Looking for a review on Makin Sparks, the electronic funkenring.
thanks for your input!

I think you need to ask yourself why you're interested in this versus a standard Funkenring. In other words, for what reason do "continuous" sparks appeal to you or for what reason do you want to produce sparks more than once without having to reset? Another question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you want to perform this close up, and if you do, how big is your hand (it had better be a decent size)?

I think that Danny Sylvester is brilliant, but this product doesn't meet my needs.

Larry D.

I have Makin' Sparks and I like it. I use it in a particular type of school assembly show so I don't use all the time, but I have had it for several years without any problems.

Larry is right about the hand size. I use mine on stage and in my routine I came up with a way where I don't actually have to p*** it.

Hope this helps.

Regan

I agree with Larry and Mister Mystery - the unit is rather large and very difficult to conceal close-up (it is ditching it that is really the problem for me). It is, however, built like a tank and throws a wonderful shower of sparks. I have had mine for many years, and it still works perfectly - though I don't use it often (but I love to use it to play practical jokes on friends and family). You have to determine what you want to use it for, and if the size is going to be an issue for you. Hope this helps -

My experience with the old windup Funkenrings is they barely put out much sparking, and they wear out and break easily... Makin' Sparks is a PRO VERSION. A little bigger than a battery. I like it.

I agree with Pete Biro, the regular German Funkeinrings do not last very long at all. I went through several and easily went over the price asked by Sparks. The working are brass and strip very easily.

The idea is a gag, the laughs cover any problem with the gimmick size. Even if it is seen, it make little difference. Using a pocket dodge or topit can eaily solve any problems. Finally, the trick should move along, to the climax. Gag over, now for the climax.

Sparks version is well worth the price and sure fire. It works every time. The Funkenrings have broke at the wrong time for me on one to many occasions.

I must have gotten lucky with my Funkenring. I've been using the same one for 17 years (albeit, not real frequently) and it produces a very large shower of sparks. Over time when the spark shower gets smaller, I simply tighten the screw plug to increase the tension between the flint and the wheel or I just replace the flint. Maybe the Funkenrings that are currently available aren't made as well.

Larry D.

A great use for Sparks is as a gag in a Sword Thru Neck routine. I introducing it as a sharpening device and proceed to sharpen all along the balde. It almost looks like skate sharpening machines.

The ability to have a continous shower of sparks is great for this gag.

Mike