After using the Thunder for a couple of months or so now I'm feeling that in some ways I prefer the original Hawk.
Shading:-
Both machines shade equally well, I haven't found the extra stroke length on the thunder has made it any better or worse in that department.
Packing:-
Both put in colour qually well. I've never thought the hawk was a good machine for doing stuff like tribal though, but IMO that's mainly down to the pins used in the cheyenne cartridges. Where as the standard t-tech mags with their medium taper will hammer solid colour in with either machine.
Lining:-
The hawk/spirit definitely requires a bit of adjustment to line with it or you can get weak lines and snags, but once you get it down they do it well. The Hawk was actually the first machine I loved lining with, and that includes coils.
The thunder on the other hand is much easier to switch to from other machines IMO. The extra stroke length has eliminated the occasional snagging when pushing your lines that the old machines used to have.
I don't think the Thunder produces a better line than the hawk, but it does require less adjustment on your technique.
General usage:-
I've had a year or so of loving the Hawk, I think its ran great on any PSU I've tried. A couple of the bigger needle groupings required a higher voltage to start, but not all the time, and its usually just a case if putting it on to my lining patch before going back to the shading one.
The thunder on the other hand has been a bit of a pain. Without the startup cable it almost always needs bumping up to around 12v to get it going. And even then it wont start if you have a lot of needle hang and usually also requires an on-off-on jumpstart.
With the startup cable it is better, but even that doesn't work all the time, so I'm still doing the on-off-on jumpstart on occasion.
Obviously it's supposed to work fine on the official PSU which might be my next purchase.
So in summary, I think for me I might prefer the original. It's quieter and smoother sounding. Runs easier on non cheyenne PSUs and performs just as well as I have already got used to using it for lining.
For people new to the cheyenne system I can see that the thunder would be the better option.. but only if you buy a cheyenne PSU.
Page 4 The Cheyenne Hawk is an easily-adjustable, German-engineered tattoo machine that was carefully built to meet tattoo artists' needs. Painful Pleasures is an authorized re-seller of Cheyenne tattoo supplies, including Cheyenne Hawk needles, tattoo machines, and parts. Cheyenne Tattoo Machine Power Supply PU1 - Single Output, Touch Screen, Digital Display - Tattoo Machine Battery Pack - Tattoo Machine Supplies $274.99. Customers also shopped for. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading. Baltikbodyart.com and Baltik Body Art stores operate separately. This means that the products and prices offered at each may be different. We hold the right to change the prices without previous consent, depending on the market and purchasing pricing.
Cheyenne Hawk Pen – Cheyenne Hawk Tattoo Machine Pen in Purple
With absolute control and accuracy in mind, Cheyenne has introduced the biggest innovation in the tattoo industry – the Cheyenne Hawk Pen. This revolutionary machine is specially designed to closely resemble an actual pen, which will facilitate even more precise tattoo procedures than before.
The Cheyenne Hawk Pen is compatible with its own 21mm and 25mm grip, the Cheyenne cartridge system, the PU I and PU II power supplies, and Cheyenne Thunder and Spirit power cables. Other power supply brands can be used with the Hawk Pen, but will need an adapter cable depending on your particular power supply.
Cheyenne Hawk Spirit Tattoo Machine
Included with your Cheyenne Hawk Pen purchase are a 25mm grip, connection cable, pen tray, phono plug cord and instruction manual.
Please Note: The Cheyenne Hawk Pen is a completely new machine with new grips. Other Cheyenne grips are not compatible with the Hawk Pen.
Technical Specifications:
Operating Voltage: 5 – 13 V DC
Power Input: 15 VA
Stitch frequency: 55 – 165 Hz
Stroke: 3.5mm
Needle Protrusion: 0 – 4.5mm
Connection: 3.5 mm Jack plug
Propulsion: Precision DC motor
Operating Mode: Continuous operation
Operating Conditions: Ambient temperature: +10 °C to +35 °C
Relative Humidity: 30 % to 75 %
Cheyenne Tattoo Machine
Specifications:
Cheyenne Spirit Tattoo Machine
Color: Purple
Length: 4.8” (123mm)
Diameter: 1” (25.4mm)
Compatible with Cheyenne cartridge system and Cheyenne Thunder and Spirit power cables
Use with 21mm or 25mm grips
No start up facility needed
PU I and PU II power supply compatibility
25mm grip, connection cable, pen tray, phono tip cord and instruction manual included
Sensitive reaction; quiet operation