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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Please help...
What is the best Invisible Thread reel/device that is under $100? I am so sick of having to surgically take a apart my reel (I have the Thread Boss) and try to reload the thread and then put the reel back together when the thread breaks or when I need to reload. The only good thing is I think I have developed surgeon like skills from doing this all the time! So... What is the best ITR or devise that is under $100? I'd like something that you can hide inside the collar of a shirt or maybe a breast pocket. Or if there is some other reel that doesn't hook up like the thread boss, I'd be interested in it. And lastly, what brand of IT due you use and do you like the elastic better and if so what brand? I currently use regular invisible thread that I just keep stripping. It's pretty good. I don't know the brand though as I have had it forever. Oh and what is your favorite routine using IT? Thanks in advance for any info you can give me! Marc |
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PRINCE Inner circle 1448 Posts |
Spider Pen all the way
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jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
Hi Marc:
I know exactly where you're coming from. I have two spider pens, it takes both to keep one in working order. I bought the Kevlar pen reel, which I REALLY liked, but it only lasted a few weeks. I haven't taken the time to take it apart. I guess these devices are just not designed for "every day" use. Thread work can be very frustrating. I'm now stripping single strands, like you're doing, but I hate all the "setup". I also carry a loop, but it's rather limited what you can do with it. Jim |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Thanks Prince and jimhlou. I appreciate the input. I was thinking about a Spider pen but now I am not so sure. I guess all IT reels can be a pain in the @ss. I guess I need to use the one that is the least pain in the @ss.
Anyone else have any suggestions? Thanks, Marc |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Most definately the spider pen.
Here is why... Being a female magician, I don't wear shirts with pockets. So I actually put hook the cap, which contains the reel, to my bra strap and bring the thread out the neck whole. I can turn it on through my shirt. The thread is strong enough to take all the tension. But if it brakes... here is what you do. Take the spool off of the pen... Roll the wax into a little worm... Run the end of the wax worm around the spool... And it will grab the thread. Put it back together and you are done. I can do this sitting at a table, without looking, and no one knows. As for just thread. There is some thread called Spider Web thread. You can get fine or strong. The strong stuff is great. It is a pain to learn to use though. If you get some, separate the strands in half. This will help in stripping a single thread off. It doesn't have any stretch to it. So if you are used to a little stretch, it may take a little getting used to. Once you know what this thread is... You can actually find it at some fabric stores. And it's not wooly nylon, it's better. Personally I hate loops. They are expensive and break all the time. Plus, I can see them and I feel others can too. Randi |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Randi,
Thanks for the info. I can't imagine resetting my ITR at the table with no one looking. When I try to reset my ITR it's like a surgery where I have surgical instruments, a well lit area and a lot of patience. I have actually got it down pretty good but it still sucks the life out of me everytime I do it. I love the idea of the wax worm to find the end of the thread...I am going to try that. Anyway, thanks for the info and I will be getting a spider pen now as I have gotten a lot of good info on it and if I could reset it sitting at table with people and no one is any the wiser, I am sold. Thanks again, Marc |
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truthteller Inner circle 2584 Posts |
I have heard good things about Copin's system,but have not seen it.
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PRINCE Inner circle 1448 Posts |
Hi again gobrownstd54, hope we have helped a bit. It may be worth doing a search on the spider pen and reading all the posts. You will get a better idea of what it is all about, workings, gimmick etc - and I betcha after reading them, you will be sold
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David Nelson Elite user San Mateo, CA 404 Posts |
I prefer the ITRs with the rubber band setup over the spider pen. The method to turn the spider pen on can also lock the thread, preventing it from spooling in or out. This us annoying but with some modification it can be fixed. Other than that and its tendency to get a little tangled when there's no tension it's a pretty good device.
At one time, the ITRs were well made, professional quality products. However, I've heard that the quality isn't consistently good anymore. The thread boss and the kevlar pen both can be difficult to deal with if/when they break. The thread boss was created as an answer to Mark Allen's thread manager so, if you like that design, you could look for the TM 2 which is his latest iteration. However, the TM has a lower tension and requires a bit of finesse to deal with. At the moment, I use the Lighter than Air Device from http://www.grandillusions.com. It is about the perfect combination of size, strength, tension for me. It's also well made by a man who's been making the best quality ITRs for over 15 years. When he stopped doing the manufacturing for Sorcery, he started making them for Grand Illusions. If you really want he easiest ITR to deal with then you might call the nice folks over at Sorcery and see if you can still get a pager reel. The pager reel's design allows you to pop the front off and access the core without having to take everything apart. Unfortunately, with the design of most ITRs it's difficult to get everything back together properly once it has been taken apart. In the end, thread work requires a light touch. The ITR can make it easier but only if the ITR won't tangle or break the thread. The better ones should give you a decent retraction distance without having the core bouncing all over the place which is what seems to cause the tangles and broken thread. I've had ITRs that I've used for years and the only work they needed was the occasional puff of air to get the thread out when it broke. Good luck, Dave |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
David Nelson,
Thanks so much for the awesome info. At this point I am going to look in depth at the Spider pen as I have rec'd a lot of good PMs and posts on it. I am also going to look into the Lighter than Air device that you spoke about. I really want something that works, doesn't break easily and then if it does break (which it always does) I can reset it without doing surgery. Thanks so much for the great info, Marc |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Randi,
I just want to thank you!!!! I don't know how I never thought of this but I didn't. My thread broke today between performances and I was about to switch to my older, not near as good, ITR. But I did what you said....I took a piece of tacki grip (instead of wax) and make a little worm with it. I pushed it into the whole where the thread should come out and walllahhhh....I pulled out the end of the thread. I then reattached the wax and I was back in business! It literally took me about 1 min! Thanks so much...you just made my life a lot easier!!!!! Marc PS. I want to shoot myself for not thinking of this earlier...I would have saved myself hours and hours of cussing and yelling! |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Glad to have helped.
For all out there... Here is a link to the thread I am talking about. This is to Mak magic, and they do not sell to the public. But just to let you know what you would be looking for... http://www.makmagic.com/product.asp?prodid=P4262 I know you can get this stuff some how. A friend of mine, an old man that used to give me stuff all the time, gave me a whole spool of this stuff. I don't know what it's called, where he got it, or what. But it's as strong as kevlar and more invisible. Randi |
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Silvio Solaris Inner circle Xtreme Magic 1110 Posts |
I second Spider Pen. The best. I tried them all and it's the best ITR on the market right now because it gives you the right tension and it is strong enough to pull the bill up without giving you that strange wobble you get from a Boss.
Plus it is the easiest to fix. What I also noticed is that with the slightest backlight at the wrong angle you'll get a kick off. I will definatively look into the one Randi mentioned. That sounds really cool. Also consider the emergency kit. I don't know much about it but check it out at hocus-pocus.com
Magical Wishes
Silvio Solaris 'Is all that we see and seem but a dream within a dream?' E.A.Poe |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Spider pen wins...I am ordering one today. I am also getting the batteries and the extra thread spool. (even though they are probably just regular watch batteries, seems like a good price for 6 of them) The best price by far is on http://www.penguinmagic.com. Check out the prices below:
Spider Pen (Electric) 37.95 Spider Pen Thread 8.86 Spider Pen Battery 5.34 Thanks for all the great information everyone. Marc |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Yes... the batteries you can get at any drug store, wal-mart, etc.
They are just your typical small toy batteries. Most people don't know... On the bottom of the pen, ther is a secret compartment. It has an extra spool of thread in it. I'm not sure if they even tell you this. Randi |
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Silvio Solaris Inner circle Xtreme Magic 1110 Posts |
Thanks for that info Randi. You are the Queen of ITRs !
Where can I order that Spider-Web thread? Do I just call Mak Magic? That inside a spider pen would make it a killer reel. Besides, watch out for Sean Bogunias invisible PTS this year.
Magical Wishes
Silvio Solaris 'Is all that we see and seem but a dream within a dream?' E.A.Poe |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
No Mak only sell wholesale, not retail.
Marc said he got his here... http://madhattermagicshop.com/magicshop/......s_id=766 Only thing... You have to separate the thread, which is hard. Spider web thread is not easy to get a single thread off. You first need to cut the twine to the length you like. Then separate it into equal halfs. Take your time, it's not easy. So now you have two half twines. Now... it's pretty easy to take out one single thread. But to do this with a really long piece to wind onto the spider pen... that sounds tough. I suppose it could be done, but it would take time and patients. Which I don't surely don't have. Randi |
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Silvio Solaris Inner circle Xtreme Magic 1110 Posts |
Patience is the mother of all good IT work
Magical Wishes
Silvio Solaris 'Is all that we see and seem but a dream within a dream?' E.A.Poe |
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LegendaryEgos Elite user Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 490 Posts |
Thanks for all info!
One more question. How hard is it to use a different thread with the Spider Pen? Randi says above that it's hard to use the thread she is talking about. Does that go for all thread? I have some thread I like and wondered if I could load it into the Spider Pen. I just bought the Spider Pen and I will let you know what I think when I get it. Thanks again, Marc |
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Silvio Solaris Inner circle Xtreme Magic 1110 Posts |
You can use any thread you like Marc. Reading past reviews on that spider-web stuff Randi mentioned I am not sure if it's the best with the spider pen.
It's very 'stiff' and breaks fast unless you know how to really handle it. Also the longest strand is, I believe, only 8 feet. That one is probably better for Fearsons Cigarette Levi. For my bill routine from anchor to myself I need at least 15 feet. I would like to try that Silk Worm http://www.precisionmagic.com has for sale. It comes single strand in black and clear on a 500' roll for 14.95. They claim it's the best there is. Worth a try...
Magical Wishes
Silvio Solaris 'Is all that we see and seem but a dream within a dream?' E.A.Poe |
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