Shakespeare's Sister: How do I a choose a tattoo establishment to get the work done? That is, how do I know I am in one that is going to do the work I would like safely and correctly? I live in Cookeville, TN--that is 85 miles east of Nashville--so I know I am going to have to travel to get it done.

Well, you might take a potential artist to the Macaroni Grill, and find out if they are repulsed by the food.



You should get an idea if you like the artist's work, if you don't mind a little food poisoning.

TheShadow: I was like, "Wow! That's a powerful laser! Must be 100-200 watts!"

Then I decided to do the math. Boy, was I wrong.

A similar laser I found on the net produced 166 MEGAWATT pulses. Only for 6 nanoseconds, but daaaayummmm...


Watts are a unit composed of voltage and amperage, which in turn is dependent on a unit of TIME. The "pulse power" rating of nano/femto second pulse lasers being used to suggest a "work power" is grossly misleading. A medium sized coal power plant may produce a SUSTAINED 400MW working power. A "166MW laser" being pulsed for 6nS at 4Hz is delivering roughly 4x10^-6W of sustained "working power".

Marcus Aurelius

This is how you remove a tattoo.

Angry birds @ 0:30

LoneVVolf: TheShadow: I was like, "Wow! That's a powerful laser! Must be 100-200 watts!"

Then I decided to do the math. Boy, was I wrong.

A similar laser I found on the net produced 166 MEGAWATT pulses. Only for 6 nanoseconds, but daaaayummmm...


Watts are a unit composed of voltage and amperage, which in turn is dependent on a unit of TIME. The "pulse power" rating of nano/femto second pulse lasers being used to suggest a "work power" is grossly misleading. A medium sized coal power plant may produce a SUSTAINED 400MW working power. A "166MW laser" being pulsed for 6nS at 4Hz is delivering roughly 4x10-6W of sustained "working power".

Oh, I'm aware. And when you calculate based on my 100-200 watt estimate, the pulses would've been 5-10 milliseconds, a more reasonable number.

I still thought the amount of energy involved was impressive. 1 joule at 1064 nm, that's... ~2 x 10^19 photons?

When the tattoo is removed, does the skin clear up or does it always look like a pretty severe burn?

Trackball: Guess that tat lost its deep and personal meaning for the patient.

Probably decided to finally get a job.

Serial: 4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.

This one cracks me up. Over half of my team is inked. We all make very good money (not six figures or anything, but we can afford our toys) working for a major corporation. Hell, the director of our division has full sleeve tats and wears short sleeve shirts every day.

I'd like to get at least one more piece of work done - maybe two...

MrsGsboy: [shechive.files.wordpress.com image 500x516]

This says it all.

I always get a kick out of this. I guess maybe I am the exception. I have tattoos on my fore arms, yet am gainfully employed in my chosen career field and I am in a higher tax bracket.

clutchcargo2002: MrsGsboy: [shechive.files.wordpress.com image 500x516]

This says it all.

I always get a kick out of this. I guess maybe I am the exception. I have tattoos on my fore arms, yet am gainfully employed in my chosen career field and I am in a higher tax bracket.

Unless you're in a sales position .. specifically one that sells to boomers and older (who else has any money) I've found that tattoos aren't really a hindrance to getting hired. There's just so many people with tattoos that it takes a particularly close minded fugglesmuggler to give a fark.

Lando Lincoln: froggyclifford: Trackball: Guess that tat lost its deep and personal meaning for the patient.

Probably decided to finally get a job.

He removed the skull, the upside-down pentagram, and the Iron Cross.

Guess that whole Death/Satanism/White Power thing isn't working out for him.

Pretty sure that upside down heart pentagram is a Bam Margera/CKY thing. It basically makes light of 'satanism'.

But it is dumb to get a tat of any band/celebrity/show that is still breathing.

Not sure if this has been pointed out already, but the tattoo looks a lot more gone than it really is. It looks light because it's now covered up with weird, dead lased skin. It'll flake off in a day or two and the tattoo will be more visible.

Plus, it smells really gross.

MensRea: When the tattoo is removed, does the skin clear up or does it always look like a pretty severe burn?

It clears up and looks, for the most part, totally normal. It can leave a scar if they zap you too hard (it blisters the skin, so you don't want to just go at it full blast...

Can this laser be installed in a rifle form factor? Powered up to somewhere in the 40 watt range?

studebaker hoch: Can this laser be installed in a rifle form factor? Powered up to somewhere in the 40 watt range?

Make it a sniper, wait for some douche to fall asleep on the beach and then fark up his tribal arm band.

Serial: 1: Don't touch us. It's NOT ok to walk up to a tattooed person and grab/poke/prod us without asking permission.
2: We got our tattoos for us, not for you. This means that some of us don't want to answer questions about our tattoos.
3: Don't ask us how much it cost. Being polite and asking reasonable questions is ok, but only if we're talking about them.
4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.
5: When you get old, you'll look old. When we get old, we'll look old and tattooed, and we're ok with that.
6: If you're also tattooed, don't assume that we want to see your ink. Pulling up your shirt to show off your tattoos when we didn't ask to see them is both rude and creepy. If we cared, we would ask politely. If we didn't ask, then we don't care.

Huh, that kind of defeats the purpose of being an attention whore, don't you think?

I'm glad hipsters get a bunch of tats, would be so hard to tell them apart otherwise.

Farker Soze: Serial: 1: Don't touch us. It's NOT ok to walk up to a tattooed person and grab/poke/prod us without asking permission.
2: We got our tattoos for us, not for you. This means that some of us don't want to answer questions about our tattoos.
3: Don't ask us how much it cost. Being polite and asking reasonable questions is ok, but only if we're talking about them.
4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.
5: When you get old, you'll look old. When we get old, we'll look old and tattooed, and we're ok with that.
6: If you're also tattooed, don't assume that we want to see your ink. Pulling up your shirt to show off your tattoos when we didn't ask to see them is both rude and creepy. If we cared, we would ask politely. If we didn't ask, then we don't care.

Huh, that kind of defeats the purpose of being an attention whore, don't you think?

It's almost as if there's an entire population of tattooed people that aren't attention whores. Amazing I know!

studebaker hoch: Can this laser be installed in a rifle form factor? Powered up to somewhere in the 40 watt range?

Hey, only what you see here, pal.

lewismarktwo: Pretty sure that upside down heart pentagram is a Bam Margera/CKY thing. It basically makes light of 'satanism'.

But it is dumb to get a tat of any band/celebrity/show that is still breathing.

I think it's from the band His Infernal Majesty (aka HIM), myself.
/had a coworker with a giant tat of that logo-and just that logo-on his arm

Ishidan: lewismarktwo: Pretty sure that upside down heart pentagram is a Bam Margera/CKY thing. It basically makes light of 'satanism'.

But it is dumb to get a tat of any band/celebrity/show that is still breathing.

I think it's from the band His Infernal Majesty (aka HIM), myself.
/had a coworker with a giant tat of that logo-and just that logo-on his arm

Oh... so that's where it's from... kinda weird for all of them to have that tat... must know the band or something.

/watches video with interest

I'll just leave this here.

Shakespeare's Sister: Serial: I understand what you are saying. I want to get a tattoo. I have had the same one in mind since I was 17; I am now 40, but I have some concerns. Maybe you can answer a question for me: How do I a choose a tattoo establishment to get the work done? That is, how do I know I am in one that is going to do the work I would like safely and correctly? I live in Cookeville, TN--that is 85 miles east of Nashville--so I know I am going to have to travel to get it done.

I appreciate your help.

You've already accomplished the first step. A tattoo should never been a rushed decision. It's on you forever so make sure you want it. My wife drew my first tattoo on paper and I had it on my desk for 6 years before getting it done.

Second, as the other posters have said shop around. Virtually every reputable tattoo shop has artist portfolios online. Find the artist you like and make an appointment.

Third and MOST important, search long and hard for a shop that takes hygiene to an extreme. The shop I went to for my large back tattoo was like stepping into a doctors office. Everything the artist touched before beginning was sterilized and wrapped in plastic. Then half way through he re-wrapped and re-disinfected everything again. If nothing else this will prove that you are going to a professional and not just a clown with a needle.

Fourth, it is going to hurt. Don't let anyone lie to you. But it's very simple, you have to want it. Don't half ass the tattoo or you will be disappointed. Find the one you want, accept that it will hurt, get it done. It's like training to be a body builder, if you have to want the goal more than you care about it hurting. The pain is not severe. But it is unpleasant and at times you will think to yourself "I don't want to do this anymore" but it's completely manageable. And it only hurts while they are doing the work. All pain almost immediately ceases when the artists stops. Afterwards it will feel like a mild sunburn for a few days. It will ooze a bit but follow the artist instructions and within 5 days it will be perfectly fine.

And if I may be so bold, never get a tattoo anywhere a stranger could see without you deliberately showing them. I have absolutely no issue with visible tattoos but there still is a stigma in this society with that. My range is anything that can easily be covered by a polo shirt. But I also work in an office.

Shakespeare's Sister: Serial: I understand what you are saying. I want to get a tattoo. I have had the same one in mind since I was 17; I am now 40, but I have some concerns. Maybe you can answer a question for me: How do I a choose a tattoo establishment to get the work done? That is, how do I know I am in one that is going to do the work I would like safely and correctly? I live in Cookeville, TN--that is 85 miles east of Nashville--so I know I am going to have to travel to get it done.

I appreciate your help.

Just to add a bit to what others have said... Ask... If you see a tat that you think is well done, ask where they got it and explain why you are asking. If the same shop/artist keeps turning up, you may have found your person.

imagine the one he needs to remove from his dick.

Serial: Oh god. A Fark tattoo thread. Let the hate-fest begin.

And for fun: Here's some tattoo etiquette.

1: Don't touch us. It's NOT ok to walk up to a tattooed person and grab/poke/prod us without asking permission.
2: We got our tattoos for us, not for you. This means that some of us don't want to answer questions about our tattoos.
3: Don't ask us how much it cost. Being polite and asking reasonable questions is ok, but only if we're talking about them.
4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.
5: When you get old, you'll look old. When we get old, we'll look old and tattooed, and we're ok with that.
6: If you're also tattooed, don't assume that we want to see your ink. Pulling up your shirt to show off your tattoos when we didn't ask to see them is both rude and creepy. If we cared, we would ask politely. If we didn't ask, then we don't care.

I can't stress point one enough. You'd be amazed at how many people think that just because my arms are covered, it's an open invitation to be accosted. Personally, I grab people back. CSB: I was driving through PA to get to VA and I stopped to pick up fireworks for the party I was attending. When I went to go cash out I reached out with my credit card to pay and the woman behind the counter grabbed my arm and pulled it in to get a better look. I did the same back to her and she was shocked. I reminded her that what she did was incredibly rude and how she didn't like me doing it. She swore she'd never do that again.

Ok, I'm done. Go back to hating on tattoos.

No one cares.

I used to work for a company that wanted to make a similar laser. I had ot do a shiatload of research on it 8-9 years ago. i hope it's gotten better.

some warnings for others from what i remember.
1. the pigment is still there, it's just blasted smaller, and is typicaly transported by your lymphatic system into your lymphnodes.
2. some pigments become blacker by lasers (white's are notorius)
3. you are selectively burning your skin doing this, you will have scarring, especially where pigments are dense. you skin wont be "perfect canvas" like it was before the tattoo.

the video looked like he was of the mindset he was going to replace the bad work with touchup. good luck.

Lando Lincoln: froggyclifford: Trackball: Guess that tat lost its deep and personal meaning for the patient.

Probably decided to finally get a job.

He removed the skull, the upside-down pentagram, and the Iron Cross.

Guess that whole Death/Satanism/White Power Phrenology/Pythagorean/German War Hero thing isn't working out for him.

FTFY

I have 2 tattoos and love mine. I don't imagine I'd ever want to get rid of them. However, if one of my nephews were thinking of getting one I think I'd make them watch this video just to drive home a point: be sure you're getting something you'll be satisfied with long-term. Don't get one that's a fad and/or phase that you might outgrow, and if you're getting it in a place that isn't easy to conceal I think you might want to give it a little extra thought. Not that there's anything at all wrong with it, but it is an extra consideration that may be problematic in the future.

Here's what I don't understand, chicks with shaved hoorahs and chicks with tramp stamps or even an abundance of tats.

You can't refute that the female shape and original design is perfect and shant be tampered with.

kid_icarus: I have 2 tattoos and love mine. I don't imagine I'd ever want to get rid of them. However, if one of my nephews were thinking of getting one I think I'd make them watch this video just to drive home a point: be sure you're getting something you'll be satisfied with long-term. Don't get one that's a fad and/or phase that you might outgrow, and if you're getting it in a place that isn't easy to conceal I think you might want to give it a little extra thought. Not that there's anything at all wrong with it, but it is an extra consideration that may be problematic in the future.

Even though in most places it's legal to get tattooed once you turn 18, I always recommend people wait until they're in their mid 20s before getting anything done. Think about it this way, just because you're legally an adult, it doesn't mean your body is done changing. You're going to look a lot different when you're 25 than what you did when you were 18.


tonguedepressor: Here's what I don't understand, chicks with shaved hoorahs and chicks with tramp stamps or even an abundance of tats.

You can't refute that the female shape and original design is perfect and shant be tampered with.

So you want women to conform to what you think they're supposed to look like? What about breast implants? If anything plastic surgery alters the "female shape" a lot more than tattoos do. And shaved "hoorahs"? Do you feel the same way about armpits? What about hair dye? Manicures? Makeup? Heck, even hair cuts. Those are all forms of body modification, they're just the culturally accepted ones. Going to the gym and working out is another one. There are varying degrees right there. Someone goes once a week to keep fit, and others work out seven days a week to become completely huge and muscular. It's people taking action to alter how their bodies look externally. Pretty much everyone does it, the difference is some things are embraced by society and others aren't (yet).

Serial: kid_icarus: I have 2 tattoos and love mine. I don't imagine I'd ever want to get rid of them. However, if one of my nephews were thinking of getting one I think I'd make them watch this video just to drive home a point: be sure you're getting something you'll be satisfied with long-term. Don't get one that's a fad and/or phase that you might outgrow, and if you're getting it in a place that isn't easy to conceal I think you might want to give it a little extra thought. Not that there's anything at all wrong with it, but it is an extra consideration that may be problematic in the future.

Even though in most places it's legal to get tattooed once you turn 18, I always recommend people wait until they're in their mid 20s before getting anything done. Think about it this way, just because you're legally an adult, it doesn't mean your body is done changing. You're going to look a lot different when you're 25 than what you did when you were 18.


tonguedepressor: Here's what I don't understand, chicks with shaved hoorahs and chicks with tramp stamps or even an abundance of tats.

You can't refute that the female shape and original design is perfect and shant be tampered with.

So you want women to conform to what you think they're supposed to look like? What about breast implants? If anything plastic surgery alters the "female shape" a lot more than tattoos do. And shaved "hoorahs"? Do you feel the same way about armpits? What about hair dye? Manicures? Makeup? Heck, even hair cuts. Those are all forms of body modification, they're just the culturally accepted ones. Going to the gym and working out is another one. There are varying degrees right there. Someone goes once a week to keep fit, and others work out seven days a week to become completely huge and muscular. It's people taking action to alter how their bodies look externally. Pretty much everyone does it, the difference is some things are embraced by society and others aren't (yet).

Lol.

jeanwearinfool: Serial: Oh god. A Fark tattoo thread. Let the hate-fest begin.

And for fun: Here's some tattoo etiquette.

1: Don't touch us. It's NOT ok to walk up to a tattooed person and grab/poke/prod us without asking permission.
2: We got our tattoos for us, not for you. This means that some of us don't want to answer questions about our tattoos.
3: Don't ask us how much it cost. Being polite and asking reasonable questions is ok, but only if we're talking about them.
4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.
5: When you get old, you'll look old. When we get old, we'll look old and tattooed, and we're ok with that.
6: If you're also tattooed, don't assume that we want to see your ink. Pulling up your shirt to show off your tattoos when we didn't ask to see them is both rude and creepy. If we cared, we would ask politely. If we didn't ask, then we don't care.

I can't stress point one enough. You'd be amazed at how many people think that just because my arms are covered, it's an open invitation to be accosted. Personally, I grab people back. CSB: I was driving through PA to get to VA and I stopped to pick up fireworks for the party I was attending. When I went to go cash out I reached out with my credit card to pay and the woman behind the counter grabbed my arm and pulled it in to get a better look. I did the same back to her and she was shocked. I reminded her that what she did was incredibly rude and how she didn't like me doing it. She swore she'd never do that again.

Ok, I'm done. Go back to hating on tattoos.

No one cares.

Not about guys anyway. But as a generalization, tattoos on pretty women are like drawing a Sharpie mustache on Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

Seriously, you dudes can go hog wild. Staple your lower lip to your forehead, I won't say a word. Start wearing a big lip plate like some African natives do, no static from me. But if Victoria Justice decided to wear a four inch diameter lip plate, it would make me sad. It would be her right to do so of course. And it would be my right to think she was an idiot for doing it.

Never had much respect for those who permanently die their skin. Never understood their motivations, but assumed they were young, ignorant, rebellious or just plain stupid. Pretty much think the same now, except that "Attention Whore" has entered my vocabulary in the last decade.

I travelled on business to a "big town" in Canada a few weeks ago. While parking the rental car, we paused to let a fine tattooed gentleman cross the street. He took the opportunity to make some fine hand gestures and made sure we got a good look at his subdermal horn implants. Fine, fine fellow he was. Nice that he made me feel all comfy about my stereotypes of dumbasses tattooed people.

"made sure we got a good look at his subdermal horn implants"

Head-butt to toward us with arms raised, certain fingers pointing, I meant to add. I could tell he was a real fun-loving kind of guy.

TheShadow: I was like, "Wow! That's a powerful laser! Must be 100-200 watts!"

Then I decided to do the math. Boy, was I wrong.

A similar laser I found on the net produced 166 MEGAWATT pulses. Only for 6 nanoseconds, but daaaayummmm...

No wonder that ink evaporated.


Yeah, it needs to be short pulsed. That's one Joule per pulse. I'd be OK with that hitting my skin about 10 times a second, like in the video. It would sting like a biatch and leave a surface burn. If it were only 1 MW you wouldn't even feel it and it wouldn't do much.

A 100W continuous laser OTOH in the same area would char your flesh deep within seconds, before vaporizing or bleaching the ink. I would not be OK with a 100W continuous laser on my skin.

I have noticed that almost all of the people featured on Crustypunks are extensively tattooed. All part of the uniform.

Repo Man: jeanwearinfool: Serial: Oh god. A Fark tattoo thread. Let the hate-fest begin.

And for fun: Here's some tattoo etiquette.

1: Don't touch us. It's NOT ok to walk up to a tattooed person and grab/poke/prod us without asking permission.
2: We got our tattoos for us, not for you. This means that some of us don't want to answer questions about our tattoos.
3: Don't ask us how much it cost. Being polite and asking reasonable questions is ok, but only if we're talking about them.
4: Don't assume that because we're tattooed, we're unemployed.
5: When you get old, you'll look old. When we get old, we'll look old and tattooed, and we're ok with that.
6: If you're also tattooed, don't assume that we want to see your ink. Pulling up your shirt to show off your tattoos when we didn't ask to see them is both rude and creepy. If we cared, we would ask politely. If we didn't ask, then we don't care.

I can't stress point one enough. You'd be amazed at how many people think that just because my arms are covered, it's an open invitation to be accosted. Personally, I grab people back. CSB: I was driving through PA to get to VA and I stopped to pick up fireworks for the party I was attending. When I went to go cash out I reached out with my credit card to pay and the woman behind the counter grabbed my arm and pulled it in to get a better look. I did the same back to her and she was shocked. I reminded her that what she did was incredibly rude and how she didn't like me doing it. She swore she'd never do that again.

Ok, I'm done. Go back to hating on tattoos.

No one cares.

Not about guys anyway. But as a generalization, tattoos on pretty women are like drawing a Sharpie mustache on Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

I didn't really mean tattoos so much as him. His whole post reeks of someone who assumes everyone's lining up to interview him. Just a friendly reminder that in this world, no one gives a shiat.

jeanwearinfool: I didn't really mean tattoos so much as him. His whole post reeks of someone who assumes everyone's lining up to interview him. Just a friendly reminder that in this world, no one gives a shiat.

You know, you seem to care a lot for someone who claims they don't care.

Serial: jeanwearinfool: I didn't really mean tattoos so much as him. His whole post reeks of someone who assumes everyone's lining up to interview him. Just a friendly reminder that in this world, no one gives a shiat.

You know, you seem to care a lot for someone who claims they don't care.

I'm like an old man with a turn signal in that way, I suppose.

Serial: First and foremost, you'll need to know one simple rule. Good tattoos aren't cheap, and cheap tattoos aren't good.

Not 100% true. I designed mine and took it to a friend who inks. Transferred it to carbon and slapped it on. It came out exactly how I wanted. We did it in his living room, drank, smoked and had a blast. It's been 15 years since, I still love it, and it still looks great. Only cost my $40. Well, something equivalent to the value of $40. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

marleymaniac: We did it in his living room, drank, smoked and had a blast.

/cringe

The whole idea of a tattoo is that it lasts forever. Anyone who would get one removed is a farking wanker.

His tattoo artist...watching in horror...