Some years ago, friend Steve.L gave me an old beat-up, broken down square circle.

This thing looked like it had really been through the ringer. But it had an appearing bird cage that I thought was pretty cool.



Anyway, I sanded everything down, added felt to the stand, and repainted all the parts with an air brush.



When I had finished, you would never know that was the same prop I started out with.

It looks beautiful!



Anyway, I'm not a carpenter or wood worker, but if I can do it, anyone can.

My point is, you can often add new life to a prop that at first glance looks like it needs to be thrown out.



How many of you have done this?

Way to go Steve! As an illusion builder and refurbisher I would love to contribute to this area of the board. With your permission I would like to invite questions and do my best to provide answers on "How To" projects. I wanted to do this on my site, but this seems like the perfect area since it is already set up. In the meantime I will post some topics of my own to answer some questions.

It sure turned out beautiful Steve!



I'm glad you did it justice!



Steve

Thanks buddy.....

I must confess that many years ago having decided to present a Chinese themed act with the 'company' (Wife and Daughter!) the biggest 'challenge' was to ensure that the re-decoration of the props was as authentic as possible!....my major fear was that some of the Chinese decoration and script would insult a real Chinese person!

Happily I seemed to succeed as I am still here to 'tell the tale'....untouched(??) by the Irish Triads!!

Moral?...Make it authentic no matter what the theme!!

That’s a good point. The Mandarin characters I airbrushed on my Square Circle could say "anything", I have no idea. Luckily no one has ever gotten angry...yet.



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There will always be those that wish to rain on your parade, so never leave home without an umbrella...

I heard the story of the magician who had copied Chinese characters on his props only to find a Chinese lady who told him it read, "Do not urinate in the alley."

On the topic of old prop repair, I have been seeking a solution to a problem that I have been trying to address...

I have an old German-made vanishing radio that was starting to come apart from use when I took ownership. It has a flexible veneer of some type, on the sides, which is intended to act like hinges. The problem is that they are cracked from age and use.

I have found flexible veneers, but they do not seem to have the "stuff" to take the punishment of performance.


Any ideas?


Thanks in advance ~


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Be well ~ Fredrick

I have a question as well. I was given a hot book by a friend because it did not work. I believe it is the glow plug. Any idea where to get one? Then how do I attach it. I figure it is not to much voltage to kill me so it ok to try to fix it.

I am over the twitch (mmostly) from last time I fixed a wall socket

Mr Phil

Try hobby stores that sell model airplanes -- take the old glow plug with you to get the correct size. Buy a couple -- they foul up quickly and thus fail.

In the alternative, you can contact Theatre Effects -- they sell glow plugs.

This reply is for Fredrick and the hinges on his vanishing radio. Depending on the model you have it would either be an Old Bart l model or one of the newer ones that Viennamagic has made. If it is one of the Viennamagic models as I suspect, you will need to locate from a plastic supply house black poly-butyl flex in sheeting, this comes in 1"-2" and 3" width. it is sold by the foot and is very thin, flexible, and lasts a long time. If you cannot find it, let me know and I will give you Viennamagic's info so that you can contact Stephan and he could send you over material that will fill the bill.
All the best cheers