I am currently working on a new Bizarre routine, and in it I need a match that won't light up when struck.

Is there any way to gimmick a match so that it won't light?

Varnish the head with matte varnish ?

Try wetting a match and then letting it dry out. I haven't tried it but I remember those scout camps with the 'old' matches that had gotten damp and dried and they wouldn't light.

cheers
Maynooth

I know how to pull a burnt match from a pile of them in an ashtray and then light it. If this helps, PM me.

Letting the match soak in water and then drying it out works, but for only some types of matches. You'll have to pick and choose.

Adding a thin layer of superglue over the tip will also work...

Johnny B

Hi,
Instead of a varnish try "waterglass" and dip the matches in this liquid. You can get the stuff at you local pharmacist.
This liquid was used to preserve eggs during the middle of the last century. Before you apply the stuff, it has to be diluted in a little bit of water.

Will Dexter described in one of his books a wonderful PK-trick with matches. I will browst through my books to find it. To prepare the matches for the trick, he used waterglass as well!

Any questions? Feel free to ask!

TED LESLEY

Dip the head of a match into a solution of ... When struck, they will sputter, but won't light.

Modern Chemical Magic by John Lippy Jr. Page 161

Light the match, blow it out immediately, paint it to look like an unstruck match.
That baby ain't lightin' again without major help.

Ted,

I'd love to know more about Will Dexter's PK Match routine. THANKS!

The routine with the PK matches by Will Dexter you`ll find in the book "A little Magic amongst Friends" and as far as I know, the book is still available at "Magic Books By Post". I am not sure about it, because I lent my copies of the tree Dexter books to a friend. But you should have the books anyway, if you are interested in good magic and mentalism.

Any questions? Feel free to ask!

TED LESLEY

Why not gimiick the striker strip on the box instead of gimmmicking a motch or two? A light lacquering or rubbing two strips against each other would do. The latter would still leave the abrasive somewhat present so specs wouldn;t be noticing how shiny the strip is if you had lacquered it. Also, by gimmicking the strip you can use as many matches as you want- even borrowed matches. Heck, you could even have someone use 'strike-anywheres' until their fingernails bleed!

Dip the match head in liquid sodium silicate and let it dry. This is the classic method and works perfectly.

Sid

I like your idea Nostromo. Moreover I can had a little tip :



On a box of matches we often have 2 striker strips. So you can gimmick only one of the 2 strips.
And then you give the box to the spect naturally but with the gimmicked strip face up. You "enchant" the match and then the spect try to light the match... but he can't.

You take the box as you ask him to give the match to another spect. You give the box to this spect but with the ungimmicked strip face up (simply reverse the box as you ask the 1st spect to give the match and the box remains in full view, no suspicious moves).

You "unenchant" the match (note that you never touch the match) : And the other spect succed in lighting the match.



This effect seems good.

See you soon,

I wonder if NEW SKIN would do the same thing as clear varnish or clear nail polish?