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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
I know in Jeff McBride's Manipulation video, he says to wash your Fakini billard balls in cold water. My problem is my billiard balls, which are white, seem to start looking like they are a little off white. Is there any thing I can do to get them the brillant white again?
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JasonBaney New user 92 Posts |
Hey Darkwing,
I have tried and ruined many a Fakini. Everything from bleach (which will work but you have to be careful), CLR, even sandpaper, you name it. After years of trial and error I finally found the solution, literally....soak it in hydrogen peroxide. 15 minutes usually does it but some times it takes a bit longer. Jason |
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Just like to understand further, Jason. How does hydrogen peroxide help? Bring back the white or the shine or both?
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JasonBaney New user 92 Posts |
Hey James,
It restores the color back to white. |
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, Jason. That would be a good solution for the white Fakinis then.
Will it work for the colored Fakini balls? |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Jason,
What a great idea. I did a little research on hydrogen peroxide (in my real daytime job, I sell process valves and instrumentation to the chemical industry}. Hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid and oxidizer. The concentration of H2O2 found in a drug store is around 2.5%, so it is pretty weak. It is used to clean blood and other stains thus is the reason it cleans the dirt and stains off the balls. I did a material compatibility study on silicone with H2O2 and silicone is rated as an excellent "wetted material" for H2O2, so no problem with material break down with the compound. Hope that helps and thank you for your post. David |
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Hmmmm, I wonder if hydrogen peroxide would work with D'lites? I've never found anything that works so I'm gonna give it a try if I can figure out a way to soak only the outside.
Regan
Mister Mystery
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Regan,
Check out what material the thumb tip is made of before you use peroxide. David |
Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Hey Darkwing,
Thanks for the peroxide information. That was very helpful. Do you think it would be equally effective and safe on the fakini shell? My shell is discolored in spots & maybe a little scuffed. Any thoughts... |
Signor Blitz Elite user 419 Posts |
Hey James,
A BIG Yes on the colored billard question. |
JasonBaney New user 92 Posts |
Hey all,
Yes the hydrogen peroxide will clean the colored balls as well. Basically any silicone ball; manip or juggling. Glad I could help. |
Nell Loyal user Germany 265 Posts |
Frank Radtke( Fakini) told me just last week to use Dawn dishsoap and warm water to clean both balls and the shells. It shouldn't effect the color and keeps the balls naturally-tacky to the touch. If you ever have questions, you can always give him a call: 419.822.3386.
"A trick may be very good...but...the illusionist must be better than the trick." -René Lavand
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Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-06 10:53, Darkwing wrote: Thanks David. I have some old D'Lites that no longer work, or are so stained that it really won't hurt anything to give it a try.
Mister Mystery
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Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Hey Everyone,
Be careful of the hydrogen peroxide. I soaked my fakini balls in the peroxide for 15 min. and the three of them came out with a yellow tint. Not good! I let the three soak another 10 min. and it didn't help. I have five fakini's. Three and the shell were bought together, and then I recently added a fourth and a color change ball. The two new additions cleaned up fine. I think it was the older set that reacted poorly to the hydrogen peroxide. I wonder what made the difference. They were slightly dull before I started, now I would call them discolored. Not happy! |
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, Tony, for letting us know about this. I guess the Fakinis that we need cleaning have been with us for some time and would not like them to discolor as you have experienced.
Just wondering why the new balls come out fine while the older ones have this reaction? |
JasonBaney New user 92 Posts |
I've had my current Fakini's for at least 5 years and they turn out fine. I actually have to clean mine on a regular basis of at least once a month. I would guess Tonys' set had something else on them before he put them in the peroxide which caused the reaction.
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Intrepid Inner circle Silver Spring, MD 1179 Posts |
It's been four years since the use of hydrogen peroxide was discussed, what's the long term verdict on this. Do you guys still use it to bring back the whiteness of your Fakini billiard balls or have other methods proven more satisfactory?
Bob
Bob
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts |
When I first moved to the US from Europe, I moved to the Toledo, Ohio area and got to know many great magicians there, including Frank Radtke. He was a good friend of mine for a long time. I have just about every color of silicon balls he produced, including a few prototype/trial colors that never made it to market. I have always used Dawn dish soap on my sets and their shells, and all these years later, they are still shiny and brilliant. Best of all, the tack is still there.
Just so all late readers of this thread are aware, Frank passed away in November of 2009, so the telephone number given by Nell is no longer effective. |
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