◆ Slower, longer stroke. Smooth black-and-grey and gradations.
Custom Shader Tattoo Machine
A Koller Irons custom shader is a hand-built coil tattoo machine tuned for slower, longer-stroke shading work. Travis builds the frame, winds the coils, and dials in the spring tension for the kind of soft, controlled hit that lays down smooth gradations and stippling without trauma. Shaders typically run a 4.0–4.5mm stroke and a slower CPS than a liner.
What is a custom shader good for?
- ✓Black-and-grey realism
- ✓Stippling and dotwork
- ✓Smooth gradations and soft shading
- ✓Whip shading and pendulum technique
When to pick a different machine
- —Bold single-pass linework (use a dedicated liner)
- —Heavy color packing on large areas (use a color packer)
Spec & tuning
- Stroke length
- 4.0–4.5mm (tuned to spec)
- Speed range
- ~80–110 CPS at running voltage
- Frame
- Danielsson-style, Bulldog, or custom
- Coils
- 10–12 wrap hand-wound
- Spring set
- Soft-give for smooth give-and-take
Shaders are the most personal machine to tune — Travis dials the give of the front spring to match how you hold and pull.
If you run mag groupings 7M+ regularly, mention it during the build so he can spec coil saturation accordingly.
FAQ
What stroke length is best for black-and-grey realism?+
Most realism shaders run 4.0–4.5mm stroke. Longer stroke gives the needle more momentum to push pigment without grinding the skin, which is what produces those soft, even gradations. Shorter stroke shaders feel faster but can be harsher on the skin during long shading passes.
Can I use a shader for whip shading?+
Yes — whip shading works well on a shader tuned with a slightly stiffer front spring. Tell Travis you want a whip-friendly tune in the build wizard and he'll set it up.
How is this different from a rotary shader?+
Rotary shaders are smoother and quieter but they hit the same way every time. A coil shader has more give — the spring tension flexes against skin resistance, which is what gives traditional shading its character. It's a feel preference more than a quality difference.
Recent builds from the workshop
See more ↗A look at what’s come off Travis’s bench. Each machine is one of one — these aren’t necessarily custom shaders, just hand-built Koller Irons.
