SOBA IS BACK! After his 2020 Sobbatical, BJ is back building a limited amount of custom coil machines, working on new production, and now making rotary machines!

SOBA Cast Iron Pilot Liners and Shaders:

After 20+ years of production, numerous machining updates and tuning tweaks, these are the longest running models we sell. With long forgiving geometry, these machines are the tried, true, and consistent Workhorses of tattooing. Built to last a lifetime with little muss or fuss. Great for apprentices figuring out the basics, as well as veterans looking for the feel and performance of an all around solid coil machine.

Shader Specs:
- Sand Cast Ductile Iron Frame
- Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
- Standard Workhorse Hardware
- 8 Wrap 1.25" Production Coils
- Long Frame Machine with a Long Stroke and Slow Hard Punch
- Great All Around Shader
- Pushes thick powder based pigments with ease
- Running 95-100Hz @6.5 Volts Unloaded
- Pushes 5-11 Mags Easy
- Weighing in at 7.95oz
- MADE IN THE USA

NEW Mini Version of Mike Pike's Mean Mugger Shader!

• Black Zinc Finished Iron Frame
• Deluxe Blackened Hardware
• 1" Black Shrink Coils
  
• Swing Gate Vise Guaranteed to Lock Tight on Any Tube
• Running 110-120 Hz @ 6.5 V unloaded
• Medium Speed with a Solid Hit
• Pushing 5's to 13's all day
• Weighs 7 oz
• MADE IN THE USA

Mike Pike Brass Jonesy Shader

- CNC Cut Billet Brass Frame with PIKE Stamp
- Deluxe Blackened Workhorse Hardware
- Over Under Rear Binder Setup
- Custom Designed Pike Vise
- 1" 8 Wrap Gaffer Taped Coils
- Fast Shader /Slow Liner with a Hard Hit
- Running 125 -130 Hz @ 6.5V Unloaded
- Pushing 5's-11's with Ease
- Weighs 8 Ounces
- MADE IN THE USA

New Cory Rogers Rex Shader
- CNC Cut Iron Frame
- Antiqued Workhorse Hardware
- 8 Wrap Phenolic 1.25" Coils
- Medium Speed with a Solid Hit
- Great Shader for Traditional Work
- 100-105 Hz. @ 6.5 V unloaded
- Weighs 7.3 oz
- Pushes 5's to 13 Mags All Day

-MADE IN THE USA

SOBA IS BACK! After his 2020 Sobbatical, BJ is back building a limited amount of custom coil machines, working on new production, and now making rotary machines!

SOBA Mini Rusto Shader with Swing Gate Vise

After many years and many updates we are excited to release SOBA's newest version of the Mini Rusto, now built again by SOBA!

- CNC Cut Ductile Iron Frame
- Drilled Out and Lightened Upright
- Swing Gate Vise with and Internal Spring for ease of use
- Black Zinc Finish
- Custom Deluxe Black Hardware
- Deluxe 1" 8 Wrap T-Top Coils
- Medium Quick Speed with a Solid Hit
- Pushing 5's to 13's easy
- Great for Packing in Solid Color, turn down a bit for Color Blends and Whip Shading
- Running 110-115 Hz @ 6.5 V Unloaded
- Weighs 6.8 oz
- MADE IN THE USA

Seth Ciferri Micro Jones Shader

- CNC Cut Iron Micro Jones Shader Frame
- Black Zinc Finish
- Seth Deluxe Black Hardware
- Seth Side Facing Guillotine Vise
- 1" 8 Wrap Workhorse Coils
- Medium Slow Speed with a Hard Hit
- Running 100-105 Hz @ 6 V Unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 15's All Day
- Weighs 7.2 Ounces
- MADE IN THE USA

A Few Words From Seth about this machine:
"these are the culmination of everything I've learned in more than 20 years of building machines, from a comfortable clip cord position, purposeful geometry, ease of maintenance, useful tube vise, to good balance, and everything else in between. they have a wide operating range, and are capable of pushing the big stuff with ease, or backing off for finesse when executing the most detailed and intricate work. I couldn't be happier with how they've turned out."

New Version 3 Adam Ciferri Ghost Dog Shader Hybrid

• Tuned for all-day, every-day street shop and/or custom tattooing
• Medium/Quick Speed with a Medium/Light hit that easily pushes 5's to 9's, turn up a bit and push 11s no problem
• Runs 115-120 Hz @ 6.5 Volts Unloaded
• Good for Quick Color Packing or B&G Work / Color Blends
• CNC Cut Iron with the highest precision and care
• 1" Custom Keg Coil
• Standard Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
• Standard Workhorse Blackened Hardware
• Weighs 6 oz
• MADE IN THE USA

A few words from Adam about this machine:
"The Ghost Dog Liner is set up to make solid single pass outlines with ease. Weighing in at a mere 6 ounces, this is a machine that punches way above it's weight class. Perfect for tattooers who like the weight of a rotary machine but prefer the feel and performance of a coil machine"
-Respectfully, Adam C.

Mike Pike Teacup Shader

- Black Zinc CNC Cut Iron Frame
- 1.25" Deluxe 8 Wrap Coils with Gaffers Tape
- Standard Blackened Hex Hardware
- Smooth with a Solid Hit, running 105-110 Hz @ 6.5 V unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 11's with ease
- Tough and Versatile, a true Workhorse
- Weighs 8.10 oz
- MADE IN THE USA

Aaron Cain Octet Liner and Shader! Classic Aaron Cain styling mixed with his precision building and tuning resulting in a basic Workhorse version of his famed customs and carved machines.

- New CNC Cut Iron Frame
- Durable Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
- Standard Workhorse Blackened Steel Hardware
- 1.25" 8 Wrap Black Heat Shrink Coils
- Long Stroke with a Hard Medium Hit
- Running 100-110 Hz @ 6.5 V unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 11's no problem
- Weighs 6.45 Ounces
- MADE IN THE USA

Aaron Cain Roundback Shader Ver 2.0, based on the OG Sand Cast Iron Roundbacks Aaron did years ago, now CNC cut with a few improvements!

- New CNC Cut Iron Frame
- Durable Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
- Standard Workhorse Blackened Steel Hardware
- 1.25" 8 Wrap Black Heat Shrink Coils
- Long Stroke with a Medium Hit
- Running 100-105 Hz @ 6.5 V unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 11's no problem
- Weighs 6.45 Ounces
- MADE IN THE USA

Marv Lerning Metro Shader

- CNC Cut One-Piece Iron Frame
- Black Oxide Finish
- Antiqued Workhorse Brass Hardware
- Black 1.25" 8 Wrap Coils
- Medium Speed with a Solid Hit
- Great All Around Shader
- Running 100-105 Hz @ 6.5V Unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 9's and Up
- Weighs 8 oz
- Handmade with care in New Zealand

Marv Lerning 6 Shader classically inspired by the Waters Model 6 Frame

- CNC Cut One-Piece Iron Frame
- Red Oxide Finish
- Blackened and Antiqued Workhorse Hardware
- 1.25" 8 Wrap Coils with Black Gaffers Tape
- Medium Speed with a Hard Hit
- Great All Around Shader
- Running 100-105 Hz @ 6.5V Unloaded
- Pushing 5's to 13's no problem
- Weighs 7.2 oz
- Handmade with care in New Zealand

We are very pleased to welcome Adam Ciferri back to the Workhorse team! In honor of his return we are releasing the machine Adam is best known for, his Bulldog Shader, a true classic.

Bulldog Shader Specs:
- Tuned for all-day, every-day street shop and/or custom tattooing
- Solid hit that easily pushes 5-15 Mag Groupings
- Runs 100-110Hz @ 6.5 Volts Unloaded
- CNC Cut Iron with the highest precision and care
- Standard Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
- Standard Workhorse Hardware
- Weighs 7.2 Ounces
- MADE IN THE USA

A few words from Adam on his history with this machine:
"In 1996 I started making machines known as "Bulldogs" with Mike Malone, as the previous builder of this classic machine had ceased making them, and there was a void to be filled. The idea for this was mine, and I ran it by Mike. He had asked me to build shaders for him to re-sell, as he was happy building liners and didn't feel much of an affinity for building shaders.

So, we embarked on our plan to start re-making the shader known as "the bulldog" and it was to be a partnership. Our partnership, like so many, had some snags, and in our haste to get the project rolling, we never nailed down some key details of the partnership. Predictably, we both made some serious mistakes, both professionally, and privately, and these mistakes ultimately led to some interesting interpretations and speculations of what my role was in making this machine.

I do not claim to own anything surrounding this machine but my work and my word.
I have made this machine, continually for nearly 20 years, and intend to continue making this machine for as long as this demand dictates.

Thank you, Workhorse Irons, for making this project happen, thank you Mike Malone for the opportunity to have a part in the lineage of this machine, and thank you, Fellow Tattooers, who buy my machines and allow me to do what I love."
Respectfully, Adam C

New Chris Smith Streamliner Shader

- Meticulously CNC Machined Classic Streamliner Frame
- Double Slit Collet Vise with Welded Wingnut Thumbscrew
- Standard Workhorse Red Oxide Finish
- Standard Workhorse Hardware
- Full Size 1.25" 8 Wrap Custom Black Heat Shrink Coils
- Medium Speed with a Hard Hit and Long Throw
- Running 95-100 Hz @ 7.5-8 Volts Unloaded
- Great for Traditional Work and Solid Color Shading
- Pushes 5's-13s Easy
- Weighs 7.2 oz
- MADE IN THE USA

Adam Ciferri Cast Iron Bulldog Shader Specs:
- Tuned for all-day, every-day street shop and/or custom tattooing
- Solid hit that easily pushes 5-15 Mag Groupings
- Runs 95-105Hz @ 6.5 Volts Unloaded
- Sand Cast Ductile Iron Frame
- Deluxe Blackened Textured Finish
- Blackened Workhorse Hardware
- 1.25" 8 Wrap Coils
- 8.5 ounce weight
- MADE IN THE USA

A few words from Adam on his history with this machine:
"In 1996 I started making machines known as "Bulldogs" with Mike Malone, as the previous builder of this classic machine had ceased making them, and there was a void to be filled. The idea for this was mine, and I ran it by Mike. He had asked me to build shaders for him to re-sell, as he was happy building liners and didn't feel much of an affinity for building shaders.

So, we embarked on our plan to start re-making the shader known as "the bulldog" and it was to be a partnership. Our partnership, like so many, had some snags, and in our haste to get the project rolling, we never nailed down some key details of the partnership. Predictably, we both made some serious mistakes, both professionally, and privately, and these mistakes ultimately led to some interesting interpretations and speculations of what my role was in making this machine.

I do not claim to own anything surrounding this machine but my work and my word.
I have made this machine, continually for nearly 20 years, and intend to continue making this machine for as long as this demand dictates.

Thank you, Workhorse Irons, for making this project happen, thank you Mike Malone for the opportunity to have a part in the lineage of this machine, and thank you, Fellow Tattooers, who buy my machines and allow me to do what I love."
Respectfully, Adam C