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Steven Steele Chief of Staff 1868 Posts |
Does anybody have any experience painting wooden billiard balls? It seems you can only buy red ones, but some routines call out blue, green, yellow, black, etc. I've read in my books that the balls should be shellacked, but I don't know anything else other than that. Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks, in advance... Steven
Coram Deo
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***Kev*** New user 90 Posts |
I am unfamiliar with painiting them;
however I would guess it would be impossible to get an even coat around it, Sorry, And, It would lose its high gloss finish, which means they wouldn't shine the same, but I am sure you could but a lacquer coat over them. Does this make sense to you? Ohhh, Just remembered, I saw a green set of multiplying billiard balls (wood) 2inches in size, I will try and find the link again, They were £10 which = roughly $14-16. |
alex keal New user Whiteford, Maryland 35 Posts |
Steven, you might want to get in touch with Marty at Martini Magic as he turns billiard balls and paints them as well. He is a great guy and always willing to help others: he will probably be willing to tell you how to paint them so that you can save a lot of experimenting. I know he is a member of the Cafe.
All the Best alex
card crazy
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Brad Jeffers Veteran user 377 Posts |
You can buy various size wooden balls at most craft stores. You can paint them with regular high gloss enamel paint. Use the spray-can paints for ease and best result. I take a shoebox and make indentations in the top and place a ball on each spot (the indentations are to keep the balls from rolling around). Spray a series of smooth coats - not too heavy, as to prevent running. Let them dry overnight and then turn the balls over and repeat the process with the other side. To get a little tack to the enameled finish, you may want to put on a light coat of clear polyurathane varnish. Since you will have to apply this with a brush, you will need to stick a needle and thread into each ball and varnish each ball while holding the needle (like a toffee apple) and then hang the balls to dry. I have never tried shellack.
Cardini used to turn his own billiard balls, and I believe he used shellack. I would think that over time, shellack would tend to form cracks. The polyurathane varnish will not do that. In reference to the use of multicolor balls in a billiard ball act - there are two schools of thought on that. Maurice Rooklyn used multicolor balls, and he was one of the all-time best at ball manipulation. I however fall into the camp that prefers the use of one primary color (red or white), with a single different color ball for use in a color change. I think a jumble of different color balls takes away from the beauty of a routine. It's just too colorful, and seems to me, to be distracting. |
pyromagician Veteran user Tennessee 312 Posts |
I have a nice pair of chrome ones. They're roughed for easy holding and they're very reflective.
I forgot where I got them, but I will look for you if you wish.
P.S. this is what part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eleminated
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***Kev*** New user 90 Posts |
It may be Vernet.
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Steven Steele Chief of Staff 1868 Posts |
Thanks everybody for all of your help. I think I'll just put this idea on the back burner for awhile.
Coram Deo
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Frank Radtke (Fakini) sells balls in a variety of colors, and they handle extremely well, too. I'm sure that some of the larger magic dealers could place a special order with him.
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JePi New user Germany 13 Posts |
I prefer wooden balls because of the weight which forces you to make not so hastily motions and because of the fact that they get your body temperature very fast. To paint balls you have to make a brace with two inside bended piks. Clamp the ball between the piks. Now you can paint or spray the ball from ever side. The painted billard balls can be hanged-up. After removing the brace the balls have only 2 small holes which can be filled (or not) with a brush. The choice of the color is an important thing because of the fact that they must fit to your hand attributes. One old "rabbit" of manipulations told me that you must add tenderiser to the color. (But he couldn't explain me what a tenderiser for color is.)
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RiserMagic Veteran user 361 Posts |
I paint turned wooden balls quite regularly. I have a collection of wooden dowel handles with a pin attached at one end. This pin is pushed in to the ball so that when the handle is turned, the ball rotates more or less centered on its axis. This allows rotating the ball as it is spray painted. There will be a small pin hole in the ball when done.
If the balls are french polished, dilluted shellac is applied and rubbed in as it dries. A couple drops of mineral oil will need to be added to the cloth in the process. I start this on the lathe to generate the friction I want. The shellac tends to slightly soften and become "tacky" if your hands are warm during performance. This makes gripping the balls much easier - especially the very large sizes. Jim |
Kendrix Loyal user 229 Posts |
The Fakini balls are the only ones I use. They stick so well I can concentrate on the effect and not be so worried. If I drop one it, also, bounces. It only takes one time to have a wooden ball drop and it will happen if you perform enough, to make you want to switch.
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FCpreacher Elite user PA 439 Posts |
How can I get ahold of Marty at Martini magic? I am interested in contacting him concerning colored balls.
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Scotty Walsh Loyal user Ireland 207 Posts |
Although true red 2" silicon balls are now available from JL, they were not when I began performing a version of the Benson routine. So, we just bought a 2" wooden ball and spray painted it red using a small nail and an alligator clip, and it worked great.
The red ball is in play for a very short period of time so there is really no need for a red silicon ball. Plus, knocking the odd red ball on the table can even work to imply that all of the balls are wood or ivory. Not that there's anything wrong with silicon... |
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