3rd Post

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! so yesterday my new CX-2 power supply arrived in the mail. like 95% of their recent sales, i'd assume, i came to find this unit through aaron cain's ebay auctions. it looked amazing, so i took the chance (not much of one if aaron backs it) and placed an order.

i tattooed with it today and it is AWESOME!!!! it's sits vertically and is THIN for a power supply. i ordered two mounting brackets, and used the vertical suction cup model today, and it held like a rock. i was quite sure i'd be trying to catch a falling power supply with in 5 mins, but after 2 hrs of tattooing, i actually had to get my fingers under the suction cups before i could remove it from the table. this is a relief because a) falling power supplies have a tendency to break, and i did not want that to happen the first time using it, and b) there is no dial, so you are required to push on the controls a bit to increase or decrease the power.

the whole unit fits in a wash bag no problem, making it by far the cleanest and easiest power supply i've ever used to bag against cross contamination. the input jacks for power, clipcord, footswitch are well thought out, and point down, and stay locked into place. i made sure to give it a good pull before starting tattooing, and not only did all the cords stayed locked in place, but the suction cups kept the unit 100% solid. it for sure was not going anywhere, and did not move the whole time i was tattooing. clean up was as easy as removing the bag at the end of the tattoo. no tape, no barrier film, no need to cut finger off gloves to cover the dial...

i also ordered the right side mount bracket with magnets. it just so happens i have a magnet board next to my work space to test it out. i had the exact same result as the suction cups. i had to be careful removing the bracket because the 4 magnets are obviously neodymium. i was actually worried at one point that i might remove the magnet board from the wall by trying to pull the mount, so i opted to slide the magnets off instead. both the suction cups and magnets can be removed EASILY with an allen key and your fingers, so you can use the 4 holes to mount it to a wall using screws, or my favorite, 3M commander strips!

as for function, again, AMAZING. it was a bit weird at first not having a dial and using push button arrows to increase or decrease the volts. however, it didn't matter much, because the unit has 2 or 4 machine memory. i had 4 machines set up, and once i had their volts dialed in, it was a push of a button to switch from small liner, to medium liner, to large liner, to mag, back to medium liner..... i honestly thought i wouldn't use this feature much when looking at the specs online. it now seems like the best feature. so, so simple and fast to go from machine to machine.

now my FAVORITE feature is that you can totally change how you use your footswitch. anyone who's been in the room while i'm tattooing might realize that once the tattooing starts, my machines don't turn off much. i like running them constantly, no matter if their in the skin or not. after long days tattooing, my foot will for sure be sore just from having to have it on a a switch all day. the second thing i hate, it's another wire that make you feel like you're on a short leash.

with the CX-2 you can run your footswitch traditionally, where as the power is on when your foot is on the button, and it turns off once you remove your foot. with the CX-2, you can change it so your footswitch becomes more of an ON/OFF button instead. i used it all day set up that way, and it was amazing! at first i had it right next to my foot, like i normally would, but was just taping it on and off as i pleased. then i realized, there's no need for it to be even near me while i'm working. i kicked it back under the work table and WOW, FREEDOM! (and a happy foot)

this little power house has many more great features, but those were some of my first impressions after tattooing today. if i haven't said it enough, it's AWESOME. this thing is a small computer, you can change almost any variable on it. it truly felt like every feature had a purpose that was useful and designed with the idea that not tattoos the same. this machine unit gives you control over most of your variables, as well as choices.

lastly, the until looks slick. it looks like a simple, well thought out, well designed piece of medical equipment. i've always tried to hide or keep my power supply far away from my work space in the past because it always looks like it should not be there, or is in the way, or wrapped up in plastic so awkwardly to keep it clean. the CX-2 does not look out of place at all on your work station. it looks like it should be there, like it belongs on your workspace, and AGAIN, they've taken into consideration that not everyone's workspace is set up the same, so you have many choices on how you'd like to mount it.

i guess i must finish this up by saying in no way is this an add or am i working with or for critical tattoo supply. i am passionate about tattooing and loving seeing progress made in our trade. i honestly feel like this is progress for tattooists, and can make your job that much easier, while looking more presentable to your clients. it is a well designed, well thought out, functional piece of equipment. I hadn't heard anything about it other than aaron posting that he liked it, placed an order, and have fallen in love with it with in 2hrs of tattooing with it.

nice work critical tattoo supply! A++++

for more info, check them out online at criticaltattoo.com.


....i guess this was a post mainly for other tattooist... sorry... i'm really excited about this unit...