Where can I buy professional tattoo cartridges in Canada?
Maple Tattoo Supply stocks professional tattoo needle cartridges from Kwadron, Bishop Da Vinci v2, Cheyenne, Matrix Genesis, EZ V-Select, EZ Revolution, and Dragonhawk Mast Pro — shipped fast from our Toronto warehouse across Canada, priced in CAD with no surprise fees at the border. Single bottles start at CA$21.95 for Mast Pro round liners, with premium options like Cheyenne Capillary and Bishop Da Vinci v2 for working studios.
How deep does a tattoo needle go into the skin?
A tattoo needle penetrates approximately 1 to 2 millimetres into the skin — deep enough to deposit ink into the dermis (the layer below the epidermis) but not so deep as to reach the subcutaneous tissue. If the needle goes too shallow the tattoo will fade quickly; too deep and you risk blowouts, scarring, and excessive trauma. Modern cartridge systems give artists fine control over needle depth through machine stroke length and hand technique.
How do I read tattoo needle and cartridge sizes?
Cartridge codes typically follow a format like "1207RL" — the first two digits are the diameter (12 = 0.35mm, 10 = 0.30mm, 08 = 0.25mm bugpin), the next two digits are the needle count (07 = 7 needles), and the letters describe the configuration (RL = Round Liner, RS = Round Shader, M1 = Magnum, CM = Curved Magnum, SEM = Soft Edge Magnum). Once you know the system, every cartridge brand reads the same way.
What's the best tattoo cartridge for lining?
Round Liners (RL) are designed specifically for lining work — needles are tightly grouped to hold a crisp single line at speed. For bold traditional lines, artists often reach for Kwadron Round Liners or Bishop Da Vinci v2 in larger groupings (9RL, 11RL). For fine line and detail work, smaller groupings (3RL, 5RL) in bugpin diameters like Matrix Genesis or Cheyenne Capillary give finer control. The "best" comes down to your machine setup and hand.
How do I safely dispose of tattoo needles and cartridges?
Used tattoo cartridges go into a regulated sharps container immediately after use — never into regular trash, recycling, or biohazard bags. Sharps containers should be replaced before they reach the fill line and disposed of through a licensed medical waste service. Canadian studios are required to follow local public-health rules on sharps disposal, which vary by province and municipality.
