Is This the End for Coil Machines? | Original 2020 Article.

Johnny Clauson, Workhorse Irons

Originally written for Tattoo Today, 2020.

Not According to Our Sales

Though many seem to be under the impression that coil machines are a thing of the past and that we now merely exist in an era of rotary machines, cartridges and realism. As this may be true in some circles, tattooing is far from abandoning the almighty coil and it’s many forms, flavors, and approaches to tattooing.

In my 15 years running Workhorse Irons, I have overseen the coordination, milling, promotion and manufacturing of tens of thousands of coil machines. We now produce and sell a fair amount of rotaries alongside our coil models, but coil machine sales have never faltered and continue to grow.

It has been interesting though seeing the shift within tattooing over the years regarding coil machines. Observing those that use or don’t use coils, numerous coil machine improvements, the recent increase in machine knowledge, plus various ideas and opinions surrounding coil use, rotary machines, and the overall advancement of tattooing.

The Loyal to the Coil

As I see it, those using coils these days fall into a few categories. First up are the “Loyal to the Coil” crowd that always have and always will tattoo with coil machines, no matter what changes in the realm of tattooing. No art school hippy dippy cartridge bullshit for these artists. Occasionally though they have been known to sometimes sneak in a rotary for some shading when no one is looking.

The In-Betweeners

Second we have the “In-Betweeners”, these artists sometimes bounce back and forth, typically landing in one of four sub-categories. Those that were solely coil users for years, switched to all rotary, then landed on a combo of both. Rotary artists that added in a coil lining machine for those crispy lines they just can’t seem to achieve with their rotary. The “always on to the next” artist that buys every new machine or accessory hoping for a breakthrough, but still often uses their tried and true coil machines. And last but not least, the nostalgic artist who is all rotary, but still occasionally buys a coil machine and/or uses one to feel connected to their roots in tattooing.

The Coil Curious

The third category of common coil machine users is what I like to call the “Coil Curious”. These are relatively new artists that have been tattooing for 3-5 years, did their apprenticeship with rotary machines and have continued to mindlessly use them until they slowly start realizing there is a whole other realm of tattooing they are not a part of, consisting of tattoos they cannot easily do.

I often end up selling these artists a full set up at a convention while explaining and demonstrating how a coil machine works. Which is always strange to explain to someone that has been tattooing more than a few years, but also very understandable as to why and how they are unfamiliar with coil concepts.

Better Tools for Better Tattoos

Though coils haven’t changed all that much over the years, there have definitely been some advancements in quality, reliability, and overall performance which has contributed to many switching back to coils.

Even just looking at what we are doing here at Workhorse I can see vast improvements in our overall machining of parts and frames. Plus increases in coil quality allowing machines to run more efficiently, heating up less and pulling less amperage. As well as some advancements in springs, including the use of some specialty springs we have developed and used for over a year now with significant results.

And I know it’s not just us, I see many other builders stepping up their game dialing in age old geometry and parts. All of us doing our part to provide the tattoo community with better tools for better tattoos.

Machine Knowledge

Another major factor that has helped coil machines continue to thrive the past few years has been a resurgence in coil machine knowledge. Many builders are doing more machine seminars spreading a better understanding of coil machines and their many nuances.

Plus Seth Ciferri has made a tremendous impact with his Machine Machine online workshops bringing a well presented knowledge base and additional Q&A support. He has been assisting many artists as they grapple with something they learned in an apprenticeship years ago or possibly never learned in their apprenticeship.

Artists becoming more and more familiar with their tools has led many to pull out their old machines again to rebuild or retune them. Drawing them into a deeper union with their craft, reinvigorating the tactile satisfaction a coil machine can bring.

Art, Technique, and Craft

In a day and age of over-simplicity via over-complication (wifi enabled shower heads and blue tooth rice cookers), instant everything, and the overall cheapening of craft and trade…one must ask if all this is hurting or helping.

Is an increase in rotary machine and cartridge use good for tattooing? If we are moving to simplified tattooing techniques, that progression brings with it an interesting debate; should the focus be just on making art, thus simplifying the technique? Or is it the combination of art and technique that makes it the craft of tattooing?

No doubt technological advancements combined with increased artistic abilities have propelled tattooing into a different form bringing with it a new era of tattooing…for better or for worse.

As many shift to cartridge and rotary, an equal amount switch to or start with coils and needle on bar. As we continue to ebb and flow we must ask ourselves if we are trading safety and skill for convenience. Or perhaps holding too tight to tradition and letting progression pass us by. Or maybe we are just overthinking all of it...either way, I plan to keep showing up for work so I can continue doing my part in making quality products that I hope result in quality tattoos. End of the day that’s what matters most.

Additional Reference: Machine Tuning Variables

The Dance of Tattoo Machine Physics, as Seth calls it.

Here is a bit of coil machine basics for any that might not know or need a refresher. Some of these concepts may have been considered secrets in the past, but it is our view that these are very basic ideas that all tattoo artists should be familiar with so they can work better with their tools.

These are generalizations; there are exceptions and outliers to these characteristics.

Geometry

Spacing of vise to spring shelf edge and the resulting spacing/location of components in between (front binder/coils).

Long Frame: Hard Hit / Slow Speed (Shader / Power Liner)

Short Frame: Lighter Hit / Quicker Speed (Liner / BG Shader)

Back of A-Bar to Spring Shelf Gap

Larger = Slower Speed / Harder Hit

Smaller = Quicker Speed / Lighter Hit

Springs

Narrow = Harder Hit / Slower Speed

Wide = Softer Hit / Quicker Speed

Thick = Faster, Less Flex, Higher Frequency

Thin = Slower, More Flex, Lower Frequency

18 gauge baseline standard

Armature Bar

Lighter = Quicker Speed / Less Hit

Heavier = Slower Speed / More Hit

Longer = Heavier + Gap/Geometry = Speed/Hit

Shorter = Lighter + Gap/Geometry = Speed/Hit

Coils

More Wire = Slower Speed / Harder Hit

Less Wire = Quicker Speed / Less Hit

Height and Wrap Combinations determine total wire amount and can result in similar results.

Capacitors

There are many Capacitor options. Typically a smaller size will result in a quicker machine and conversely a larger size will result in a slower machine.

Volts

Baseline for our machines = 6 Volts Unloaded but can vary 1-2 volts up or down.

More Volts = More Hit / More Amps

Less Volts = Less Hit / Less Amps

Speed does not change much by adjusting Volts with a coil machine, Rotary machines though can change drastically by adjusting voltage.

Archival note: This is Johnny Clauson's original 2020 article, with section headings added for online readability. The additional machine tuning reference was included in the source manuscript.

[LINK TO THE UPDATED 2026 WORKHORSE JOURNAL ARTICLE]