Fake skin

Hi, I recently bought some fake skin and tried tattooing on it. The problem is that the ink is very bleak, hardly even visible. The machine is inking very well on grapefruit and skin, no problems there. And I'm using more than enough ink. Anyone have any experience with fake skin? Is it supposed to be this way? What could be the problem?

Ok.. I have no clue why this thread got posted 3 times. I'm really Sorry.

*haha* yeah the 3 post thing sucks.. speicaly since you cant delete your own posts on this forum.. anyways as far as the fake skin thing goes.. are you sure your needle depth is set right? I mean Ive seen guys practice on fruit barley hanging at all.. and the ink still takes into the fruit skin.. (I believe cause its so easily punctured) but as far as the fake skin.. I would check and make sure you have the depth adjusted right.. you may be running a bit to shallow and the ink might just not be getting "in" the fake skin.. my best guesss.. Ive only played with fake skin a few times and never had any problems.. except the excess ink on the skin, smearing. but that was a mistake easily fixed with some vasalin.. best of luck.. let me know if that helps...

whoever told you that fake skin is a great medium to practice "your skills" was really inaccurate. Fake skin is not even close to human skin. It's just a piece of rubber with no permeability like human skin for example. In order for a needle to produce a whole and deposit ink you have to apply a lot of spring tension and keep the needle in the same position for a while. If you would tattoo someone that way you'll end up grinding down the person's skin, producing a horrible scarring and permanent mangled skin tissue. Get the right training, hit the drawing board, put up a great portfolio and start knocking doors at parlors. I'm not trying to put down your efforts, I just see you are determined to learn and want you to take the right path. Toss that fake skin garbage and tell your mentor to lend you some skin.

Many thanks to you both. :)

I have heard the same things.. that fake skin is junk.. personaly I think you are better off just grabbing some grapefruit or goards from yor local produve department.. I honsetly dont think its very good practice at all for tattooing on true skin.. however, I do think it can build your skills as far as getting used to using your machine.. it allows you to feel the balance of the machine and the weight of it after a 10-20 min session of lineing of shadding.. but thats about all..

Pigs feet from the butcher.