentioned some problems with tattoo needle cartridges in other deep dive pages, like this one with Cooper. There seems to be some manufacturing problems that seem to be plaguing the tattoo world since the inception of the needle cartridge. Whether that be bad solder joints, jamming springs and membranes, or inconsistencies with plunger tension there doesn’t seem to be a manufacturer out there that’s putting out a near perfect product with every box, though some are better than others.
Though not everything about the cartridge is bad or maladaptive. For one thing the level of convenience it has given to the tattoo industry is second to none. The ability to use one machine, and switch between needle groupings within seconds has been a huge boon to nearly every tattooer who uses rotaries. Another point that many tattoo artists make is that machines have gotten significantly lighter and more balanced due to the way rotary technology has evolved over the last 10 years. Though, this seems to be a bit of a controversy with some saying that the machines were never really a problem, but that other factors like posture or bad habits are more the contributing factor.
Opinions and styles may differ, but one thing is certain. Something in the cartridge manufacturing needs to change. Maybe a standardizing procedure needs to be in place or more some kind of stabilizing machine technology needs to be developed? Whoever decides to head this type of development will change the tattoo industry yet again.
Do New Tattooers Even Care About Coils, Or Are Coil Machines the Comeback Kid?
[31:24] “I have 150 tattoo machines displayed in my booth, you’re not gonna see that with these pens. You’re gonna throw them away when the motor runs out and then get another one. That in itself is this collector aspect, the [fact] that it came from someone who builds it for a purpose.”
— BJ “Soba”
There has been a small resurgence of interest around coils in recent years, and it seems to be growing slowly, though to what end we’re not entirely sure. Is it the novelty of owning a coil tattoo machine? Is it the legacy of them that can still be seen in most tattoo imagery like banners and logos and paintings? Or is it just the curiosity of the younger generation attempting to understand why everyone keeps trying to “make it feel like a coil”.
For sure there’s a certain type of magic that coils have. And, If you take good care of them they last far longer than almost any rotary on the market today, possibly your whole life.
Maybe there is some kind of happy medium that favors the health benefits and convenience of rotaries and the stability and majesty of a well tuned coil machine. Will it be a Kubin? A Soba? Or, maybe YOU will be the one who really changes the landscape of tattooing?
PEOPLE MENTIONED
- Guy Aitchison
- Dan Kubin
- Seth Ciferri
- Aaron Cain
- Huck Spaulding
- Corey Rodgers
- Carson Hill
- Mario Barth
- Dimitri HK
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Transcript for this video can be found (here). All transcripts can be found (Here)
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