About Me

I’m Bear Ray, owner of Black Bear Tattoos & Piercings in Elkin, North Carolina. I’ve been tattooing professionally since 2005, and traditional coil machines have always been a big part of my work.

Over the years, I developed an interest in the mechanics of these machines and what makes one run differently from another. I’ve spent a lot of time collecting, rebuilding, and tuning machines from various builders, and eventually began making my own.

Fast-Lines Electric is my line of handmade coil tattoo machines. Each machine is individually built and carefully tuned by me. I still tattoo full-time, and my goal is simple: to make good, reliable machines that I’d be happy to use every day in my own shop.