Put on a pair of latex gloves. Open the pouch holding a sterile tube. Place the tube in the tattoo machine with the smaller end, the tip, of the tube facing away from the back of your tattoo machine.
Open the pouch holding a sterile needle. Hold the needle by the loop so the sharp end is facing away from the body. Center the sharp end of the needle inside the tube. Slide the needle through the tube until the sharp end clears the tube tip. Push the needle loop onto the grommet to secure the needle inside the tube and onto the tattoo machine.
Bag the tattoo machine and a clip cord with plastic barrier sleeves. Connect the two prongs of the clip cord onto the binding posts at the back of the tattoo machine. Plug the clip cord's opposite end into the power supply. Check the power supply to ensure a plugged-in power cord.
Push down on the foot pedal to hear the tattoo machine running. Observe the speed of the needle as it moves in and out of the tube's tip to dictate whether to turn the power supply up or down.