Hey everyone, Nathan from tattooat.com here, diving deep into the world of beginner tattoo kits today. We’re unboxing and thoroughly reviewing the Professional Tattoo Kit with 40 Cartridges from Wormhole Tattoo Supply, a popular option for those starting their tattoo journey. This kit, priced at $126, promises a comprehensive setup for practice and initial tattooing experiences. Let’s break down what’s inside, share my first impressions, and put it to the test with an actual tattoo to see if the Wormhole Tattoo kit lives up to its name and provides a portal into the world of tattooing for beginners.
First Impressions: Unboxing the Wormhole Tattoo Kit
The kit arrives in a box with a cool, prominent logo, immediately giving a professional feel. Upon opening, the first thing you see is a set of practice skins. These appear to be quite thin, which, in my experience, can actually make practicing more challenging. Thinner skins tend to tear easily and don’t offer the best simulation of real skin resistance. I’m slightly concerned about needle depth control on these ultra-thin sheets, as pushing too hard might lead to hitting the surface underneath and potentially dulling the needles. I’ll do some test lines to gauge how these practice skins perform and get a feel for the machine’s handling.
Next up, we have the needle cartridges and the clip cord for the power supply. The kit includes a selection of needle cartridges: 12 gauge 5 round liners, 12 gauge 3 round liners (very fine for detailed lines), 12 gauge 5 magnum cartridges, and 12 gauge 5 curved magnum cartridges. The inclusion of smaller needle groupings is a smart choice for a beginner kit. Lower-cost tattoo machines often have less powerful motors, making it harder to push larger needle groupings effectively. Sticking to smaller configurations like these threes and fives is generally advisable when starting with budget-friendly equipment. It’s good to see a variety, though the absence of sevens is notable.
Image showing the Wormhole Tattoo kit box and the practice skins included, emphasizing the initial unboxing experience.
Moving on, we find a single clip cord sleeve and one pair of gloves. While sufficient for practicing on synthetic skin, anyone considering tattooing real skin, even for practice on friends, will need to invest in a larger supply of both for hygiene purposes. Sterility is paramount in tattooing, and additional sleeves and gloves are non-negotiable for safe practice on people.
Ink caps are included, and I appreciate the inclusion of different sizes. A key detail I noticed is the rim at the bottom of the ink caps. This seemingly small feature is actually quite significant for stability. Ink caps with a bottom rim are much less likely to tip over, especially when you add Vaseline to the base for extra security. Some ink caps have rims at the top, which I find less practical for tattooing as they can interfere with needle dipping and potentially cause accidental needle bumps.
Grip tape is also part of the kit, and I’m pleased to see two rolls provided. The tape feels nice and thin, which is crucial for pen-style machines like the one included. Many pen machines require you to twist the grip to adjust needle depth, and thick grip tape can obstruct this mechanism, making adjustments difficult once wrapped. Providing two rolls is generous and practical, ensuring enough grip for multiple practice sessions.
Questionable Inks and Power Supply
Now, let’s talk about the inks. The labels claim compliance with EU regulations, which sounds reassuring at first glance. However, it’s important to be aware that manufacturing standards and regulations can vary significantly, particularly in regions outside the EU. While the label might state compliance, the actual quality and safety of the ink are not guaranteed, especially for use on human skin. For practice skins, these inks might be acceptable for initial learning. However, I strongly advise against using these inks for tattooing real skin. For anyone serious about tattooing, investing in reputable, high-quality tattoo inks from trusted brands is essential for both safety and tattoo longevity. We will test these inks on practice skin to observe their performance and consistency.
Image highlighting the included tattoo inks and ink caps, drawing attention to the variety of ink colors provided in the kit.
The power supply is a basic, old-school model with a simple knob for voltage adjustment. It has a distinct chemical plastic smell, which isn’t the most encouraging sign. Functionally, it’s straightforward, with ports for a foot pedal and clip cord. It’s as simple as plugging it in and attaching the power cord.
The foot pedal comes in a small box and feels somewhat flimsy. It’s lightweight plastic and might not withstand heavy use or accidental forceful stepping. Durability could be a concern, but as long as it functions reliably for initial practice, it should suffice for a beginner kit.
The Wormhole Tattoo Pen Machine: First Look
The tattoo machine itself is housed in its own box, adorned with the Wormhole logo. The kit includes rubber rings – I initially wasn’t sure of their purpose but assumed they were for the machine. A standard RCA clip cord is included for connecting the machine to the power supply.
The tattoo pen machine comes in a protective case, which is a great addition. This case is perfect for storage and travel, protecting the machine from damage. The machine itself is a pen-style rotary, and needle depth is adjusted by twisting the end of the grip. The rubber rings are indeed for the machine, fitting onto the outer edges, likely to enhance grip or reduce vibration.
Image showcasing the tattoo pen machine, its protective case, and included accessories like rubber rings and RCA cord, emphasizing the portability and protection provided.
An interesting feature is that the front grip section appears to be detachable, potentially for autoclaving. If you don’t have an autoclave, this section would need to be thoroughly wrapped to prevent cross-contamination when tattooing real skin. Knowing that it’s detachable is a plus for hygiene considerations.
According to the Wormhole Tattoo website, this machine has a 3.5mm stroke length, a standard and versatile stroke suitable for lining and shading. The machine is surprisingly light at 120 grams and feels solid, constructed entirely of metal with no plastic parts, which is commendable for a kit in this price range. The website also mentions a 12-month warranty, which is quite generous, especially considering that some lower-cost machines are known for their limited lifespan. A warranty offers some reassurance regarding the machine’s durability and the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
It’s worth reiterating that even Wormhole Tattoo themselves advise against using the included inks on real skin and recommend purchasing professional-grade inks from their site. This reinforces my earlier point about ink quality and safety. The machine is specified to operate up to 10 volts, which is sufficient for most smaller needle groupings and beginner tattooing tasks. The rubber rings, beyond grip enhancement, might also serve to prevent ink backflow into the machine, although their effectiveness remains to be tested.
The kit also includes an instruction manual for the power supply, flash tattoo designs on practice skin sheets, another practice skin sheet, and a manual for the tattoo pen itself. The pen manual covers setup and basic safety guidelines, including warnings against unsupervised use around children. A discount coupon is a nice bonus, offering 15% off the next order for photo submissions and 20% for video submissions of kit use, even potentially including free items. This is a notable incentive not commonly offered by tattoo supply companies. Stencil paper is also included, enough for approximately 20-30 tattoos, rounding out the comprehensive nature of this beginner kit.
Setting Up and Tattooing with the Wormhole Kit
The kit appears to be quite comprehensive, providing almost everything needed to start practicing, except for a wash bottle. However, it’s crucial to remember Wormhole’s own disclaimer about not using the provided inks on human skin. This kit should primarily be considered for practice on synthetic skin using the included materials. For tattooing real skin, even in practice, professional-grade inks and a higher standard of hygiene practices are essential.
Let’s get everything set up and do a test tattoo. I’ve wrapped the machine for hygiene, prepared a stencil on both real skin and the practice skin from the kit. My expectations for the included practice skin are low, as it feels very thin and almost plastic-like. I’ve placed another practice skin underneath to protect the work surface and potentially provide a bit more resistance. This practice skin feels more like a placemat than skin, with very little stretch. We’ll see how it performs.
Image showing the tattoo setup using the Wormhole Tattoo kit on practice skin, highlighting the ready-to-tattoo station.
One minor inconvenience when preparing the inks is the plastic seal on the bottles. It needs to be carefully cut off to avoid accidentally squeezing the bottle and squirting ink everywhere. Pouring the inks into the ink caps, I was surprisingly pleased with the consistency. The ink is quite liquid, unlike some cheaper kit inks I’ve encountered in the past that are thick and pasty, a definite red flag for ink quality. This ink, at least in consistency, seems promising for practice, though its performance in the skin (even synthetic) and longevity remain to be seen.
Using a jeweler’s loupe (not included in the kit, but a valuable tool for any tattoo artist), I inspected the needle cartridges. It’s crucial to check needles for any defects like bent barbs or blunt tips. One observation: the needle doesn’t sit perfectly centered within the cartridge tip, which is less than ideal for precise lining. Ideally, high-quality needles are precisely centered for maximum accuracy. However, the needle is flush with the base of the tip, which is acceptable. It’s not a deal-breaker, but a detail to note regarding needle quality.
Tattooing Performance and Ink Quality Assessment
Starting the tattoo on the practice skin at 6 volts, I immediately noticed significant resistance. The skin is incredibly tough, and the ink isn’t readily taking. It feels like tattooing a very hard, non-porous surface. Typically, tattooing real skin offers a softer feel, with the needle easily piercing and the skin readily accepting ink. This practice skin is proving to be very challenging to work with, requiring considerable effort to lay down lines. Even at a depth setting that usually works well, the lines are faint and uneven.
Shading on this practice skin is even more problematic. Achieving solid black is nearly impossible, and the needle action doesn’t produce the characteristic stippling effect seen on real skin. Overall, the included practice skin is significantly disappointing and not recommended for effective practice. In fact, using such poor practice skin can be detrimental to a beginner’s confidence, potentially leading to discouragement due to the unrealistic difficulty it presents. Moving to real skin (or higher quality practice skin) reveals a vastly different and more manageable tattooing experience. This practice skin feels nothing like human skin and is unlikely to provide transferable skills.
Switching to real skin to continue the tattoo, I made a slight adjustment, extending the needle slightly further out from the cartridge tip, even when the machine is off. This allows for a “floating” needle technique, which can improve accuracy, but it compromises ink flow. For optimal ink flow, the needle should fully retract into the tip to draw ink with each cycle. While this adjustment aids in precision, it makes achieving solid lines more challenging due to reduced ink saturation.
Completing the line work on real skin, a few observations emerged. The machine is a direct drive, meaning if you apply too much pressure, it won’t “give” and can dig into the skin, offering less margin for error, especially for beginners. The included black ink is not very dark; the stencil remains visible beneath the tattooed lines, and the black appears faded, even after multiple passes. This lack of opacity is not ideal for creating bold, defined tattoos.
However, the machine’s vibration is minimal, and it feels comfortable in hand. The pen shape is slim and ergonomic, and with grip tape, it provides a soft, comfortable hold, reducing hand fatigue during longer sessions. Throughout the outlining process at 6 volts, the machine ran smoothly and consistently without any power fluctuations. Noise-wise, it’s a very quiet machine, typical of rotary machines, producing a subtle hum rather than a loud buzzing.
While the machine is comfortable and quiet, it wasn’t my favorite for lining, potentially also due to the ink’s diluted quality. Better inks like Dynamic Black might yield improved lining performance. Let’s proceed to shading to evaluate the machine’s capabilities in that area.
Shading and Color Packing Performance
After applying black shading, the tattoo started to look decent, despite the ink’s limitations. The inks are indeed watery and less saturated than professional inks like Dynamic Black, appearing somewhat diluted. However, the machine performs surprisingly well for shading. It hits softly and doesn’t pack excessive power, which, when the voltage is reduced to around 3-4 volts, is ideal for creating smooth, peppery shades. The machine is definitely more suited for shading than lining.
Image showing the tattoo in progress, specifically highlighting the shading stage using the Wormhole Tattoo kit.
A positive feature I noticed during shading is that the needle cartridges include a membrane. This is excellent for hygiene, preventing ink backflow into the machine. The machine ran for about 1.5 hours without overheating or any performance issues. Voltage consistency was also maintained, unlike some cheaper machines that suffer from power fluctuations.
One design flaw is the grip adjustment mechanism. It lacks a locking mechanism and doesn’t click into set positions. This means the needle depth can inadvertently change when rotating the machine, which is frustrating and impacts consistency. A locking depth control would be a significant improvement. Despite this, the machine is proving to be better for shading than lining.
Moving on to color packing, we’ll apply the included colors over the black shading to complete the tattoo.
Applying the colors, one advantage of the somewhat diluted inks becomes apparent: they are less prone to staining. Accidental overlap of darker colors onto lighter areas is less likely to cause significant staining, which can be forgiving for beginners still developing color layering techniques. However, the color inks, like the black, are not very vibrant or opaque.
A peculiar issue with the needle cartridges emerged during color packing: some cartridges produce a rattling sound. Upon closer inspection, it seems the membrane inside the cartridge is tapping against the sides, which is unusual and potentially indicative of lower quality components. Jiggling the cartridge sometimes temporarily resolves the rattling.
Completing the tattoo with color packing, the final result is… okay. The colors don’t blend seamlessly over the black, appearing somewhat patchy and uneven. Again, the ink quality is a significant limiting factor. The machine itself, lacking significant power and only including smaller magnum needles, required multiple passes to pack color effectively, making the process time-consuming. With higher quality inks, color packing would likely be smoother and more efficient.
Image of the finished tattoo created using the Wormhole Tattoo kit, showcasing the final outcome and the colors used.
Final Verdict: Wormhole Tattoo Kit Review and Recommendation
Overall, the Wormhole Tattoo Kit is decent for color packing, but its strength lies in black and grey shading. Lining performance is adequate but not exceptional. My initial impression of this kit is that it’s an all-around beginner setup. It’s suitable for those starting out, especially with a limited budget, offering a taste of various tattooing techniques. It allows beginners to get a feel for tattooing without a significant upfront investment.
The machine’s handling is commendable. It’s lightweight, with minimal vibration, making it comfortable to use for extended periods without hand fatigue. The power supply is consistent and reliable for its basic design. The machine is also remarkably quiet, especially at lower voltages, which is a plus.
Rating the kit:
- Price: 9/10. At $126, it’s exceptionally affordable for a complete tattoo kit. You get almost everything you need, excluding a wash bottle, making it a very accessible entry point.
- Quality: 5/10. The machine is decent for its price – versatile, capable of basic lining, shading, and color packing. It feels reasonably well-built, mostly metal, avoiding the flimsiness of some ultra-cheap kits. However, the inks are subpar, the practice skin is unusable, and the needle cartridges have quality issues (rattling). The power supply and foot pedal feel plasticky and potentially less durable.
- Handling: 6/10. The machine is an okay liner and a good shader, particularly for black and grey work. It’s comfortable to hold and use for shading and soft black packing. However, the non-locking depth adjustment is a design flaw. It’s not ideal for large needle groupings or heavy color packing due to its lower power.
Recommendation:
Would I recommend the Wormhole Tattoo Kit? It depends on your stage in your tattooing journey.
- For absolute beginners unsure about a tattooing career: Yes. This kit is ideal for trying out tattooing, practicing techniques, and determining if it’s a path you want to pursue without a major financial commitment. It’s great for practice and experimentation.
- For those serious about tattooing and aiming to work professionally: No. If you’re committed to tattooing as a career and plan to work on clients or in a shop, invest in higher-quality equipment. This kit is too entry-level and its limitations will quickly become apparent. A more premium setup is necessary for professional-quality work and client safety.
This kit serves its purpose as a very basic entry point. For serious aspiring tattoo artists, consider it a stepping stone for initial exploration before upgrading to professional-grade equipment.
If you’re interested in trying out the Wormhole Tattoo Kit for practice, I’ll include a link to their website below this review. Stay tuned for more kit reviews and tattoo-related content on tattooat.com. Thanks for watching!
