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mstick85 Regular user Gahanna, Ohio 151 Posts |
Hello,
I want to put together a silk routine without silks! Actually, I don't have any silks at the moment...I would like to purchase some silks and I had some general questions. I have read some various posts, so I think I already know the answer, but if all silks are not created equal, what would you recommend as a good quality silk for a reasonable price? Can you create a routine using only diamond silks? What is the best way to care for your silks? Are there Café members that I can go to get silks? I have to get them somewhere, so I thought I could give some of our members some business. I am just beginning to learn about silk routines and have Duane Laflin's second DVD. Are there any other good silk sources out there available? I prefer DVDs. Thanks! Mark
"Go Browns!"
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Hi Mark!
Silks were my specialty way back when...in fact 20th Century Silks and Sympathetic Silks were my best routines...that's a start... I highly recommend Rice's Encyclopedia series. To get good quality silks, I know of two places: Ruth Rice of Silk King Studios: http://www.silkkingmagic.com/featured.htm Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc: http://www.hughesmagic.com Both are reputable sources...I, personally, have had GREAT experience with Silk King Studios, and have SKS silks that are over 30 years old, and STILL look like new! Regarding Hughes' Magic, I've not yet done business with them, but Richard is a VERY well respected and knowledgeable guy, who, I'm sure would be glad to help! Good luck, Mark! |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Great post Dougini.
Other resources are Duane Laflin dba Lock Family Magic. Pavel's DVD are a great resource along with Jay Scott Berry. In Magic Café, Bob Sanders is a very good source for info, since he is a slik importer. Diamond silks can be used almost anywhere regular silks are used and can be used in TT where you cannot use an 18" or above silk. Silks are very easy to care for. I store them in zip lock bags folded and they look great. I am still using silks I bought over 30 years ago. Silk streamers are a different story, to store them you must roll them on a tube of some type. I use old paper towel tubes wrapped in plastic and roll the streamers flat around the tubes. Do not let the cardboard come in direct contact with the silks. Hope that helps. David Williams |
mstick85 Regular user Gahanna, Ohio 151 Posts |
Thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate your help.
Mark
"Go Browns!"
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Mark,
If you make it to Magi-Whirl 2007 this April in the Washington DC area, I'll be there. Drop by and rattle my cage. Ruth Rice Crone (Silk King Studios - Harold Rice) and I (DoveLite Silk) will both be there with tens of thousands of dollars worth of silk for you pick through. Plus there are books, tricks and gimmicks to consider. Think of it as a silk-workers candy store. I plan to demo both product lines in the dealer show. Ruth is kind enough to let me show off some of the dye tubes she has too! It's more fun picking magic when you get to touch it and ask questions. You'll probably have the widest assortment there that you can see again for at least a year and maybe more. (Get your sleep before you leave home! You'll be busy.) Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Bob, you are the silk worker's GURU!
Man, if I'd known you back in the late 70's...woo...imagine how much BETTER my performances would have been! I was on my OWN...made MANY mistakes, and learned the HARD way, the SKS silks WERE the best, and I'd have DOUBLE the collection I have today...I mean, I HAD to buy inferior silks, and have them melt, fall apart, run, or other such. I thought I was saving money! Ha! LOL! You know the old saying, "If I knew THEN, what I know NOW..." Best, Doug |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Thanks Doug,
You look to be very successful without me holding you back! My hero, Harold Rice, was a good one. But I've made more mistakes than ought to be legal, too. I'd hate to admit what "saving money" has costs me. I should have recognized the art collection I could have had. Did you know that his books were hand lettered? That's why he quit publishing. The man knew what art was to him and would not compromise. (Art is something I can barely spell! I just import silk. Maybe I should admit how close I am to the Bluebell ice cream commercials. They say, "We eat all we can and sell the rest." In my case, "I use all the silk I can and sell the rest.") It's been used for thousands of years for all the right reasons. Silk has its own magic. Bob PS --- Last night I just got back from Tampa. It was freezing! What did I do wrong? South is expected to be warm, even in February. |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-02-19 23:33, Bob Sanders wrote: Bob, It's that Global Warming thing rearing it's ugly head. David W. |
Mystical Matthew Elite user 468 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-02-16 21:05, Darkwing wrote: Ok, I'm somewhat alarmed. At home I have a 50ft silk streamer rolled around a paper towl tube! I'm pretty sure it's not covered in plastic. I will rectify this when I get home. Just out of curiosity though, what will the cardboard do to the silk? I'd like to know for my own curiosity's sake!!! ;-) Thanks for sharing your knowledge. - Mystical Matthew |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Matt,
Do not panic. As long as it is a clean tube and you use it once in awhile so the silk breathes it will be ok. I roll up steamers to sell that way so magicians can see them at conventions. Another idea is to roll them on a slippery tube (plastic) slip them off the tube and place them into a Ziploc bag. Why the bag? Burping the air out will help keep the wrinkles out. If you are going to store them for years without using them, then buy archival boxes and lay them into them. But if you are just storing them, why would you just buy them? Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-02-20 12:18, MysticalMatt517 wrote: Very good question, Matt. Without going into a great deal of detail, the cardboard tubing is made out of a raw paper called brown kraft paper. It is unfinished paper that has a lot of chemicals such as sodium sulfites and sodium hydroxide used in the process. As this paper gets older, it will start to deteriorate and will outgas acids in the process. All these chemicals will damage and deteriorate your silks. That is the reason why it is not a good idea to store your silks in any envelope or any thing made out of paper. On my real job, I sell valves to the paper industry and you should see what the chemicals do to the valves I sell. Hope that helps. David Williams |
Mystical Matthew Elite user 468 Posts |
Ah! Thanks for the info. I never thought about paper deterioration affecting my silks. I use mine frequently in my shows, so I'd like to keep them nice!
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
BUSTED!
It is true! Rice, P&A and DoveLite Silks all come in paper packages. To us this is a package for showing, selling and shipping the product. In my case, DoveLite Silk must be labeled "100% pure China Silk" because they are imports. Rice silks came from Japan and were imported before the requirement. P&A silks are finished in the USA and can avoid the label. Silks not in those printed paper containers are often because the dealer chooses to mix 100% pure China silks with other silks from India without informing the customer. These are usually sold in clear unlabeled glassine bags or pouches. In my silk lectures I tell the audience that paper is not a good place to leave your silks. The chemicals in paper are not good for the silk fibre. The options I like best are: 1. In sealed plastic bags 2. Rolled on plastic tubing and kept in a trash bag (closed). The best plastic tubing for the price can be found at the golf pro shop! They have plastic tubes that are put into golf bags to keep the club grips from touching other clubs in the bag. The last ones I bought were less than a buck! The silk will last longer than the plastic tube. Protect your investment. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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