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I don't think cheyenne recomend autoclaving their grip at all dude.

In the manual, it says to autoclave it but dont specify very good how, and I did it and now my grip is too hard to change it, I can but not so easy as before.

*** The Cheyenne Hawk Thunder use sterile safety tattoo needle cartridges. They are very precisely configured, are quickly interchangable and come in a variety of different types and configurations. The needle cartridges have their own integrated membrane that keeps ink and blood away from the grip. In addition to this, the needles simply disappear back in to the safety cartridge when switched off, making it easy and safe to dispose of. The professional medical design of the grip and the removable front part allow for uncomplicated decontamination and cleaning without having to use an ultrasonic cleaner and autoclave. ***

This is the description from a supplier (killer ink) copied and pasted. They did say to autoclave the grips before.. ..but don't think they do now.

I have experienced ink making it up through the Cheyenne Hawk Machine using Cheyenne Hawk Cartridges. My concerns are these: 1. If ink gets into the CH machine, how do you actually remove if? Do you continue to ise your machine in that manner and prey nothing happens? Also, i can not speak fir others, but assuming nothing gets into your machine, do you find it just as easy to contaminate the inner chamber of the grip by just switching back and forth between cartridge types?

Definitely do not use a contaminated machine without using at least a cold chem like madacide. You would have to fully disassemble the machine and wipe with chem. If you can not do this get a new machine. NOTHING is worth risking the safety of a client......PERIOD! That being said Cheyenne sent me an autoclave guide with my grip. I claved mine with poor performance after(I had to relube). The trick to not contaminating the grip with the cartridge is: Do not cross contaminate the cartridge stem that goes into the grip(place in a seperate spot in your work area that is clean). Also you can wipe the inside of the grip where the cartridge goes in with madacide or similar chem between clients to be safe. If you are using any other cartridge other than Cheyenne, such as t-tech etc. do not work with the machine at a lower angle than the tip of the cartridge to prevent back flow.

I get what you are saying, I already do all of that. Now I can say that the Cheyenne Hawk Cartridges are not any safer than the rest when it comes to leakage of inks, blood, etc. when a Cheyenne Hawk Machine gets contaminated (cause they do) , your pretty much screwed at that point. I bought 2 Hawk Thunders in the past year. One is lost in the mail system in Europe's customs for the last 3 months, and I still do not have it, and the other one is contaminated, and the machine is designed so you can not at the very least, take it apart to clean it, because Cheyenne tried to corner the market, (which is a major turnoff). I still do not understand how the Hawk is considered a Sanitary tool at that point? If the Cheyenne wants to void your warranty for everything thing you do, and then not actually have a very smooth way to get a hold of them, and have them actually communicate with you to help resolve the matter, it's honestly not worth it.

Autoclaved mine and the finish is messed up and it seems like its not as smooth with needle adjustment clicks as well as the cartridges fitting :(

Kind of an old topic, but they make disposable grip sleeves, i feel like this is really the only safe way to use cartridge systems. They sell them at kingpin and probably a number of other places. basically just a machine bag for your tube. keeps contamination out of the tube.

You can get disposeable grips for the cheyenne. Ego rotary makes them, as well as bishop, fk irons, tatsoul and inkjecta. Most of them require an adapter, except for the ego ones, the click adjustment is over rated as all fuck. Just tighten the disposeable just enough so you can muscle it. PROBLEM SOLVED. Just spend the extra 1- 2 bucks a tattoo and use disposeable. Cheyenne won't honor your warranty anyway.