Complete guide: Da Vinci V2 RL Cartridge Needles
The Round Liner cartridges from the Bishop Da Vinci V2 range are linework consumables, developed by Bishop over more than two years and tested by artists worldwide. The needles are made of 304 stainless steel, the body is medical-grade plastic, and each cartridge comes 100% EO gas sterilized and undergoes an 8-step quality control. They are suitable both for beginner artists and for professionals looking for a reliable liner for outlines and linework.
How to use
- Wash your hands, put on disposable gloves, and prepare the workstation with protective barriers: wrap the machine and grip with film, cover the cable, and disinfect surfaces.
- Check the cartridge blister: it must be sealed and intact. If the packaging is damaged or opened, do not use the cartridge — sterilization is no longer guaranteed.
- Remove the cartridge from the blister and mount it into the pen-style machine or the grip with adapter until it locks firmly; the attachment system is the standard cartridge system.
- Adjust the needle projection (how much the tip extends from the tip) according to your working technique, then set the voltage — the product description recommends a range of 7–8.5 V, with lower values for fine configurations (3RL) and higher for thick ones (9RL–11RL); adjust according to your machine.
- Dip the tip into the pigment capsule and execute the lines; the cartridge's vent hole aids ink flow, and the liner design keeps the needle with constant pressure on the bottom of the tip for controlled vertical movement.
- During the session, clean excess pigment from the tip with a disposable wipe and reload from the capsule — never from the original ink container.
- At the end, remove the cartridge and immediately dispose of it in the sharps container; do not leave it on the work table.
- Remove all protective barriers and disinfect the machine, grip, and surfaces according to your hygiene procedure.
Tips from us
- Choose the configuration according to the desired line thickness: 3RL for fine line and scripting, 5RL as a versatile everyday option, 7RL for heavier outlines, 9RL–11RL for bold lines.
- If you are stocking up, get mostly 5RL — it is the most used configuration — and supplement with 3RL and 7RL for flexibility.
- When switching from another brand of cartridges, test first on artificial skin: each liner behaves slightly differently with voltage and hand speed.
- Before mounting, visually inspect the needle tip through the transparent blister or immediately after opening — the grouping must be straight and centered.
- Note down the voltage and configuration that gave you good results, so you can easily replicate the settings in future sessions.
- Do not compensate for poor ink flow by pressing harder — first check the needle projection, pigment consistency, and voltage.
Warning: The cartridges are single-use. They come EO gas sterilized and cannot be resterilized or reused — autoclaving destroys the plastic body and membrane, and reuse poses a serious risk of infection and cross-contamination. Always check the integrity of the packaging before use. The safety membrane inside the cartridge reduces the risk of fluids traveling up into the machine, but does not replace protective barriers (film on machine and grip). After the session, immediately dispose of the cartridge in the sharps container and always work with disposable gloves.
Frequently asked questions
Which machines are these cartridges compatible with?▾
The Da Vinci V2 cartridges use the standard attachment system and, according to the manufacturer, fit all grips with an adapter and pen-style machines. They work natively on Bishop machines (e.g., Fantom) and on common pens on the market that accept standard cartridges. If your current machine works with regular cartridges, these will fit without issue.
What configuration should I choose if I'm a beginner?▾
The Da Vinci V2 Round Liner range is available from 3RL to 11RL. To start, 5RL is the most versatile choice — fine enough for most outlines, but consistent enough to forgive small hand inconsistencies. Add 3RL when you want very thin lines and 7RL or higher when working on bold outlines.
What thickness and taper do the needles have?▾
The needles are #12 gauge (0.35 mm), the most common standard for linework, with a medium taper. This combination provides good ink flow and predictable behavior, suitable for both fine lines and heavier outlines, depending on the chosen configuration.
Can I sterilize and reuse a cartridge after a session?▾
No, under no circumstances. The cartridges are single-use consumables, factory sterilized with EO gas. There is no safe method of resterilization at studio level — the plastic and membrane cannot withstand autoclaving, and the risk of infection transmission is real. A used cartridge is immediately disposed of in the sharps waste container, even if the session was short.
What is the purpose of the safety membrane and the vent hole?▾
The safety membrane acts as a barrier inside the cartridge and prevents ink and biological fluids from traveling up into the machine, protecting the equipment and reducing the risk of cross-contamination. The vent hole allows better ink flow during work. Even so, continue to use protective film on the machine and grip — the membrane complements hygiene, it does not replace it.
How are they packaged and what should I look for when I receive the box?▾
The cartridges come in a box of 20 pieces, each individually sterilized with ethylene oxide (EO) and with CE conformity marking. Upon receipt, check each blister: it must be sealed and undamaged. Keep the box in a clean, dry place away from moisture, and only use cartridges from intact blisters.
Product description
Bishop DA VINCI V2 are those most popular cartridges With over 2 years of development, the needles have been put to the test by artists from all over the world. Bishop fine-tuned every aspect of the cartridges and made no compromises. The needles are made of Japanese 304 stainless steel, which offers the best quality of steel available for tattoo needles. This allows the needles to stay sharp even during long tattoo sessions. Each needle undergoes a strict 8-step quality control process to ensure excellent needles every time. Each needle has its own custom molded plastic body that is engineered to fit precisely. This process ensures that those magnums will have no "wiggle room". The liner needles have the first technology that allows the liner needle to have a constant pressure that causes the needle to pass through the bottom of the tip. This allows precise and controlled vertical movement. Characteristics: The needles have a safety membrane Designed with a vent/breather hole to allow better cough flow It fits all types of adapter handles and pen type machines Made of 304 surgical stainless steel and medical grade plastic100% sterilized EO gas
Da Vinci V2 RL Cartridge Needles are Round Liner cartridges from Bishop's mid-range Da Vinci V2 line, designed for precise lining at an accessible price. Benefiting from Bishop's needle design experience, Da Vinci V2 RL offers tight needle groupings with good concentricity, medium taper optimized for versatile lining, and an efficient safety membrane preventing ink and biological fluid backflow. Quality surgical steel ensures good sharpness and acceptable durability over outlining sessions. Standard #12 gauge (0.35mm) provides the industry-standard rigidity for consistent penetration. Universal compatibility — works natively on Bishop Fantom and all standard pen-style machines including Cheyenne Sol Nova, FK Irons Spektra Xion, Dragonhawk Mast Tour, and EZ P2S. Available from 3RL through 11RL covering the full spectrum from fine line to bold outlines. Compared to Cheyenne Craft RL, Da Vinci V2 RL offers slightly better ink flow due to the membrane inspired by Bishop's flagship design philosophy. Against Big Wasp X RL, performance is similar with the Bishop brand advantage inspiring confidence through its history of premium equipment innovation. Against Kwadron RL, Da Vinci V2 loses on concentricity precision but wins on price accessibility. Box of 20 individually ethylene oxide (EO) sterilized cartridges, CE compliant. The medium taper enables versatile use from fine line work with 3RL at reduced voltages to bold outlines with 9RL-11RL at increased voltages. The ideal choice for Bishop artists or anyone seeking a reliable mid-range RL with premium pedigree. Recommended both for intensive practice on synthetic skin and professional client tattoos.
Frequently Asked Questions What Da Vinci V2 RL configurations are available? Da Vinci V2 RL comes in 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, and 11RL. 5RL is the most popular and versatile. 3RL for fine line and scripting. 7RL for neo-traditional outlines. 9RL-11RL for bold outlines. All in #12 gauge (0.35mm) with medium taper. Recommendation: stock predominantly 5RL, supplemented with 3RL and 7RL. What voltage for Da Vinci V2 RL? Optimal voltage: 7-8.5V. Fine line 3RL: 7-7.5V. Standard 5RL: 7.5-8V. Bold 7RL-11RL: 8-8.5V. On Bishop Fantom: sweet spot is 7.5-8V for 5RL — the native combination works optimally in this range. On other machines, adjust ±0.3V. Da Vinci V2 RL has predictable behavior across voltage variations, providing good control during calibration. Is Da Vinci V2 RL good for fine line? Da Vinci V2 RL 3RL can be used for fine line with good results, though not at the level of Cheyenne Safety 3RL or Kwadron 3RL. Needle concentricity is good but not perfect — occasional splits may occur on ultra-thin lines. For occasional fine line, Da Vinci V2 is sufficient. For artists specializing exclusively in fine line, invest in Cheyenne Safety or Capillary. Da Vinci V2 advantage: accessible pricing for intensive fine line practice on synthetic skin. How does Da Vinci V2 RL compare to Big Wasp X RL? Similar performance, subtle differences. Da Vinci V2 RL has a slight advantage in ink flow (Bishop membrane), Big Wasp X RL has a slight advantage in solder consistency (laser technology). Big Wasp X pricing is usually 10-20% lower. Choice depends on preference: Bishop fans → Da Vinci V2, budget pragmatists → Big Wasp X. Both are solid mid-range choices that outperform any no-name cartridge. Does Da Vinci V2 RL work on Cheyenne Sol Nova? Yes, Da Vinci V2 RL works perfectly on Cheyenne Sol Nova. Standard cartridge connection ensures seamless compatibility. On Sol Nova with 3.5mm stroke, optimal voltage is 7-8V. The experience is very good — Sol Nova provides sufficient power and stroke to bring out the best in Da Vinci V2 RL. Not at the level of the native Fantom + Da Vinci V2 combination, but very close. How many Da Vinci V2 RL per box? Each box contains 20 individually wrapped and EO-sterilized cartridges. Packaging includes lot number, expiration date, and sterilization indicator. Industry standard identical to all premium brands. Price per box: 70-110 RON on the Romanian market. Is Da Vinci V2 RL suitable for beginners? Yes, Da Vinci V2 RL is an excellent choice for beginners. It offers Bishop quality at accessible pricing, allowing intensive practice without prohibitive costs. Predictable cartridge behavior helps develop technique. Safety membrane and certified sterilization ensure biosafety. We recommend starting with 5RL for basic lining, then adding 3RL (fine line) and 7RL (bold) as technique develops. Can Da Vinci V2 RL be used for dotwork? Yes, in the 3RL configuration, Da Vinci V2 RL works well for dotwork. The tight needle grouping produces consistent dots, and the accessible price allows high consumption (dotwork requires many dots = many cartridges). Low voltage (6-7V), perpendicular movements. Not at the precision level of Kwadron or Cheyenne Safety, but good enough for standard dotwork. An advantage: pricing allows experimentation and practice without financial pressure. What ink do you recommend with Da Vinci V2 RL? Da Vinci V2 RL works best with medium-consistency inks. Recommendations: Dynamic Black (excellent standard black), Eternal Ink (complete versatility), World Famous Ink (vibrant colors). Avoid very dense inks on 3RL — may cause starvation. For scripting and lettering, undiluted medium-consistency black is ideal. The Da Vinci V2 membrane does not tolerate very thin inks as well as Cheyenne Safety. Is Da Vinci V2 RL sterilized? Yes, each cartridge is individually sterilized with ethylene oxide (EO) and hermetically packaged with sterilization indicator. Lot number and expiration date are visible on packaging. Full CE compliance. Check seal integrity before use — do not use cartridges with damaged packaging. Shelf life: 3-5 years from manufacturing under correct storage conditions.
