Best Tattoo Pen Machine Reviews & Guide 2022

Interested in knowing more about the pen machines? Read on and we’ll help you get better acquainted with these pen tattooing devices.

15 Best Tattoo Pen Machine Review & Guide 2022

There is no doubt that a tattoo pen machine is an important piece of tattoo equipment to own when it comes to tattooing so every tattoo artist wants to purchase it.

Here are 15 of the top-rated pen machines, reviewed and rated by the world’s best professional tattoo artists around the world that have been proven to provide great results.

1. BRONC Cartridge Tattoo Machine- Best Pen for Tattoo

I consider the Bronc one of the best pen-style tattoo machine on the market, so I decided to start with that tattoo machine to begin this round-up. It’s built to be extremely high-performing. Many professionals love its excellent results paired with a sturdy construction and quiet operation.   

The machine comes with a bag of O-rings, foot switch, 2-4 cartridge needles, 3 needle bar, pencil tray, and a 1ml lubricant.

The ergonomic design has made it popular in the tattoo industry. Thanks to its aircraft-grade metal frame, you are assured of a durable product. Although it is a bit longer than the average pen machine, it is still quite comfortable to use.

Bronc pen is equipped with a Swiss motor that will ensure long-lasting operation between 5 and 7 volts. The unit is powered by a DC power source via an RCA cord.

Compared to coil machines, this professional tattoo gun is very low noise level, vibration-free, and feels light during long tattooing sessions, giving you a better tattooing experience if you’ve struggled with coil machines before.

You can adjust the stroke length with this pen rotary machine by rotating the grip accordingly, as it is compatible with almost all cartridges. It is perfect for both beginners and experienced tattoo artists.

Unlike coil tattoo machines, rotary pen machines can be used for lining, shading, and packing, so you don’t have to swap them out when doing different areas and stages of your tattoo design.

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2. Cheyenne Hawk Pen- Best Rotary Tattoo Pen

Willing to go all out to make sure that you’ll end up with the best tattoo pen machines for lining, shading, and color packing? Then check the bests one out the Cheyenne Hawk Pen.

A pleasant gloss and ergonomic design make it quieter and vibrate less than coil machine without compromising puncturing ability. Hawk rotary tattoo pen machine is significantly thinner than other tattooing machines, making it easier for you to operate and achieve greater precision. It runs on 6 to 12.6 volts smoothly.

Among others, the brand offers solid details like a responsive mode, screw-on style cartridge grips, adjustable needle length, and easy-to-cover design. Featuring a stroke length of 3.5 mm and an adjustment range of 0 to 4.5 mm. The cartridges are interchangeable and customizable, so you can use the same machine for different types of tattoos.

In spite of that, since it is a relatively new invention, the Hawk tattoo rotary pen is not compatible with accessories from other brands.

Every tattoo artist wants a reliable machine. That’s why we chose a tattoo machine made in Germany because we know their expertise in engineering, quality of craftsmanship, and brushless motor. You can trust the Hawk pencil rotary machine to be very sturdy and durable because of this. Hawk pencil is one of the best tattoo pen machines out there.

3. Dragonhawk Mast- Best Dragonhawk Tattoo Pen

The Dragonhawk Mast Pen, included on our list, proves the brand offers quality tattoo equipment. There is no doubt that this is another one of the best cheap tattoo pen for crisp lines and colour packing because it is an affordable option that will not compromise the quality, performance, or style so you can achieve various tattooing styles and techniques.

In addition, it’s quite powerful, so even professional tattoo artists are taken aback by it. Due to its solid build and tough Japanese brushless motor, it can handle continuous operation and perform consistently.

Featuring an adjustable stroke length so you can manage a variety of tattooing styles, the Mast rotary pen is highly versatile. You can set it from 2.8mm to 3.5 mm stroke to let you line, pack, and shade your work with just one device.

Mast Pen tattoo machine kit contains most of what you need to begin tattooing. If you just buy the machine, you’re going to need to buy the power supply, foot pedal, needle cartridges, ink, stencils, caps, gloves, soap, and other things you’re going to need.

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4. HAWINK Tattoo Kit- Best Rotary Pen Tattoo Machine for Beginners

If you’re a big fan of German engineering but can’t afford a Cheyenne Hawk Pen just yet, then the Hawink Pen Tattoo Machine would be a great alternative for you. It is considered to be one of the best tattoo pen machine on the market today.

A Faulhaber motor is used in the tattoo machine, which means that the level of quality and standards are the same as the high-end tattoo pick.

With a heavy-duty motor, this german made tattoo pen machine can also guarantee that it won’t easily overheat or conk out after long tattooing sessions. It doesn’t mean that it won’t get overloaded as it’s not recommended to use a higher voltage than 10V but it’s already a good start. By following the instructions, you can extend the running life of your device without any worries.

The device is easy to handle, lightweight, and stable. Tattoo artists suffering from wrist pain and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome have found the pen-like design to be extremely helpful as it replicates the feeling of handling an actual pen so they don’t have any difficulty using it.   

Hawink rotary allows needle depth adjustments between 0 and 4.0 mm and provides working voltage range of 7v to 10v. It is compatible with a wide range of ink cartridges from all major brands.

HAWINK provides a wireless battery pack with a capacity of 2000mAh that can last for up to ten hours. That means you can do those long tattooing sessions comfortably.

5. BIG WASP Rotary Pen – Best Tattoo Pen Kit for Beginners

Most of the pen body shape machines cost around a hundred bucks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find an affordable one. A BIG WASP tattoo brand is known for its high-quality needles and their machines, also known as the best tattoo pen machines, are handcrafted to be of good quality Their success is also attributed to creating tattoo machines at reasonable prices.

Space grade aluminum body and Japanese motor are used to construct this tattoo machine. It is ergonomic and lightweight that ensures a quiet and reliable operation without any vibration.

There is also a switch that allows you to adjust the stroke length that can be locked in by grip tape. This helps prevent accidental stroke adjustment while you work. The machine operating voltage is between 5-8 volts with 3.5 mm stroke length. All types of cartridge needles are compatible with the Bigwasp tattoo pen.

In addition, the machine can be kept in continuous operation as well as better controlled by the professional. This unit has an 8000 rpm stitching speed, making it easy to finish any job within a short period of time.

6. Solong Tattoo Gun- Best Temporary Tattoo Pen

Still want something more affordable tattoo machines? Check out the Solong Pen Rotary Tattoo Machine. It’s an all-around best tattoo pen machine kit fine lines, shade, or even put on permanent makeup (eyebrows, lip lines, eye lines, etc) as it’s not just for doing skin art.

The pen is constructed of aircraft aluminum alloy and Precision CNC with an anodized finish for a natural grip, just as if it were a real pen. Apart from its superb ergonomics, the device operates efficiently with its 10W Taiwanese motor, which emits little noise and is powered by a 1500mAh rechargeable battery.

It is a great convenience to work with a cordless tattoo machine in this line of work, especially since you are getting up to 3 hours of operation from a full charge. This adapter enables the Solong Tattoo Pen to operate with tattoo power supplies from all major brands.

Among the other impressive specifications are the operating voltage of 7-12VDC, the needle protrusion of 0-3.5mm, and 3.5 mm stroke length, as well as the dimensions of 6.3 x 3.94 x 2.36 inches and the package weight of 0.66 lbs. 

Since the device isn’t too bulky, it has an almost pen-like feel. As a result, it handles easily, making working with it more comfortable. It’s also great for beginners because it’s not unwieldy.

Solong pen rotary tattoo machine kit includes needle cartridge, ink caps, grip tape, needle bars, foot pedal, power supply, and a carrying case.

7. Dragonhawk Atom- Best Wireless Tattoo Pen Machine

Get a tattoo pen machine kit instead of buying separate tools. I would like to introduce you to a set of high-end tattoo equipment that will be a great addition to your studio. Take a look at the Dragonhawk Atom Machine Kit!

With its innovative design, it seems like the brand aims to make tattooing feels like as comfortable as drawing with an actual pen and paper. Featuring a Japanese motor, an advanced gear system, and a wide range of tattoo needle adjustments, you also don’t have to worry about the performance of the machine. It can certainly give you the results you need, especially with some expert skills.

The stroke length is a standard 0 – 4.5 mm. It’s compatible with all cartridge needles. Atom tattoo pen machine 5-15V working voltage is one of its more notable features as not a lot of affordable tattoo machines can offer the same thing. Even the more expensive options listed above do not offer such.

It’s also lightweight and comes with an RCA connection jack so it offers great freedom of movement. Additionally, a high-quality anodized aluminum frame provides better support.

What does it mean for users? Well, for starters, it can allow play around with more power. So if you want to explore your techniques and capabilities with a tattoo machine kit, this can be a great deal.

I have come up with a package that includes the wireless tattoo pen, a power supply, a clip cord, tattoo needles, foot pedel, and a type-C charge cable all in one.

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8. Cheyenne Sol Nova

It’s safe to say that the main draw of Sol Nova is its performance. The Sol Nova feels a lot like a pen while in your hand, so it’s comfortable to hold. Many would expect that tattoo rotary guns won’t have a decent frame but that’s not the case with this Cheyenne Sol Nova product.

It lets you adjust voltage in increments of 0.1 by pressing a button on the screen. It’s also possible to turn the barrel and change the stroke length from 1 to 3.5 mm. Our clients say they’re happy with the snap change, and the cartridge stays in the showcase so they can see it at the same time.

Made of aircraft aluminum alloy that maintains a lightweight of 130 grams, the tattoo pen will assist you in colour packing, lining, and shading.

The Cheyenne Sol Nova kit includes several manuals, a battery charger, an extra rechargeable battery, a protective case, and a zippered travel case.

9. FK Irons Spektra Xion- Best Pen-Style Rotary Tattoo Machine

As its name suggests, we choose the Spektra Xion rotary pen machine as our pick for the best pen-style rotary tattoo machine today.

The spectra xion is nicely constructed. Space aluminum-grade casing adds to durability. Moreover, the lighter form factor also helps to ensure no overheating of the unit. This is exactly what FK Irons rotary tattoo machines is best known for, so it shouldn’t be too surprising.

The gorilla grip helps in the lining and shading more efficiently. Moreover, the machine is forward-weighted, which eliminates wrist pain and allows for maximum needle control.

It offers faster ink saturation without causing much noise. I love it because it’s gentle on human skin. It helps the skin to heal more quickly. There is also the option to adjust the needle depth and the settings can be customized to give you the desired result.

This is compatible with all major tattoo cartridges and does the job quietly, and with a good hold. Its stroke length is 3.6 mm, with a needle protrusion capacity of 0 – 4.0 mm. There is an integrated 6 Watt MotorBolt System that was developed especially for applying tattoos. Additionally, you’ll receive 3.2 and 3.7 mm stroke wheels in the box.

Spektra Xion weighs just 5.36 ounces, so it’s lightweight, sleek, and comfortable to use. This means you won’t get tired after long tattooing sessions. It’ll be awesome if you’re tackling a back panel.

FK Irons Spektra xion is available in eight colors and has really good customer reviews and ratings.

10. FK Irons Spektra Edge X

As a highly specialized art form, tattoo design has been assessed to be one of the most challenging in today’s tattoo world.

Nevertheless, since the spektra edge x tattoo pen machine is able to shade and line work at the same. Like other competitors’ machines, it has a lot of versatility. With its wide functionality, it can already do everything you need to complete most designs.

It has a needle protrusion of (stroke length) 2.8mm – 4.2mm, which means the needle can extend up to 4.2mm under your skin. This gives you greater control over the depth and placement of your tattoo.

Equipped with needle depth indicators, and the Dragonhawk tattoo power supply allows rapid and accurate voltage settings. It is compatible with standard needles, tubes, grips, and power supplies.

We dislike the cord that comes with this product. It’s too short. When tattooing, it’s difficult to move around. If this is an issue, you can buy another DC connector that is longer, and replace the original one.

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11. Cheyenne Sol Luna- Best Tattoo Pen for Lining

As a new tattoo artist, this is an excellent tattoo machine to begin. Cheyenne Sol Luna tattoo machine equipped with a gorilla grip for greater control during long tattoo sessions. It is powered by a powerful motor and is capable of running smoothly, making it ideal for all types of skin.

It can work with Cheyenne Hawk power supply and other tattoo power supplies, and you’ll get a plug adapter to work with all of them. This tattoo pen machine has an adjustable needle depth that is ideal for shading and lining. It can be controlled with a simple twist of the grip.

What makes this tattoo pen machine a lot more attractive to many tattoo artists is its very friendly price point.

12. Cheyenne Sol Terra

Cheyenne Sol Terra pen-style rotary machine is one of the most popular tattoo machine manufacturers on the market. It boasts a powerful motor and a gear system to provide reliable, quiet operation, lower noise, and minimal vibration than a coil tattoo machine.

An extremely durable and reliable tattoo device that is ideal for color packing, lining, and shading. This pen-style tool is suitable for a variety of applications since it operates with all needle cartridges. The 4mm stroke makes it the perfect machine for those tasks, and the two different settings (Hard and Sensi) give you more control over the motor.

With SENSIDRIVE, the artist can control the speed and power of the needle with more precision. Moreover, its operating frequency ranges from 25 to 150 Hz, enabling it to be applied to a variety of skin types and tattoos.

It has a larger diameter than most rotary machines, which makes it faster and easier to use. Additionally, the Sol Terra machine heals quickly, so you can get back to your work or daily routine sooner.

 As they have a larger diameter than many pen tattoo machines, they are quicker and easier to use because of that. Moreover, the Sol Terra rotary pen machine is designed to heal quickly so that you can get back to your work or daily routine faster.

Besides having a unique look and color variations, the Sol Terra pen-style is also the only machine that allows needle depth adjustment with a button press

Additionally, the SOL Terra rotary tattoo machine lets you control the speed of the application, making it gentle on your skin. It works with all kinds of cartridge needles.

13. Stigma Premium Tattooing Machine

The Stigma pen-style rotary tattoo machine is a top-of-the-line machine that is perfect for experienced tattoo artists.

As always, the Stigma brand offers another great wireless tattoo machine. The machine has a low vibration design, with a needle stroke of between 2.8 mm to 4.5 mm, and low noise levels. Additionally, the machine is compatible with conventional tattoo needles.

Furthermore, it is extremely easy to use with a simple one-button operation and a powerful motor that provides excellent results and a high battery life of up to eight hours. There is an LED light on the machine that will indicate whether the machine is connected to the electricity. It is simple to use and transport the tattoo pen with a portable power source.

Stigma pen-style rotary machine provides smooth and silent and you still get 25-160 Hz stitch frequency. Many artists prefer this gun in part because they can use it roughly and gets the job done well.

When it comes to tattoo pen machines, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration: size, weight, and ergonomic design. Some machines are just too big and heavy for prolonged use, while others have an awkward design that can cause fatigue and pain. It is more convenient and easier to use this machine than a larger one, thus it is preferred over a larger unit.   

In our studies, we found that the pen-style tattoo machine leads to skin irritation, and also overheats once 10V has been consumed.

14. Bishop Rotary Wand

Since they’ve been in the tattoo machine game for a while, Bishop has built a reputation for quality over bottom line. This pen-style rotary tattoo machine includes a custom-designed FAULHABER motor for magical torque optimization.

Professionals love the Bishop wand pen-style machine for its lightweight (aircraft grade aluminium alloy) and stability during use. There’s nothing better than a Packer Wand for whip shading, color packing, color realism, and ink saturation. Its stroke length is 4.2 mm, and its power and speed are specifically designed for maximum torque and speed.

This pen gun runs on a 10 W motor that makes no noise so you can do big tattoo sessions without getting bored. With a durable Japan coreless motor, this tattoo machine is capable of speeds of up to 9000 revolutions per minute. They also have a RCA connection, which is endorsed by tattoo artists like Nikko Hurtado.

You can do a lot of tattoo styles and techniques with a single machine. The reason for that is its ability to deliver supreme control and accuracy.

This high-powered pen-style tattoo machine features a wide frequency bandwidth ranging from 25 to 140 Hz, so it can handle a wide range of tattooing styles. You can lower the frequency on the rotary tattoo machine for more realism, or turn it up for more intense lines.

15. Kwadron Equaliser Proton

The Kwadron brand has been around since 2001 and is the most trusted name in the tattoo industry. This is why the Kwadron Equaliser Proton is such a hit as it’s deemed as one of the best wireless pen for novice tattoo artists available to order from amazon.com or killer ink tattoo today.

Performance-wise, there’s no reason to worry. Kwadron Equaliser Proton is best known for its high-performing offerings so you can expect great results from this rotary tattoo pen machine as well. It has 2 modes, the first mode one is constant power on meaning that, constant power on via your tattoo power supply with a foot switch and mode two is switch mode.

Physically, the ergonomic design with a comfortable grip will result in a better user experience and it is lightweight, so you can hold and use it with ease. It’s also engineered to not vibrate so controlling it wouldn’t be too fussy.

Kwadron rotary tattoo machine emphasizes that the machine is compatible with all types of tattoo cartridge needles so you don’t have to worry about finding replacement parts. You can get pretty much anything and they’ll work nicely with this tattoo machine.

Like other tattoo pen machines, It offers the best tattoo pen machine for beginners for crisp lines and colour packing with great value for the money since this product is among the most affordable and has an array of amazing features, such as a Japanese nanotechnology motor that is ultra-quiet and vibrates very little. It uses an RCA jack connection as well.

Buying Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Choose the best tattoo pen for beginners

Got a bit overwhelmed with your options? Here are a few more bits of information that might help you learn more about the best tattoo machine pen so you can better make an informed choice. We are suggesting check rotary tattoo pen machines review before buying.

Tattooing Pen vs Gun

You might be wondering why you should give tattoo pens a try when tattoo guns have been used for decades without a hitch. The answer here is really simple: pens offer easier handling. Since many world’s best artists started out as illustrators and artists that used traditional pens and brushes, then using a pen for tattooing will make things easier for them.

Traditional tattooing gun use an electromagnetic coil to move the needle up and down, but tattoo pen machines use a motor for needle movement and inking.

There is no surprise that rotary machines have lost favor in recent years due to the popularity of coil machines, which offer more versatility.

There has been a revival in the use of motor-driven tattoo pens, which are championed by tattoo artists around the world, such as Tatu Baby, Bang Bang, and Guy Aitchison.

Unfortunately, rotary pen tattoo machines can be quite pricey. You can get amazing coil machines for very cheap so it’s really a tradeoff you should consider.

How to Get the Best Pen Rotary Tattoo Machine

In order to get the best beginner tattoo pen kit for you, we recommend that you do a lot of research. This is the only way for you to learn if a product is actually good and is not just about the hype. Take some time to learn how it works, what its specifications are, and what the tattoo artist actually says about it as well. If you can also find a way to try the product in person, you’ll be able to form better opinions about it and determine whether it’s the right match for you or not.

By taking these steps, you can make sure that a specific product will match your requirements effectively.

Major reason you should choose a rotary tattoo machine over a coil machine?

As a tattoo artist, you’ll need the right tool for your craft. You will not get your desired results or the best output if you don’t use a tool that matches your needs. It will only make things difficult for you and the process will be very frustrating.

The wrong tattoo gun will also give a bad tattooing experience to your client. If your techniques and its capabilities don’t match, you might end up hurting your canvas more than you should have and it can have a very negative effect on your output. In the end, it will only give bad results, so you definitely should not settle for anything less than the best tattoo pen machines.

Essential Points When Purchasing

When purchasing a tattoo machine, here are a few points that you should keep in mind:

Only trust reputable sellers.

Like most other competitor machines today, knock-off tattoo machines are now also widely available. Avoiding them can be hard, especially if you’re not well-versed in purchasing such tools just yet.

So to avoid falling for the wrong rotary pen machines and not getting your money’s worth, only trust reputable sellers. This way, you can minimize the odds of getting ripped off and ending up with a fake product.

Mind your budget.

You really do not have to spend a lot on a tattooing pen if you don’t have the budget for it as there are quite a lot of amazing best rotary tattoo machines that are very affordable.

Which are the different levels of needle depth adjustment?

Tattoo needles are usually adjusted in 5 different levels.

• Super shallow: This is the lightest level of depth adjustment and is used for the most delicate parts of the skin like the eyelids and around the eyes.

• Shallow: This level of depth adjustment is for more sensitive areas on your body like your neck, chest, hands, and feet.

• Medium: This level of depth adjustment is a little deeper than shallow and can be used on most parts of your body excluding sensitive areas like your face or neck.

• Deep: This level of depth adjustment goes to a higher depth than medium and can be used on any part of your body that isn’t sensitive or delicate to touch.

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Picking the Best Pen Tattoo Machine for You

If we’re going to choose just one out of the 15 tattoo pen machines, however, we’ll go for the Hawink pen-style rotary machine, which is lightweight, powerful, and comfortable to hold. Its features makes it a solid choice and its performance will make sure that you don’t regret your decision.