Bugpin Round Shader Cartridges for Fine, Gentle Shading

R&G Bio manufactures bugpin round shader tattoo cartridges for brands, distributors and studios serving realism and fine-detail artists — softer on skin, smoother blends, factory-direct consistency.

Each cartridge holds a loose round grouping of thinner-than-standard #08 / #10 needles, laying down delicate, low-trauma shading for realism and fine-detail work. Sizes run from 3RS to 14RS.

Every cartridge is EO gas sterilized, batch-coded for full traceability, and produced in ISO Class 7 cleanrooms under an ISO 13485 quality system. Review our certifications and compliance documents and see how we manufacture before you place a bulk order.

We support full OEM/ODM programs — housing colors, private labeling and custom packaging built around your brand, with factory-direct MOQs and tiered wholesale pricing.

FDA Registered CE-RoHS ISO 13485 Sterile EO
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  • Thinner Bugpin Needles
  • Gentle Low-Trauma Shading
  • Smooth Blends
  • EO Sterilized
  • OEM/ODM Ready

Model Reference

1
For example – 0803RS

08 – Needle Diameter (Gauge)
03 – Needle Count
RS – Needle Configuration

2
Needle Diameter (Gauge)

08 = #10 (Standard, approx. 0.25 mm)
10 = #12 (Standard, approx. 0.30 mm)

3
Needle Count

03 / 05 / 07 / 09 / 11 / 13 / 14 / 18

4
Needle Type

RL = Round Liner
RS = Round Shader
M1 = Magnum (Double Stack)
RM = Round Magnum
CM = Curved Magnum
F = Flat Shader
RLT = Textured Round Liner
TRL = Turbo Round Liner
STL = Super Tight Liner

#08 Series · 0.25mm (True Bugpin) — the finest, softest touch

Model

Gauge

Taper

Needle Count

Membrane

Sterilization

Fit

Typical Use

0803RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

3

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Micro detail shading, hair strokes, stipple effects, tiny soft fills

0805RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

5

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Fine delicate shading, small details, light greywash

0807RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

7

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Everyday gentle shading, portrait details, soft small blends

0809RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

9

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Smooth soft shading, translucent color washes

0811RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

11

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Wider soft shading, light color packing on medium areas

0814RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

14

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Broad soft coverage, large pastel and watercolor fills

0818RS

#08 · 0.25mm

Short 0.4mm

18

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Maximum gentle coverage for large soft gradients

#10 Series · 0.30mm (Bugpin / Double Zero) — the all-round bugpin

Model

Gauge

Taper

Needle Count

Membrane

Sterilization

Fit

Typical Use

1003RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

3

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Fine detail shading, small black & grey touches, texture work

1005RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

5

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Fine shading, small soft fills, sensitive skin areas

1007RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

7

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

The go-to bugpin shader: daily delicate shading and smooth small blends

1009RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

9

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Soft shading and gentle gradients on medium areas

1011RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

11

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Wider soft blending, light color transitions

1014RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

14

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Broad soft coverage, large-area delicate shading

1018RS

#10 · 0.30mm

Short 0.4mm

18

Yes

EO Gas · ISO 11135

Universal cartridge grip

Maximum bugpin coverage for big soft blends and backgrounds

Built Like a Medical Device, Priced for Wholesale

Thinner needles are harder to make well. Gauge accuracy and tip polish decide whether a bugpin performs or fails. Here is how we control both.

01 Safety Membrane System

A medical-grade elastic membrane sits inside every cartridge. It keeps needle tension steady during long sessions and stops ink and body fluids from flowing back into the grip and machine. No backflow, no cross-contamination.

02 Polished Needle Tips

We draw and polish 316L surgical steel down to #08 and #10 gauge with a mirror finish. At 0.25mm, even a tiny burr shows up in the skin — so tip polish is checked under 100x microscopy, not by eye alone.

03 Medical-Grade Housing

The shell is medical-grade polymer with a clear tip, sized to guide thinner needle groups without wobble. Artists see the ink flow while they work, and the standard fitting works with most rotary machines and cartridge grips.

04 EO Gas Sterilization

Every cartridge is sealed in its own blister pack and sterilized with EO gas. Our sterilization process is validated under ISO 11135, with batch records kept for full traceability.

05 Two-Stage Quality Control

Every unit passes 100% visual inspection on the line. Then 30% of each batch is checked again under 100x microscopy for gauge accuracy, tip shape, and grouping alignment. Bent or dull needles never ship.

Why Thinner Needles Shade Softer

Diameter controls everything. A thinner needle carries less ink and makes a smaller puncture, so each pass deposits a lighter, more even layer of tone. Instead of flooding the skin in one heavy pass, artists build shading gradually — layer over layer, with full control over depth and value. The trade-off is speed: bugpins work slower than standard #12 shaders. But for delicate black & grey, light color, and sensitive skin, that slower, gentler build is exactly the point.

Where Bugpin Round Shaders Work Best

One series, four core jobs. If the work needs a soft touch and slow, controlled build-up, this is the needle.

Delicate Soft Shading

Feather-light greywash and whisper-soft gradients. The thin needles lay down tone in fine layers, so delicate black & grey work stays smooth with no harsh steps.

Light Color & Watercolor

Pastel tones and translucent color washes. Controlled ink flow keeps light colors from over-saturating, so watercolor and soft-color styles keep their airy look.

Sensitive & Thin Skin Areas

Neck, inner arm, face-adjacent work, and thin or mature skin. Smaller punctures mean less trauma per pass, less redness during the session, and easier healing.

Portraits & Micro Detail

Hair strands, eyelashes, skin texture, and tiny script. Small groupings like 3RS and 5RS in #08 put soft detail exactly where realism artists need it.

Small Group, Fine Detail. Bigger Group, Wider Softness.

Needle count sets the coverage width. Gauge sets the softness. Match both to the job — that is the whole logic.

3RS – 5RS

Micro detail, tiny fills, fine texture

7RS – 9RS

Everyday soft shading and gentle blends

11RS – 14RS

Wider soft coverage, light color washes

#08 vs #10

#08 = finest detail · #10 = all-round bugpin

Bugpin (#08 / #10) vs Standard (#12)

Same round shader configuration — different wire diameter. That one change controls ink deposit, skin trauma, and the final look of the work.

BUGPIN #08 / #10

STANDARD #12

Needle Diameter

0.25mm / 0.30mm

0.35mm

Ink Deposit per Pass

Small, controlled — tone builds in layers

Heavy — saturates fast

Skin Trauma

Lower per pass, smaller punctures, easier healing

Higher per pass

Mark in Skin

Finer, softer, smoother blends

Bolder, stronger saturation

Working Speed

Slower — patience required

Faster coverage

Best For

Delicate shading, light color, sensitive skin, detail

Bold packing, traditional styles, speed

Our Certifications

R&G Bio is an integrated manufacturer with verified FDA registration, ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 certification and EU RoHS compliance — the documentation your market actually requires.

U.S. FDA RegisteredEstablishment No. 3009392898 CE — RoHS VerifiedEU 2011/65/EU Compliant ISO 13485:2016Medical Device QMS Sterile · EO GasSingle-use, batch traceable
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  • CE Rohs
  • FDA
  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 13485
  • Verified quality system — ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 certified factory, fully batch-traceable
  • Global market access — U.S. FDA registered, EU RoHS verified documentation
  • Custom certification support — if your market requires additional qualifications, we can assist in obtaining the relevant certifications. Contact us to discuss your requirements

Wholesale & OEM Programs

Factory-direct supply with full batch traceability. Tell us your sizes and target volume — we reply within 12 hours with a full quotation.

Wholesale MOQ bulk tattoo cartridge boxes

MOQ from 1,000 pcs

Standard sizes start low; mixed sizes allowed in one order.

Tiered factory pricing volume discount

Tiered Factory Pricing

The more you take, the lower the unit cost. Full price ladder with every quotation.

Fast lead time factory shipping

Fast Lead Time

Standard sizes ship from running production; OEM timelines confirmed with your quote.

Private label OEM packaging design

Private Label & OEM

Your brand, built on our production lines — in-house design and engineering support.

Explore the Wholesale Program OEM / Private Label

Qualified B2B buyers can request a free sample kit before committing to an order.

FAQs

A bugpin is a tattoo needle made from thinner-than-standard wire. Standard needles are #12 gauge (0.35mm). Bugpins are #10 (0.30mm, also called “double zero”) or #08 (0.25mm, the finest option) — and when artists say “bugpin,” they usually mean #10. The thinner diameter gives slower, more controlled ink flow, less skin trauma per pass, and finer, softer results.

The difference is needle diameter. A bugpin round shader uses #08 (0.25mm) or #10 (0.30mm) needles; a standard round shader uses #12 (0.35mm). Bugpins deposit ink more slowly and in smaller amounts per pass, so shading builds up in smoother layers with less trauma. Standards deliver more ink per pass — faster, bolder saturation, but rougher on the skin. Choose bugpin for delicate, layered work; standard for speed and bold packing.

Choose #10 (0.30mm) as the everyday bugpin — it balances control and ink flow, and it is the most popular bugpin size. Choose #08 (0.25mm) for the finest work: micro detail, ultra-soft gradients, hair strokes, and very light color. If your artists mostly do bold, fast packing, a standard #12 is the better tool. Many studios stock all three.

Yes. Thinner needles make smaller punctures, so each pass causes less trauma and heals easier. That makes bugpin shaders a strong choice for thin or sensitive skin and delicate areas like the neck, inner arm, and face-adjacent work. Technique still matters: use a light hand, keep passes even, and avoid overworking one spot — a tight bugpin grouping can still damage skin if pushed too hard.

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About R&G Bio

Built on Precision.
Trusted Globally.

01

Where Precision Meets Medical-Grade Standards

ISO 13485 certified facility with ISO Class 100,000 cleanrooms. 316L surgical steel, complete traceability.

02

End-to-End Manufacturing Control

From needle configuration to sterile packaging, every step is precision-controlled with automated assembly and batch tracking.

03

Meeting International Regulatory Standards

CE Mark, FDA Registered, KFDA Approved, ISO 13485, RoHS Compliant. Full documentation for global market entry.

04

Trusted Tattoo Needle Manufacturer Since 2009

15+ years serving 50+ countries with premium cartridge tattoo needles and flexible OEM/ODM solutions.

Premium Tattoo & PMU Supply
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OEM / ODM SERVICES

Contact us for wholesale pricing and custom configurations
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