From Stencils to Standards: A Deep Dive into Tattooing with Rob Smead

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Under The Skin - the tattoo podcast

Under The Skin Podcast

13 episodes

2 weeks ago

A podcast about tattooing — and the people who shape it. We talk with artists, apprentices, and the clients who bring ideas to life. From techniques and tools to trust and collaboration, this is where stories, craft, and connection meet. Whether you're behind the needle or in the chair, there's space for you here. Some things go deeper — that’s where we go, under the skin. #tattoopodcast #tattooculture #tattoocommunity #tattooinspiration #tattoolife

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From Stencils to Standards: A Deep Dive into Tattooing with Rob Smead

Under The Skin - the tattoo podcast

54 minutes 42 seconds

3 weeks ago

From Stencils to Standards: A Deep Dive into Tattooing with Rob Smead

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Smead—founder of Electrum Tattoo Supply and host of The Business of Tattooing. We get into the real origin story (yes, the Kryptonite/DC saga), solving the “lost stencil” problem with chemistry, and why so many stencil/aftercare products feel like copycats.

We talk about the post-COVID boom turning into a slowdown, shops closing, artists changing jobs, and what a ~50% hit means for suppliers. We also dig into AI & Procreate as time-savers (not shortcuts), apprenticeships and education, and how TIMA + Inktegrity are pushing industry-led standards so regulators don’t write our future without us. REACH in Europe, looming FDA rules, ISO/GMP compliance, shop hygiene—the whole safety & business side of tattooing.

If you care about craft, safety, and longevity, this one’s for you.

Keywords: Electrum Tattoo Supply, stencil primer, tattoo inks, TIMA, Inktegrity, tattoo regulation, REACH, FDA cosmetics, ISO/GMP, tattoo education, tattoo safety, AI in tattoo design, shop hygiene.

Go check Rob Smead:

Rob Smead (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/noflashninja/ Instagram+1
The Business of Tattooing (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/business_of_tattooing/ Instagram+1
The Business of Tattooing (Podcast page): https://thebusinessoftattooing.podbean.com/ thebusinessoftattooing.podbean.com

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #TattooIndustry #ElectrumTattooSupply #TattooSafety #TattooRegulation #TIMA #Inktegrity #TattooEducation #TattooBusiness #StencilGame #TattooInks #ProcreateArt #AIDesign #TattooCommunity #TattooPodcast