In recent years, pen-style rotary tattoo machines have soared in popularity, with many artists favoring their use due to their resemblance to familiar marker pens. However, with such a wide array of options available, selecting the right one can be quite challenging. So, which is the best tattoo pen machine? Today, I'd like to introduce a few of them.
Since each machine has different features and handling, please read the instructions carefully and exercise caution when using a new type for the first time.
The Most Famous and Classic Pen Machine: Cheyenne HAWK Pen
This is probably the most famous pen-style tattoo machine.
The Cheyenne HAWK Pen was the first pen-style tattoo machine ever, inspiring countless rotary machines since its prototype debuted in 2014.
Even years after its launch, the Cheyenne Pen remains a shining star in the category of pen-style rotary machines, and it is still used by many of the world's best tattoo artists today.
Like most rotary machines on this list, the Cheyenne HAWK Pen has a marker-pen-like shape, which was an innovative design at its launch. This design allowed the machine to be used with less noise and vibration than traditional tattoo devices, while maintaining the same puncture force.
The Cheyenne Pen features a precision DC motor, a stroke length of 3.5mm, and an adjustable needle depth ranging from 0 to 4.5mm. This pen machine can be used with traditional tattoo cartridges.
The Next Most Popular Pen Machine After HAWK Pen: SOL Nova
Like the HAWK Pen, the Cheyenne SOL Nova tattoo machine has an ergonomic, pen-like shape. However, compared to the Pen, the SOL Nova boasts more power and softer handling.
This durable, robust, and lightweight rotary tattoo machine is perfectly balanced, with its weight shifted forward to allow for optimal control and precision.
Its powerful brushless DC motor allows for faster ink penetration.
The Cheyenne SOL Nova is an all-around rotary tattoo machine. With a 3.5mm stroke, the pen-style SOL Nova is ideal for precise lining and soft shading.
The Cheyenne pen-style SOL Nova operates between 25Hz and 150Hz. The low frequency operation at 25Hz is suitable for dotwork and color realism, while setting a higher frequency allows for stronger lines.
The Machine Developed by FKiron Over Three Years: Spektra Xion
The Spektra Xion is a pen-style rotary tattoo machine that FKiron spent over three years researching and developing. The Xion is powered by a specially designed 6-watt motorbolt, providing maximum torque during tattooing and ensuring optimal cartridge performance. Additionally, the RCA connection is concealed within the MotorBolt for dual protection.
The Spektra Xion allows for flexible setup to suit preferences and needs, as it can adjust stroke length, needle depth, and give size. The Xion pen type can adjust stroke length, needle depth, and gear, making it suitable for various tattoo styles.
The give adjustment up to 2mm is simply done by turning a dial, and needle depth is adjusted by rotating the click grip. It also comes with 3.2mm and 3.7mm stroke wheels to adjust the machine's stroke length.
If you prefer a larger grip, be sure to check out the Spektra Xion Gorilla, which combines the standard Xion body with a large 40mm Gorilla grip. The ergonomic Gorilla grip provides maximum comfort and eliminates fatigue from grip tightening during long tattoo sessions.
The Wireless Machine: Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited
The Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited is a wireless pen-style rotary tattoo machine equipped with a rechargeable battery, providing a minimum of 5 hours of operation.
All operations of the Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited are performed with a single button and motion control. By tilting the machine while pressing the button, the frequency of the pen-style rotary machine can be quickly and easily adjusted.
With a wide frequency range from 25 to 140Hz, the Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited is ideal for a wide range of tattoo styles. Lowering the frequency of the rotary tattoo machine allows for dotwork and realistic expressions, while increasing the frequency produces fuller and more intense lines.
The Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited allows for needle depth adjustment from 0 to 4.0mm and offers two stroke lengths: 3.5mm (ideal for lining and shading) and 4.0mm (ideal for thick lines and color packing).
Unique Wireless Pen: Stigma-Rotary Force
The Force from Stigma-Rotary is a wireless tattoo pen featuring a state-of-the-art and unique dual drive system. It uses a custom-made German Faulhaber brushless motor and dual shafts to precisely and powerfully push the cartridge needles, generating superior "force" during tattooing.
The Stigma-Rotary Force comes with a detachable power pack featuring a built-in display and controls, providing 6-10 hours of operation on a single charge. It also supports Bluetooth, allowing tattoo artists to pair the wireless pen-style rotary with Stigma's Pilot footswitch and mobile app (unlocking even more features).
Artists can customize and adjust parameters such as voltage, motion control, and the new digital give & boost functions via the power pack.
It is available in three stroke lengths: 2.8mm, 3.7mm, and 4.5mm. The 2.8mm is ideal for shading, the 3.7mm for daily use, and the 4.5mm for lining and color packing.
High-Quality Kwadron Machine: Equaliser Neutron
The Equaliser Neutron from KWADRON is an easy-to-use pen-style rotary tattoo machine with two removable batteries. No more needing cables or power supplies!
The wireless tattoo pen features an aluminum housing with a clear digital display and three control buttons.
The pen-style Equaliser machine has a built-in 4.5W motor, 3.5mm stroke, direct drive, and jump start. The battery provides up to 8 hours of working time and takes about 2 hours for a full charge.
This tattoo pen also comes with an aluminum grip with a diameter of 32mm, and additional anti-slip silicone grips with diameters of 32mm and 35mm.
Compared to the Equaliser wireless pen V2, the Neutron tattoo machine features an updated circuit board, making it more stable and less prone to damage than before. Additionally, the redesigned grip shape provides a more secure fit in the hand.
Lightweight and Powerful: Bishop Wand Shader
Made in the USA from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum, the Bishop Wand is a pen-style rotary tattoo machine compatible with Cheyenne-type needle cartridges, and it is available in three models: Shader, Packer, and Liner.
The Bishop Wand Shader features a custom-wound brushed Faulhaber motor with an internal give for softer vibrations. This Wand model is an all-in-one tattoo pen machine ideal for black and grey work, creating realistic grey tones, and fine line tattooing. It has a fixed stroke of 3.5mm and a recommended operating voltage of 8–10V.
The best version of this tattoo pen machine, suitable for color realism, modern and traditional color packing, and bold lines, is the Bishop Wand Packer. This packer has a custom-wound Faulhaber motor inside, allowing for greater power during tattooing. The Bishop Rotary Wand Packer tattoo pen has a fixed stroke of 4.2mm and a recommended operating voltage of 7–9V.
The Bishop Wand Liner, as its name suggests, is a tattoo pen machine specializing in all types of lining work, along with blackwork and dotwork. Like the aforementioned Packer, it features a Faulhaber motor for higher torque and power. Compared to the Packer, the Liner has a longer stroke of 5mm and a recommended operating voltage of 6–8V.
These tattoo pen machines feature fully autoclavable, ergonomically designed grips, ensuring comfortable use during long tattoo sessions.
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