Best Black and Grey needles

[Shin Smack]

What do you guys like to use for B&G? I've been using Pulse's needles for a while and like their Liners and the Mags put in color real well, but I've been having a harder time getting smooth B&G shading, which has never been an issue. I was using Lucky's before that, but Pulse's were a little more consistent and tighter.

Has anyone used Lucky's since they started using only textured needles?
It was always my impression that textured needles work great for color but not so much for B&G.

[mrdeadlifter]

re. b+g needles.

i've tried a lot of combinations over the years. ive experimented with different machines and pigments too. when it comes to the needles. i think as long as the machine is not chattering too hard, b+g is easy enough to put in smooth, well most of the time! on tougher skin (outside arm i seem to be able to thrash it in there at a higher rate than say a rib or armpit where smooth and gentle has often been the order of the day..

you could try single row 7s,9s,11s. i find these produce really soft gradients. but as i am lazy i often use double row mags or rakes. if its a really large area of grey, a monster will do the job. try building up with 000 bug pins or similar fine points, the smaller holes help a smooth blend but are sod all use for colour. i would think textured pins could create more ragged b+g but thats just theory.

anyone else thoughts?

[kaydendigiovanni]

I use bugpin 15 mags for smooth B&G.

[SJRabbit]

Originally Posted by Shin Smack

What do you guys like to use for B&G? I've been using Pulse's needles for a while and like their Liners and the Mags put in color real well, but I've been having a harder time getting smooth B&G shading, which has never been an issue. I was using Lucky's before that, but Pulse's were a little more consistent and tighter.

Has anyone used Lucky's since they started using only textured needles?
It was always my impression that textured needles work great for color but not so much for B&G.

Super Sharp ones, with clean soder, a lower profile to make them stiffer put together neat and tight and not from china

[mucous]

i like to dip fine grit sandpaper in black ink and just gently sand it in.

[monkey-spoon]

Originally Posted by mucous

i like to dip fine grit sandpaper in black ink and just gently sand it in.

it removes it as it puts it in, therefore creating an endless tattoo and if you charge hourly you become rich!! brilliant!!

[Deran]

Needles shouldn't make that big of a difference, but give needlejig rounded mags a shot! They have special B&G needles as well. They're #12's, but with a longer taper.

[PushinInkTattoo]

guitar string on my walkman, no xtra charge for the 3d effect

[tala]

Bugpins and the right machine = smooth smooth grey. If that's what you're working toward. Not all "grey" needs to be smooth...
Tala

[Andres]

A really nice long taper is necessary for good greywash, the needle rows should be pretty close together and there should be just enough solder to hold everything together. I like Mithra's long taper needles but sometimes I'll solder my own if I want a really long taper. I like flat mags on a fast shader.