An improved electromagnetic coil tattoo machine offers the operator the opportunity to customize the machine's structural and operating properties. An embodiment of the invention provides a tattoo machine having at least one electromagnetic support coil which may include a coil core which has threaded holes which accommodate fasteners used to structurally secure and support 2 or 3 piece sub-frame members which house the secondary components that a conventional one-piece frame would house- such as the spring/armature bar, the binding posts and the preferred tube vice system. Accordingly in one embodiment, the support coil assemblies themselves act as a primary structural frame member. In a further embodiment, the electromagnetic support coil assembly may also use removable instead of non- removable retaining washers and O-rings to retain magnetic wire windings such as to allow the operator to customize and repair the magnetic wire.