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Kaliix
Special user
Connecticut
575 Posts
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Posted: Feb 1, 2005 11:38am
I was recently turned onto a excellent rope effect in the Street Magic section. It is called the Panama Rope Trick from Tarbell Vol. 2 (pg 367?). Anyway, after reading about this trick, I have started working on it. Because it involves cutting the rope three times (then restoring it), I have started to go through a bunch of rope.
When I first bought some cheap rope (clothesline), it was very stiff and didn't work to well. I recently bought some $5 for 100ft, clothesline from Walmart. This stuff works quite well. It is soft, pliable, fairly large (3/8" I think) and easily cored if that's your thing.
The only problem with it is that if frays quite a bit when cut. I don't think that anything can be done about this (I am open to suggestions) but I was wondering if you guys who do a C/R routine think that this is a problem? Should I care that the ends dramatically fray or is it a good trade off to make considering the price and other favorable qualities of the rope?
I also would like anyone's opinion about the patter I am thinking about using for the first cut and knot. The routine starts out with a long piece of rope, say 6 to 9 feet. The approximate "middle" of the rope is found, cut, and the two ends that were just cut are tied together to join the "two" ropes.
My patter to justify the first cut would be something like this, "I was just recently down in S. America visiting friends. When we went out into town, I noticed how hard the locals have it down there. The make great use of everything because they have so little money to buy things with. Even when tying up their cattle, they usually can't find one piece of rope long enough and have to scrounge up two short pieces (cut the long rope)and tie them together to get the size they need."
I think the patter is a good start and gives a decent justification for initially cutting the long rope in two (and yes, to do the trick the long rope has to be "cut" in two). I presented it to my wife and she didn't like it and didn't think it made sense, so I would like other opinions.
Anyone care to comment?
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.
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Ollie1235
Special user
England
524 Posts
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Posted: Feb 1, 2005 1:41pm
The method I use is to tuck the ends back inside the rope itself, (this only works if youve removed the core), however this leaves you wit a slieght bulge at the end but this shouldnt be a problem, another method is to dip the ends in glue.
for other methods check out daryls rope magic series.
ollie
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sugam
Regular user
Toronto, Canada
175 Posts
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Posted: Feb 2, 2005 6:07pm
Quote:
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On 2005-02-01 13:41, Ollie1235 wrote:
The method I use is to tuck the ends back inside the rope itself, (this only works if youve removed the core), however this leaves you wit a slieght bulge at the end but this shouldnt be a problem, another method is to dip the ends in glue.
for other methods check out daryls rope magic series.
ollie
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Doesn't having two perfect ends with a C/R routine give the secret away? Or is there another method where this does not occur?
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Ollie1235
Special user
England
524 Posts
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Posted: Feb 3, 2005 6:52am
Not for the first phase, you will have to be careful on which way the ropes cross though. however it would effect the second cut. I suppose I never thought it through.
however with the glue method I don't think it will matter, because the rope wont fray fast enough to notice a difference between a treated end and an untreated end.
ollie
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Kaliix
Special user
Connecticut
575 Posts
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Posted: Feb 3, 2005 11:46am
Ahh, gentlemen, I am talking about the rope fraying when I am cutting it for the cut part of the cut and restored rope. I am not referring to treating the ends of a rope, I know how to do that. My problem is that with this rope, when it is cut (in this case, it is cut three times)it dramtically frays and it is those frayed ends that I use to tie the rope back together. It is those knots, with frayed ends that eventually disappear so that the rope is restored.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.
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Ollie1235
Special user
England
524 Posts
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Posted: Feb 3, 2005 2:04pm
Oops, hmm, you could dip the part of rope youre going to cut in glue, that way when you cut it it should stop it fraying. this is only an idea though
ollie
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Leeman
Special user
Hollywood, CA
685 Posts
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Posted: Feb 3, 2005 7:12pm
I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure that you cut the origional ends of the rope off so that the new ends-the one's just cut-and the origional ends look the same.
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sugam
Regular user
Toronto, Canada
175 Posts
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Posted: Feb 4, 2005 11:34pm
Whoops, sorry. Read it too fast.
Does the fraying look strange? I can't see how it would be a problem.
Ollie's idea seems to make sense... I think Daryl mentioned that before.
Anyhow, regarding your patter. I kind of like it. How about something about being only able to afford cheap rope, and sometimes when the cattle is pulling, it may break in two? (although, they could always twist ropes together to make one stronger one... so maybe that's not a good story).
Good luck!
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Robert Kohler
Quality Control
Fayetteville, Arkansas
520 Posts
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Posted: Feb 5, 2005 5:27pm
It sounds like you are using nylon rope which frays on its own without much prompting. I would recommend cotton rope - it is not quite as supple but will do the trick. I just bought some today at Ace Hardware 100 ft. for $18. It is 5/16" and the expensive magician's rope that Pavel uses is 3/8". Close enough for me for the price. It is the unbleached white which also looks close to Pavel's rope. I have a routine where I switch from C/R on a normal rope to Pavel's Phenomenal Rope which is of course gaffed.
We judge ourselves by our intentions - others judge us by our actions.....
B. Wilson
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Ollie1235
Special user
England
524 Posts
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Posted: Feb 6, 2005 4:00pm
Try to find some rope which is more tightly 'weaven' together. this might prevent it from frayng to fast. alteratively you could cut the 2 ends of the rope just befoe the performance, that way the 4 ends should fray equally.
ollie
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