Hello Everyone!

I have been working on some flash cord (flash string) effects, where the flash cord transforms into a large necklace. Here's my problem:

I can't let the flash cord burn all the way up to my fingers, as to allow the necklace to fall in its place. The final part of the flash cord seems a bit too hot to handle. I've been working on this effect for quite some time now. Although the transformation looks good as I let the tiny bit of flash string go at the very end of the flash, is it possible to handle the flash cord in a way as to allow it to burn all the way to the end, while I'm still holding it between my fingers?

Any and all of your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Magically,
- - Troy

Troy,
I don't know if this will work but it's worth a try. Maybe try wetting the tips of your fingers a little bit before performing the effect. It might help but I am not sure.
Best Regards,
Cole

I am not sure of what it is, but if you coat your fingers with a heat resitance substance (sorry for the generality here, I am sure it exists, but I don't have a clue what to call it) that might work. Or it might not.

The problem with holding something that is burning, between your fingers, is that heat has nowhere to go but to your fingers (can you say OUCH?). And a protective coating might not give enough protection from that kind of heat.

So you might be better off, to grip a small piece of something (some kind of gimmick or just a piece of string or something connected to the flash cord, that won't go up like flash cord) That might give you enough time delay, along with the flash and appearance of the necklace, to ditch the gimmick item.

Obviously the handling of it would be determined by how you make the necklace appear. And since I don't know your desired method, it would be hard to be more specific about what to use, or how to do it.

BroDavid

Ouch! Be careful! I had some burn between my fingers and thumb. It hurts.

You could soak the end of the string in water. It will then go out before it gets to your fingers but will leave an end

stephen

The necklace itself is pretty heat resistant. See where I'm going?

I'd try Super gluing a sort of look alike string to the end of the flash string.

The heat resistant stuff that BroDavid mentioned is sold by Theatre Effects

http://www.theatrefx.com

As I recall, it costs about $10.00 for a modest-sized supply.

The name of a good fire retardant is Stunt Gel, it runs from $10.00-20.00 USD for 2oz. there are larger bottles but it gets expensive.

I have always relied on letting go by rolling the string off of my fingertips before it reached a hot point.

So as the necklace "appears," I roll my index finger foward, thus releasing the string. People are too busy looking at the necklace to notice that split second move.

:imsick: Hey look this dudes pukin', cool! Never noticed him before.

in a word............ gloves