How To Clean Stainless Steel Tattoo Tubes

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Cleaning Metal Tips

Starter Cory
Start date 8 Jan 2013

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Joined: 30 Dec 2012

Messages: 2

Location: Wisconsin

First Name: Cory

I have been boiling mine but it doesn't get all the old ink out of them, what should I do to clean them??

boaz

here to help and learn

Joined: 6 May 2012

Messages: 834

Location: wales

First Name: matt

Gender: Male

Ultrasonic cleaner then clave if you have not got a clave only use your steels for pig. Or get some dispos

Ultrasonic cleaner then clave if you have not got a clave only use your steels for pig. Or get some dispos

this is the only safe way to go, you get people saying about using their pressure cookers but i wouldn't recommend it, this is why a lot of people turn to using disposable tubes, it is much easier and a lot safer.

Ultrasonic them straight after use, then scrub them in hot water to remove the rest of access ink then clave them.

Joined: 27 Apr 2012

Messages: 285

Location: Manchester

First Name: Dave

Cleaning:
Ultrasonic cleaners are usually ok to get mild ink deposits off....you can also soak them overnight in mild bleach if your desperate....then wash with water...but i prefer the ultrasonic cleaner myself!

Sterilising:an autoclave
Autoclave is the much preferred way to go (esp if your in a shop!) but an autoclave is not essential!....the easiest and quickest way to COMPLETELY and effectively 100% sterilise stainless steel tips is to heat them under a gas flame from your cooker or other gas flame like a blowtorch! until the fuckers glow red!...i use my leather-man pliers to hold em in there..and the tips of the pliers get red too!...so i know everything is completely heated through until its glowing!..then drop em in to cool off in a sterilised sealed tin which can be also be used to store them individually, or after cooling place in small sterilised plastic containers one per container!......i usually spay some isopropyl alcohol in there too after i sterilised them for good measure!...And please dont anyone say that's a crazy way to sterilise tips..i use my clave for most occasions...but in emergencies or if you dont have an autoclave (get one!) then the gas flame WILL; get the job done..and its better than boiling the fuckers in a pan! :icon_wink:

boaz

here to help and learn

Joined: 6 May 2012

Messages: 834

Location: wales

First Name: matt

Gender: Male

Cleaning:
Ultrasonic cleaners are usually ok to get mild ink deposits off....you can also soak them overnight in mild bleach if your desperate....then wash with water...but i prefer the ultrasonic cleaner myself!
Sterilising:an autoclave
Autoclave is the much preferred way to go (esp if your in a shop!) but an autoclave is not essential!....the easiest and quickest way to COMPLETELY and effectively 100% sterilise stainless steel tips is to heat them under a gas flame from your cooker or other gas flame like a blowtorch! until the fuckers glow red!...i use my leather-man pliers to hold em in there..and the tips of the pliers get red too!...so i know everything is completely heated through until its glowing!..then drop em in to cool off in a sterilised sealed tin which can be also be used to store them individually, or after cooling place in small sterilised plastic containers one per container!......i usually spay some isopropyl alcohol in there too after i sterilised them for good measure!...And please dont anyone say that's a crazy way to sterilise tips..i use my clave for most occasions...but in emergencies or if you dont have an autoclave (get one!) then the gas flame WILL; get the job done..and its better than boiling the fuckers in a pan! :icon_wink:

some will read this and think " holy shit" ..but i agree i have done this in the past and crazy dave is bang on BUT ONLY IN EMERGENCIES ........and before you may dis this technique think about it for a min ..........you've got a big splash to do in the morning you know you havent the right dispos this is a perfectly safe method i haven't done this for over 8 years and i used barbecide instead of bleach but dont make it a habit and dont boil them that is just a no no ....and like said ONLY IN EMERGENCIES

nice one dave blast from the past !!!!

Joined: 30 Dec 2012

Messages: 2

Location: Wisconsin

First Name: Cory

Starter
#7

I have been using both metal and plastic tips I'm not sure why but I like metal more then plastic tips it fits the needle more snug IMO. I've baked them and boiled them and bleached them its all a pain in the ass to do lol. I guess I should buy a clave.

But one more question why don't you boil them?

Joined: 4 Jul 2011

Messages: 304

Media: 46

Location: USA

First Name: Chris

Well i only have dispos , but !:icon_cheesygrin: i clean my grips under water , sonic them and then i put them in my hot sterlisation maschine vor 90 min over 190 C.

Cleaning:
Ultrasonic cleaners are usually ok to get mild ink deposits off....you can also soak them overnight in mild bleach if your desperate....then wash with water...but i prefer the ultrasonic cleaner myself!
Sterilising:an autoclave
Autoclave is the much preferred way to go (esp if your in a shop!) but an autoclave is not essential!....the easiest and quickest way to COMPLETELY and effectively 100% sterilise stainless steel tips is to heat them under a gas flame from your cooker or other gas flame like a blowtorch! until the fuckers glow red!...i use my leather-man pliers to hold em in there..and the tips of the pliers get red too!...so i know everything is completely heated through until its glowing!..then drop em in to cool off in a sterilised sealed tin which can be also be used to store them individually, or after cooling place in small sterilised plastic containers one per container!......i usually spay some isopropyl alcohol in there too after i sterilised them for good measure!...And please dont anyone say that's a crazy way to sterilise tips..i use my clave for most occasions...but in emergencies or if you dont have an autoclave (get one!) then the gas flame WILL; get the job done..and its better than boiling the fuckers in a pan! :icon_wink:

That is not sterilized, A auto clave doesn't just heat things up to sterilize.
Sterilization of Bloodbourne Pathogens is achieved with The Correct Heat + Pressure + Time.

Taken from a medical website:

The basic principle of steam sterilization, as accomplished in an autoclave, is to expose each item to direct steam contact at the required temperature and pressure for the specified time. Thus, there are four parameters of steam sterilization: steam, pressure, temperature, and time. The ideal steam for sterilization is dry saturated steam and entrained water (dryness fraction ≥97%)813, 819. Pressure serves as a means to obtain the high temperatures necessary to quickly kill microorganisms. Specific temperatures must be obtained to ensure the microbicidal activity. The two common steam-sterilizing temperatures are 121oC (250oF) and 132oC (270oF). These temperatures (and other high temperatures) 830 must be maintained for a minimal time to kill microorganisms. Recognized minimum exposure periods for sterilization of wrapped healthcare supplies are 30 minutes at 121oC (250oF) in a gravity displacement sterilizer or 4 minutes at 132oC (270oC) in a prevacuum sterilizer (Table7). At constant temperatures, sterilization times vary depending on the type of item (e.g., metal versus rubber, plastic, items with lumens), whether the item is wrapped or unwrapped, and the sterilizer type.

Joined: 27 Apr 2012

Messages: 285

Location: Manchester

First Name: Dave

That is not sterilized, A auto clave doesn't just heat things up to sterilize.
Sterilization of Bloodbourne Pathogens is achieved with The Correct Heat + Pressure + Time.
.

Haha..your funny....heating a metal up till it glows red hot isnt sterilised!..ok whatever you say!....like I said..I prefer my clave or disposables..but the point i was making that the easiest and quickest way and useful in emergencies is to 100% fully sterilise metal tattoo tips by heating the tips in a naked flame until they glow red!...TRUST me they WILL be sterilised!...posting info about an autoclave and time verses heat and pressure relationships means nothing when comparing it to heating metal in an open flame till it glows red hot!.....

Go google HOW research micro biologists sterilise their metal 'swabs' wire loops etc. by heating them in a flame until red hot before spreading bacterial germs or fungi on agar dishes!............i think you will find that heating ANY metal in an open flame till it glows red hot is a tried and trusted method of sterilisation!..am not saying its the most practical...and i dont advise people do it all the time...but trust me they will be sterilised!...

Personally i use my sonic cleaner /clave combo as my main method

boaz

here to help and learn

Joined: 6 May 2012

Messages: 834

Location: wales

First Name: matt

Gender: Male

more homework needed i thinks

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