70 Mechanic Tattoo Ideas to Get Your Motor Running

From pistons to pinup designs, there are so many mechanic tattoos for you to select from - you really are spoilt for choice here!

I am always pleasantly surprised by clients who come in with mechanic tattoo designs. While the designs have an industrial feel to them, most people have beautiful stories behind these concepts. They tell me stories of helping their fathers fix cars in garages or of how they discovered their passion for all things mechanical.

In this post, I will show you the top mechanic tattoo ideas and give you a little background information on each design to help make your choice easier!

The Top Mechanic Tattoo Designs

Here are some of the best mechanical tattoos for you to choose from:

Piston Tattoos

It doesn't matter if you are an actual mechanic or simply a car enthusiast - a piston tattoo is a great mechanic tattoo for you to get.

As you are probably aware, the piston is what converts the energy produced during the combustion process into mechanical work.

What makes this mechanical part quite so interesting, though, is what it looks like when it is at work. The fierce pumping motion is the embodiment of everything that you expect to see from a machine.

So, it makes the perfect mechanic tattoo. It is also a great mechanic tattoo if you want to keep your design as simple as possible.

Are you a designer at heart? Do you love sketches of mechanical components or do like pulling things apart to see how they work? If so, then you will find that these tattoo designs are just up your alley!

You can get a realistic version of this mechanical component or you can get something that has more cartoonish features. It is up to you to get as creative as you like!

If you have a loved one who was a great mechanic or simply loved working with pistons or other parts of car, you can get a memorial mechanical tattoo for them.

Spark Plug Tattoos

Of course, if you love pistons, there is a good chance that you are just as fascinated by spark plugs too. After all, they are what makes the pistons run.

And, if you are mechanical minded at all, you will love the fact that this small piece can have such a large impact on the running of the vehicle. Not to mention, if you are a mechanic, then you will have changed quite a few of these during your career!

For this kind of tattoo, you can choose to get a traditional spark plug. However, if you would like to switch things up, then you can get spark lugs that look like cartoon characters too. There are plenty of options for you here!

Tools of the Trade Tattoos

All that a good mechanic needs is their tools and the right parts. If this is something that you believe in, then this makes for a great mechanic tattoo.

You can choose just one or two tools - simple ones or you can go ahead and get a mechanic tattoo with an entire set.

If you would like, you can also include some mechanical parts - one that are integral to the running of a machine to your tattoo as well.

Biomechanical Concept Tattoos

If you love science fiction, then you have probably thought of a world where the human body and mechanical elements were fused together.

And, considering how science is progressing, this future isn't too far off. If you would like to bring the images in your imagination to life, then you can get a mechanic tattoo where body parts are fused with mechanical ink designs.

Biomechanical Tattoos

Now, this kind of tattoo takes the biomechanical concept to another level. Here, you get to depict what mechanical parts would look like if they were actually a part of the human form.

Now, the mechanics behind such tattoos are quite varied. Due to this, there are a couple of categories to choose from for your biomechanical tattoo.

Simple Biomechanical Tattoos

Here, the mechanics of the tattoo make it look like the robotic elements are part of your body but for these mechanic tattoos, the tattoo simply sits on top of the skin.

So, while the end result of your mechanic tattoo can look quite realistic, the mechanical elements do look separate from the body.

This is what this kind of mechanic tattoo can look like:

Symbiotic Tattoos

If you would like it to look like the robotic element and the body are fused together, then you should consider a symbiotic mechanic tattoo.

This is where your mechanic tattoo looks like the robotic elements are a part of your leg, arm, etc. If you want, you can also draw your mechanic tattoo in a way that creates a three dimensional surface for the mechanical components.

A popular idea for this kind of mechanic tattoo is to have the mechanical portions peeking through torn skin.

Here are some of the mechanic tattoo concepts you should consider for yourself:

Cyborg Tattoos

This is a slightly different take on the biomechanical tattoo. With this kind of mechanic tattoo, you are imagining what people or creatures would like if some or most of their body was fused with mechanical components.

What I like about such a mechanic tattoo is that you have a bit more room to be creative if you like. For instance, if you want, your mechanic tattoo can have a more realistic take on what this could look like.

At the same time, the beauty of this kind of mechanic tattoo is that you can get really artistic with your mechanical tattoo idea.

You can choose a traditional style of tattooing, for example, to lend a better aesthetic appeal to the design. Or, you can even create an alien creature for your mechanic tattoo - the options are endless!

Clockwork Tattoos

People have been interested in the idea of robots for hundreds of years - long before they could even dream of the the kind of technology that we have now.

The first automaton - a clockwork figure - was created to perform limited human tasks based on a series of instructions.

Now, if you are a bit more old school or you simply want to pay homage to the origins of robotics, then a clockwork mechanic tattoo is a great idea for you.

With this kind of tattoo, the mechanics are based on traditional clockwork or automaton designs. So, the mechanical elements will be a lot of cogs and wheels. The tattoo can be laid out over a limb or body part to make it look these are the components that are making your body tick!

Mechanic Tattoos

Are you a mechanic or someone who loves to fix things? If so, you probably want a mechanic-inspired design.

Well, the good news for you is that there are a lot of different options for you to choose from here!

If you want to get straight to the point, then you can get something that says Mechanic for Life or something similar like these tattoos right here:

Of course, if you want something a bit more subtle, then there are different tattoos for this kind of concept as well.

One idea that I love is a 50s pinup style tattoo - these are the hallmark of garages and auto repair shops around the world. What's more, it is perfect if you want to capture the essence of mechanics but do it in a way that is aesthetically pleasing.

If you come from a long line of mechanics or simply have a loved one who passed on, this kind of tattoo idea works well for a memorial tattoo too.

What is a Mechanical Tattoo?

Well, a mechanical tattoo is usually one that includes mechanical parts. These parts can be from a vehicle, an industrial machine, or even a robot! These kinds of tattoos are all about elevating machismo mystique as well as honoring the creations that have reached godly new heights.

What Are Mechanical Tattoos Called?

Mechanical tattoos don't have a specific name although they may sometimes be referred to as a mechanic tattoo.

If your tattoo includes biological elements in it, then it may be known as a biomechanical design.

These are the top mechanic tattoo concepts that you should consider for yourself. It doesn't matter if you are a mechanic who is interested in mechanic tattoos or if you love the combination of machine and man and want a biomechanical tattoo, there are options for everyone!