Straight answers
Know before
you book.
Deposits, preparation, design control, rescheduling, and healing — without burying the answer under polite filler.
01 · Booking
Getting in the chair.
How appointments are made, what the custom intake asks for, and what happens if you only have half an idea.
Do you take walk-ins?
Custom work is scheduled ahead so we can confirm real availability and collect the details we need before your session. Call the shop directly for same-day questions.
I have an idea but I'm not sure how to describe it — can you help?
Yes. Tell us the concept, placement and size — references welcome — and consultation turns a rough idea into a clear plan.
How do I know how many sessions my tattoo will take?
Once we have your concept, placement, and size, you get a session-count recommendation with the reasoning behind it before you pick a date.
Where is the shop located?
1546 St Rt 31, Port Byron, NY. Call or text (518) 522-2837, or use the Contact page for map, hours, and a callback request.
02 · Pricing
What it costs, stated once.
Two rates and one deposit. Every quote on this site traces back to them — the Pricing page carries the full breakdown.
How much does a tattoo cost at Hardcore Tattoo 1982?
Sessions are priced at $100/hr, or $300 for a 4-hour session rate. Every quote traces back to these two numbers — see the Pricing page for the full breakdown.
Is the deposit refundable?
No. The $50 deposit is non-refundable and is applied directly to the cost of your session when you arrive.
What is left to pay on the day?
On a $300 session with the $50 deposit already applied, $250 is due at the shop.
What makes one piece take longer than another?
Size, detail density, colour versus black & gray, placement, and whether it is covering existing work. All of them change the hours — none of them changes the rate.
03 · Aftercare
After the needle stops.
Healing is half the result. The Aftercare page carries the full schedule; these are the questions that come up before you get there.
What's the aftercare process?
Full step-by-step healing instructions, a do/don't list, and signs that warrant contacting us are on the Aftercare page.
When does the piece count as healed?
When it has settled — the Aftercare page walks the stages. On this site a frame is only labelled healed where a healed photograph is actually on file, and no healed interval is claimed that was not recorded.
Something doesn't look right — who do I call?
Call the shop on (518) 522-2837 during opening hours: Mon–Fri 12–8 · Sat 10–6 · Sun Closed. Bring the piece in if we ask you to; a photo over the phone is not a substitute for looking at it.
04 · Policies
The terms, in plain language.
Deposits, consent, cover-ups, and what the studio specialises in. Nothing buried in fine print.
What styles does Hardcore Tattoo 1982 specialize in?
Horror realism, black & gray, color realism, nightmare realism, portrait work, and cover-ups — the Styles page covers each discipline, and carries photographed examples for the ones we have shot.
Do you cover up old tattoos?
Yes, cover-ups are one of our core specialties. No cover-up is published on the Work page yet — the catalogue only carries pieces we have actually photographed. Send a clear, well-lit photo of the existing piece and we will tell you straight what is possible.
What do I have to sign?
A tattoo consent form before any work begins. The reference text is on the Tattoo Consent page so you can read it before you arrive rather than on a clipboard at the door.
What are the shop's hours?
Mon–Fri 12–8 · Sat 10–6 · Sun Closed. 1546 St Rt 31, Port Byron, NY.
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