Timur Bulatov review

Timur Bulatov - Professional tattoo artist from Russia

Works mostly in color realism style.

Check his Instagram by pressing the link: Timur Bulatov Instagram

Timur Bulatov Cronus pen review

I am familiar with Lithuanian irons for quite a long time - actually my work as a tattoo artist started with this tattoo machine builder. 

My first devices were the coil machines Jensen classic liner and x-shader, which left a really positive impression because of its reliability and practicality.

Having started doing realistic tattoos I understood that a coil machine might be too heavy for it. So I saved some money and decided to go with rotary machines. I purchased a machine from the series new z-rotary old brass edition and then also a machine of direct and new direct rotary series from Lithuanian irons.  

What can I say? I’ve used these machines for year and a half and during this time none of the details of the mechanism was changed or broken (except for the contact screw in coil machines). In the end, they all were given to my friend who has been using them with pleasure till now. Long story short, the quality speaks for itself. 

Lately my main ‘working tool’ has become Cronus pen from Lithuanian irons. 

Review and characteristics

Basically it is still the same classic pen form-factor but, however, which has a wider functionality because of the possibilities to change eccentrics.

The way the machine looks, its ergonomics and the quality of the assembly justifies a considerable price. This is indeed a professional device that is capable of solving quite a range of tasks providing a convenient work during long sessions. 

The body is made of high-quality aluminum with subsequent anodizing that allowed to reduce the total weight to 135 grams. 

The heart of the machine is two-component engine Faulhaber with maximum increase of 8,5 Watt! Experience has shown that it is more than enough to use even the biggest configurations of needles without lack of power. 

In particular I would like to note the approach to the packaging and componentry. The machine is supplied in a solid cardboard box with a magnetic lock and a foam rubber insert. If desired it may be used for keeping and transport of the machine. It includes 2 eccentrics of two colors (3.7 and 3.1 mm), set of isolation rings, a return spring, a hex key and a key for partial disassembly. The set comes with a detailed instruction with maintenance recommendations. 

The replacement of the eccentric is really basic. You need to unscrew the engine in the back of the machine with the help of the hex key you find in the packaging and replace the eccentric. That’s it!

For the maintenance of the front of the pen and change of the return spring you need to remove the grip and use a special key provided in the packaging. 

The load transfer mechanism and the general implementation are so easy that there’s simply nothing to break. The pen does not require any grease or special care. 

The adjustment of the needle length is within the range of 4 mm and done by turning the handle of 27 mm grip. The builder has expanded the product line with 23 mm grip of a conical shape. The grip can be sterilized in the autoclave and using micro bacterial treatment. 

First impression

The first tattoo that I have done using this machine was pretty challenging speaking about the technic. It was a cover-up on the side parts of the knee. Each artist who has ever worked with these parts of the skin can imagine all the complications that arise during the session. Dry skin, constantly changing stencil size because of the high elasticity of the place and the oozing can turn the tattooing process to a living hell. Despite these factors and the fact that I wasn’t familiar with the device, Cronus really brought out the best. It took me less that half an hour to get used to the pace and the power of the machine. 

First I set the 3.7 mm eccentric and used the voltage between 10 and 11. The machine was doing great with solid color packing. The smoothness nullifies the traumatization of the skin and allows to work layer by layer which is quite handy for cover-ups when you come back to the same area several times. 

To my mind, the 3.7 mm stroke isn’t suitable for smooth transition and fast lining. So I recommend to use the 3.1 mm stroke for these.  

 Despite the fact the machine works really quietly the slight vibration, which is inevitable with the eccentric like that, bothered me at first but during the process of tattooing you don’t really feel it and it doesn’t affect the quality of the work in any way. 

One more time I would like to point out the grip. Even the basic version of it fits the hand perfectly and holds tightly all forms of cartridges. The adjustment of the needle length with full isolation using the barrier protection is easy and comfortable. 

Summary

I have a pretty busy schedule. My average session normally takes 6-8 hours a day. So this fact can demonstrate the pressure the machine faces almost every day. Cronus pen has become my regular device from the moment it was released in Russia. Since then no defects have been found. Neither on the outside nor inside. The brand Lithuanian irons keeps on maintaining the high standards of one of the most reliable equipment manufacturers in our field. 

The tattoo machine itself is for the moment one of the most decent and credible examples of its kind. You feel every puncture with it and it helps to control the working process and eliminate the excessive traumatization of the skin.