Complete guide: Tattoo Needle Cartridge Hummingbird RL
Hummingbird Round Liner cartridges are disposable tattoo needles dedicated to lining, with a safety membrane that prevents blood and ink from entering the grip. The needles are made of stainless steel, the tip is medical-grade plastic, and the individual sterile packaging is biodegradable. They are a suitable choice for artists who want a proper lining cartridge at an affordable price — including for intensive practice, tattoo schools, or guest spots where cartridge consumption is high. The displayed price is per piece.
How to use
- Check the integrity of the sterile blister, sterilization indicator, and expiration date before opening — never use a cartridge with damaged or expired packaging.
- Wash your hands, put on disposable gloves, and apply protective barriers on the machine and cable/battery according to hygiene protocol.
- Remove the cartridge from the blister without touching the needle area and mount it into the pen-style machine grip until it locks in place.
- Set the voltage as a guideline: 7.5–8V for 3RL (fine lines), 8–8.5V for 5RL (standard), 8.5–9V for 7RL and larger configurations; fine-tune according to the machine and how the skin responds.
- Set the needle projection from the grip and do a short test on artificial skin or practice film before working on a client.
- Dip the tip into the ink capsule and draw the lines with the skin well stretched and a steady hand speed — essential for clean lines with these cartridges.
- During the session, periodically rinse the tip in rinse water to avoid dried pigment buildup.
- At the end, immediately dispose of the cartridge in the sharps container — it is strictly single-use.
Tips from us
- If lines are not clear enough, increase voltage gradually in steps of about 0.3V — the membrane of these cartridges has slightly higher resistance, so they may require 0.5–1V more than some premium brands.
- For standard lining, 5RL is the most versatile and popular configuration; keep 3RL and 7RL as supplement in stock.
- The range covers 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, and 11RL with gauge #12 (0.35 mm) and medium taper — from occasional fine line to bold outlines.
- For fine line as a specialty, choose cartridges dedicated to that style; these RLs perform best on standard lines (5RL–9RL), where splits may occur only occasionally on 3RL.
- Their affordable price makes them ideal for practice on artificial skin, where daily cartridge consumption is high and financial pressure matters.
- Do not press excessively into the skin — let the needle do the work; heavy pressure traumatizes the skin and does not improve the line.
Warning: The cartridges are individually EO sterilized and strictly single-use — do not resterilize or reuse them under any circumstances, regardless of client. Do not use a cartridge if the blister is opened, punctured, or expired. The safety membrane prevents blood and ink from entering the grip, but does not replace the full hygiene protocol: protective barriers on equipment, gloves, cleaning and disinfecting/sterilizing the grip between clients. After use, immediately dispose of the cartridge in the designated sharps container.
Frequently asked questions
What configurations are available and which one should I start with?▾
The RL range is available in 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, and 11RL, all with gauge #12 (0.35 mm) and medium taper. 5RL is the most popular and most versatile configuration for standard lining. If you are a beginner, a stock made predominantly of 5RL, supplemented with 3RL for details and 7RL for thicker outlines, covers most situations.
What machines are these cartridges compatible with?▾
Compatibility is universal with pen-style machines with standard grip — they work on Cheyenne Sol Nova, FK Irons Xion, Bishop Fantom, Dragonhawk Mast, EZ P2S and other machines of this type, without adapters. If your machine accepts standard cartridges, they mount directly.
What voltage should I use to get clean lines?▾
The optimal range is 7.5–9V: approximately 7.5–8V for 3RL, 8–8.5V for 5RL, and 8.5–9V for 7RL and above. Due to the membrane with slightly higher resistance, these cartridges require voltages 0.5–1V higher than some premium brands. If lines are not clear, increase voltage by about 0.3V and maintain a steady hand speed.
Are they sterile? Can I reuse a cartridge on the same client?▾
Yes, each cartridge is individually EO sterilized in a sealed blister with sterilization indicator, batch number, and expiration date, with CE compliance. Reuse is excluded in any scenario: the cartridge is single-use and is disposed of at the end of the session in the sharps container. The safety membrane prevents blood and ink from reaching the grip, but the grip still must be sanitized according to protocol between clients.
Are they suitable for fine line?▾
For occasional fine line, the 3RL configuration can work acceptably, but splits may occur on ultra-thin lines. If fine line is your specialty, a dedicated cartridge for that style with superior concentricity is more suitable. The strength of these cartridges is standard lining, especially on 5RL–9RL, where lines come out consistent and clean.
Are they worth it for practice on artificial skin?▾
Yes, it is one of the most suitable scenarios for them. During the learning phase you can consume 10–20 cartridges per day, and the affordable price per piece allows this volume without financial pressure. You get real sterilization, a functional membrane, and quality steel at the same time — meaning you practice under conditions and with biosecurity habits identical to working on real skin.
Product description
Cartridge needles The needles have a safety membrane that prevents blood and ink from entering the handle. Precision is the strong point when it comes to cutting needles. The packaging is biodegradable and the plastic from which the tip is made is medical. Material: Stainless steel The needles are single-use and sterile packaged The price is per piece
Hummingbird RL Cartridge Needles are Round Liner cartridges from the Hummingbird range, offering functional lining at the most accessible price in the quality cartridge segment. RL configuration groups needles circularly with converging tips for clean lines, functional safety membrane preventing backflow, surgical steel with decent sharpness, standard #12 gauge (0.35mm), versatile medium taper. Universal compatibility with all pen-style machines on the market. Available from 3RL through 11RL covering the full spectrum from fine line to bold outlines. Hummingbird RL will not match Kwadron or Cheyenne Safety in perfect concentricity or absolute lot-to-lot consistency, but delivers surprisingly good performance for its price — clean lines, consistent penetration, and acceptable durability. Compared to ultra-cheap no-names, the difference is enormous — Hummingbird has verifiable real EO sterilization, certified functional membrane, and quality steel that does not excessively traumatize skin. Against Big Wasp X RL, loses slightly on consistency and needle soldering but wins on price. Against Cheyenne Craft RL, loses on brand and consistency but wins decisively on cost. Box of 20 individually EO-sterilized cartridges, full CE compliance. The optimal choice for budget-conscious artists, intensive practice on synthetic skin, and situations with high cartridge consumption such as tattoo schools, workshops, and guest spots.
Frequently Asked Questions Can Hummingbird RL produce clean lines? Yes, Hummingbird RL produces clean and functional lines. Not at the precision level of Kwadron or Cheyenne Safety (which have perfect concentricity), but good enough for standard lining. Occasional splits may occur on ultra-thin lines with 3RL, but on 5RL-7RL, lines are consistent and clean. Correct voltage (7.5-8.5V) and constant hand speed are essential for optimal results with Hummingbird RL. What Hummingbird RL configurations are available? Hummingbird RL: 3RL, 5RL, 7RL, 9RL, 11RL. 5RL most popular. Standard #12 gauge. Recommended stock: 5RL predominantly, with 3RL and 7RL as supplement. What voltage for Hummingbird RL? Optimal voltage: 7.5-9V. Fine line 3RL: 7.5-8V. Standard 5RL: 8-8.5V. Bold 7RL+: 8.5-9V. Hummingbird RL requires 0.5-1V higher than premium brands due to membrane with higher resistance. If lines are not clean, increase voltage by 0.3V. Is Hummingbird RL suitable for fine line? We do not recommend Hummingbird RL for specialized fine line. Needle concentricity is not perfect enough for consistent ultra-thin lines. Splits and inconsistencies may occur. For occasional fine line, 3RL may function acceptably. For fine line as a specialty, invest in Cheyenne Safety or Capillary 3RL. Hummingbird RL excels at standard lining (5RL-9RL), not extreme fine line. How much does Hummingbird RL cost in Romania? Hummingbird RL: 45-70 RON / 20 pcs — most accessible price in the quality cartridge segment. At this price, you get real sterilization, functional membrane, and acceptable steel. The difference from no-names (30-40 RON) is 15-30 RON per box, but quality and safety are incomparably superior. The investment in Hummingbird vs. no-name is one of the smartest decisions for a budget-conscious artist. Hummingbird RL vs Big Wasp X RL? Big Wasp X RL is slightly superior: better consistency, laser soldering, more performant membrane. Hummingbird RL wins on price (10-20% cheaper). Practical difference is 10-15% in Big Wasp X's favor. If budget allows, Big Wasp X is the better choice. If every RON counts, Hummingbird offers solid value. Is Hummingbird RL sterilized and certified? Yes, individual EO sterilization, hermetic blister, sterilization indicator, lot number, expiration date. CE compliance. Same sterilization standards as all brands — biosafety is non-negotiable at any price level. Does Hummingbird RL work on all machines? Yes, universal compatibility. Works on Cheyenne Sol Nova, FK Irons Xion, Bishop Fantom, Dragonhawk Mast, EZ P2S, and any pen-style machine with standard grip. No adapters needed. Popular entry-level combination: Dragonhawk Mast Tour + Hummingbird RL — complete functional setup at minimum price. Is Hummingbird RL good for practice on synthetic skin? Excellent for practice. Accessible pricing allows high consumption without financial pressure — exactly what is needed during the learning phase. A beginning artist may consume 10-20 cartridges per day in intensive practice. At Hummingbird pricing, this means 25-70 RON/day vs. 75-200 RON/day with Cheyenne Safety. Long-term savings are substantial, and Hummingbird quality is sufficient for developing correct technique. Can I tattoo clients with Hummingbird RL? Yes, Hummingbird RL is sterilized, CE certified, and produces acceptable lines for real tattoos. Many professional artists, especially in their first career years, use Hummingbird with good results. Clients will not notice the difference between a tattoo done with Hummingbird RL and one with Cheyenne Safety RL if the artist's technique is good. Final quality depends 80% on technique and 20% on equipment. Hummingbird RL covers that 20% well enough.