Thoughts on American Flag tattoo

[Ronin13]

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

Has no one here heard of touchups? I got a tat on my forearm and the guy offered (for free) to touch up a tat I got when I was 18.

[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.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I presume you are opting for cremation when you die so that flag on your skin is disposed of IAW the Flag Code ...

[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.

[BlasterBob]

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.

Also, back in the mid 50's, getting a tat was damn cheap (inexpensive) but the workmanship back then could certainly NOT compete with today's jobs. In those days, the tat shops near the military bases/forts, had a policy that drunk or not, as long as the customer could manage to get his wallet out and pay for the work, he was good to go. My last and final one was just about one year ago. That's it for this old fart unless I get a "freebie".

[Squeeze]

Not sure why Danger! hasn't chimed in on this thread yet, as he is a very talented tattoo artist. I will be getting a Molon Labe tattoo from him in the near future. On that note, no, I do not think the American flag tattoo is disrespectful. IMO, you are simply showing American pride and I don't have a problem with that at all.

[Great-Kazoo]

Does this poll really need to go another 13 days to convince you, one way or the other, How and what you should do to your body? If no one likes what you have tattooed, on you, screw them don't look.

[Ropes4u]

I have been debating a flag on my back so no heart ache on my end.

[argonstrom]

If no one likes what you have tattooed on you screw them

This.

If you need to post a poll about it, you should probably rethink it.