Thoughts on American Flag tattoo

[Great-Kazoo]

Fading? I still have one tattoo that I got at Fort Riley, KS (actually Junction City, KS) back in December of 1955 (coming up on 58 years ago) and it really has faded very very little. Maybe better quality ink used back in those days.
The "ink master" was not very worried about spreading germs etc., as they merely used an old wash basin and a huge sponge to do the washing and wiping back them. Sponge usually still had the previous guy's blood on it. Guess I'm lucky to still be here on the planet and never contracted any diseases from that particular procedure.

Sponge & bucket days. Stencils were hand cut [backwards] on acetate then applied with charcoal, after they used a straight razor to shave the area.

[BlasterBob]

Sponge & bucket days. Stencils were hand cut [backwards] on acetate then applied with charcoal, after they used a straight razor to shave the area.

Exactly right Jim... I furnished a piece of flexible acetate that I used to make my own tat pattern and after he smeared my arm with vaseline (or something similar) the ink master filled the void on the stencil with a black/gray powder of some kind and slapped it on my arm. Then merely traced the line of the charcoal or whatever the black stuff was. Straight edge was swished around in the water basin and it was ready to go for the next customer.... Ah, those were the days - when we didn't normally have to worry about AIDS and not be quite as concerned about some of the crap that destroyed livers.

[Great-Kazoo]

Exactly right Jim... I furnished a piece of flexible acetate that I used to make my own tat pattern and after he smeared my arm with vaseline (or something similar) the ink master filled the void on the stencil with a black/gray powder of some kind and slapped it on my arm. Then merely traced the line of the charcoal or whatever the black stuff was. Straight edge was swished around in the water basin and it was ready to go for the next customer.... Ah, those were the days - when we didn't normally have to worry about AIDS and not be quite as concerned about some of the crap that destroyed livers.

Having been involved with the ink business one way or another, since 74. There's lots o stories i can tell ya. First hand, not some well i heard from X.

[02ducky]

well I am kinda waiting for an answer to this one too.

[Danimal]

You know when I was in the military I never got a tattoo that showed my service or pride in America. I have been wanting one for a long time now to finish off the sleeve on my left arm. I am working nights, so maybe I will draw up some stuff and if I make something that I want is there someone on here that would be willing to lay the ink? I will post something here soon so that you would know what you are getting into. Back to the OP, I would say go for it. Just think it out and find something that really talks to you and says what you want it to.

[spleify]

You know when I was in the military I never got a tattoo that showed my service or pride in America. I have been wanting one for a long time now to finish off the sleeve on my left arm. I am working nights, so maybe I will draw up some stuff and if I make something that I want is there someone on here that would be willing to lay the ink? I will post something here soon so that you would know what you are getting into. Back to the OP, I would say go for it. Just think it out and find something that really talks to you and says what you want it to.

KIng Freeze at Pleasure and Pain on Alameda in Denver

[nikolatesla19]

Just do it.

[robertcolorado2009]

Seems to me that during the years since the sixties, when flags were starting tp appear on peoples walls as decoration, during all the Vietnam protests and things, I always read where the star field should always be on the left when dispaying a flag on a wall or hanging on horizontally or vertically.

[spongejosh]

I don't see any problem with it as long as the tattoo isn't disrespectful like Calvin peeing on it or something.

[mtik00]

Just remember, when the colors fade on your tat, do the right thing:

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

I agree with most everyone here. It's an artistic representation of the American flag. That's a different ball game.

An alternative approach would be to go with a more abstract representation. Ok, this is a really bad example, but something like the Captain America shield. It's pretty obvious what it would mean. And no... I don't have a Cpt America tat.