People may not use any of the artists works for commercial purposes nor may they alter, transform, or build upon their work. Furthermore, people may not copy, distribute or transmit any of their work. Please respect their rights and do not steal their livelihood.
This post is going to be about piercing guns vs. needles. People come into the shop and talk about having their ear lobes, cartilage, nose or navel done with a piercing gun. Some people have complications and others do not but they always talk about how the piercing took longer to heal or had more pain involved.
Most wish they had been pierced with a needle. We agree that piercing with a needle is better than being pierced with a gun. The table below shows a comparison of piercing guns and needles. A further explanation will be given after the table.
The table below assumes that needles are used by a trained professionals and that piercing guns are not. There are piercers out there who use piercing guns but even in the hands of a professional piercing guns cause harm.
| Piercing Guns | Needles | |
| Intended Use | Tagging Cattle | People |
| Trauma | Severe | Minimal |
| Sterile | No | Yes |
| Risk of Infection | Severe/Great | Minimal |
| Risk of Disease | Severe/Great | Minimal |
| Cross-contamination | Severe | Minimal |
| Gloves Worn by User | None | Always/Multiple Changes |
| Hands Washed | No | Always/Multiple Times |
| Disposal After Piercing | If disposed the Trash | Sharps Container |
| Used by | Anyone | Most Professionals |
| Number of Uses | Multiple | One |
| What Pierces | Blunt Jewelry | Sharp Needle |
| Jewelry Quality | Low | High |
| Training before use | Around 2 weeks | Months |
| Trainers knowledge of the body | Minimal | Great |
| Accuracy | Minimal | Great |
| Complications | Severe/Great | Minimal |
| Malfunctioningi.e. jamming, misfire | Frequently | None |
*Disclaimer: The links provided for pictures are unsightly.
Piercing guns were created for the tagging of cattle; it wasn’t until the ’70′s that piercing guns were used on people. The way a piercing gun works is a piece of blunt jewelry (generally an ear stud) is inserted into the adapter where the backing sits in the cradle. The tension regulator is then cocked (pulled back) and then the trigger is pulled, forcing the jewelry through the piece of tissue. If the tissue is cartilage it can be shattered causing additional trauma.
The jewelry (ear studs) that is used is too short for the initial piercing which can cause pressure on the fresh piercing. It makes cleaning difficult, allowing bacteria to flourish; this often leads to an infection. Other dangers include Hepatitis, MRSA (antibiotic resistant strain of staph) and blood poisoning among many others. All of these are caused by cross-contamination which is the transfer of harmful micro-organisms from one person to another.
Cross-contamination is stopped by washing hands, wearing gloves, disinfecting the skin, aseptic technique, disposing of items used to pierce (needles) and autoclaving the implements used to aid piercings (clamps, openers and closers.)
Piercing guns cannot be autoclaved, they are made of plastic which melts under the high temperatures used in an autoclave. Piercing guns are also not disposed of once used, they are used multiple times then disinfected and placed in an unclean area. The users of piercing guns are generally people who have had two weeks worth of training and do not understand where to properly place a piercing which leads to crooked, shallow and all around bad piercings. This is why piercing guns are not ethical or sanitary to pierce with. This discussion will be continued in the next post Needles.
Cheers,
PSES
References
Angel, Elayne. The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing. 1st ed. Berkeley: Crossing Press, 2009. 20-24. Print.
BME Contributors. “Piercing Gun.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 08 Apr 2010. Web. 2 Feb 2012. <http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Piercing_Gun>.
“FAQ.” Association of Professional Piercers. APP, n.d. Web. 2 Feb 2012. <http://www.safepiercing.org/piercing/faq/#guns>.
Hudson, Karen. “Why Piercing Guns Should be Banned.”Piercing Gun Vs. The NeedleAbout. Web. 2 Feb 2012. <http://tattoo.about.com/cs/psafety/a/piercing_guns.htm>.
Larratt, Shannon. “Piercing guns are blasphemy! .”BMENEWS. BMEZINE, 09 May 2003. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. .
Wickell, Carly. “Are Piercing Guns Safe? 6 Reasons Not to be Pierced with a Gun.”Piercing GunsAbout. Web. 2 Feb 2012. <http://jewelry.about.com/od/bodyjewelry/a/piercing_guns.htm>.
Piercing Healing Times
Below is a table of average healing times for various piercings. Since human bodies differ these healing times vary and cannot be guaranteed. When in doubt people should continue aftercare for at least the full heal time stated below.
| Piercing Heal Times | Jewelry Change Times |
| Anchor/Dermal: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months (Tops) |
| Ampallang: 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Apadravya: 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Clitoral Hood: 6-8 weeks or longer | 1 month |
| Dimple(s): 6-8 weeks or longer | 1 1/2 to 2 months |
| Dydoe: 6-9 months | 2 months |
| Ear Cartilage (all variations): 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Earl (Bridge): 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Earlobe: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Eyebrow: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Foreskin: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Fourchette: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Frenum: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Frownie: 6-8 weeks | 2 months |
| Guiche: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Labia (inner): 6-8 week or longer | 2 months |
| Labia (outer): 3-4 months or longer | 2 months |
| Lip (all variations): 6-8 weeks or longer | 1 1/2 to 2 months |
| Lorum (lower Frenum): 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Navel: 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Nipple (female): 4-6 months or longer | 2 months |
| Nipple (male): 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Nostril: 6-8 weeks or longer | 1 month |
| Prince Albert: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Pubic: 3-4 months or longer | 2 months |
| Scrotum: 3-4 months or longer | 2 months |
| Septum: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Smiley: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Surface: 6-9 months or longer | 2 months |
| Tongue: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Tongue Web: 6-8 weeks or longer | 2 months |
| Triangle: 3-4 months or longer | 2 months |
We’re very grateful for all the word-of-mouth referrals we’ve been getting. It’s always great when someone we’ve seen before brings in a friend, so we’ve found a way to properly thank you guys! We are now doing a referral program! Here’s how it works: bring a friend in and both of you will get $10 off a piercing. Sound awesome? We think so. Try it out.
Cheers,
PSES
When buying a gift certificate of $100 or more we will give a $20 gift certificate for free. What a deal!
Cheers,
PSES
The holiday season is just around the corner and to show you care why not give your love ones a gift certificate from Painless Steel. The gift certificate can be done in any amount and it covers tattoos, piercings and jewelry. Call or come in today and give the gift that lasts a lifetime!
Cheers,
PSES
Here is some of Jerry’s most recent work.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Cheers,
PSES
Our prices have changed! Basic piercings are $25, earlobes are $15 for one and $25 for a pair. Surface piercings are $30 and anchors are $90 for one (includes jewelry and tax) and 2 for $150 (includes jewelry and tax.) All pairs are now $45. See our pricing page for more details.
Cheers,
PSES
Everyone at the shop is going to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 2nd, 9am at Snohomish County Courthouse Plaza. We would love it if you could help us complete our goal for donations. Anything you can give will help this wonderful cause. If you don’t know what it is here is a statement from the site:
“The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is as unique and special as the stories that motivate our dedicated walkers, donors and volunteers. Each step we take is personal. And each donation is helping to save lives. And each volunteer helps create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.”
If you want to learn more about the walk or breast cancer you can read about both here.
You can donate here or you can come into the shop and donate there. Thank you for all that you can do.
Cheers,
PSES
We now offer free basic piercings and jewelry and $10 off on all non-basic piercings and jewelry on your 18th and 65th birthdays! So come down and celebrate your birthday with Painless Steel.
Basic piercings include nose, ears, lips and navel. Non-basic piercings include genitals, nipples, tongue and surface.
Cheers,
PSES
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Erik has progressed very far and we are all proud of him. The last two photos are awesome, a very unique piercing.
Cheers,
PSES
