I know 18" Diamond cut silks work great with TT's but what about with Dye-tubes? Mine is smaller in diameter than a TT.

Dye tubes come in all sizes, a couple of different shapes, and have several different internal workings.

The simplest Die tube is just that, a tube of metal with rolled edges to keep a silk inside. Silk King studio’s sells this, as the “Simplex” Die tube.

Then there are the “tape” types, where the tube is divided in half by a length of black cloth ribbon or tape. General Grant makes them out of brass and they are designed to hold an 18 to 24 inch silk.

The Al Baker version of the dye tube has a metal disk that is backed with felt (or two disks that sandwich a disk of felt) that slides up and down the inside of the tube. They come in a variety of sizes. Silk King studio sells three different sizes all fairly large.
I have several large size Al Baker tubes (at least three that were made by Rice and one that was made by Abbott’s). One of my Rice-Baker tubes will hold a six-foot square silk. The Abbott’s version holds a 12-inch wide by 26-foot long silk streamer for the “Dukes Dye Version”.

Then there are “Palmo” balls. This is a dye tube that has been expanded to a ball or oval shape to take a large silk. Harold Rice developed a nice oval Palmo ball, which is still sold by Silk King Studio, and Duane Laflin sells a more round Palmo ball.

The very first die tube that I ever used was homemade from stiff paper with a length of ribbon through the middle. It served me for a couple of years until I could actually afford to buy a “real” die tube. I made of a size that would allow for the size of hanks I was using at the time (a simple production of several silks from an “empty” paper tube).

I have a shoe box full of dye tubes I have collected over the years. Many work fine, some work poorly and some could justify homicide.

One of the best is just a plastic pill bottle with the bottom end cut off and the outside covered with flesh colored Band Aids to kill the shine. It fits my fingers best and works fine for dying 18" silks. The rough fabric of the Band Aids actually makes it easier to control. At times I use it like a thumb tip to vanish a 24" silk. Proof that money is no object when it comes to magic!

I never use diamond cut silks for silk dying. But I do use them with canes and candles. Don't ask me why. I really just don't know why. The world was still flat when I started doing magic.

Myself, I always use the palmo balls. They're just so easy
to work with!

Best David Neighbors
The Coinjurer

One of the keys to using a small dye tube or TT is the momme wieght of the silk. Usually for a TT, most dealers are selling a 5 momme or less silk. They fit nicely but wear out pretty quick. 6 momme is a better choice if you can fit it in.

There are so many sizes and styles of dye tubes , it is impossible to say what will or will not fit. One of the simplest dye tube is simply made from a peice of plastic pipe. Billy McCombe made his from old butane lighter fluid cans. Experiment at a convention or with a dealer you know to get something that fits your dye tube. You can also take dimensions to send so the dealer (or manufacturer) can try it out before shipping to you.

I find the Diamond Cut silks perfect for the hand dye tube.

Excellent choice.

Do the dye tubes normally come with the silks? Reason I'm asking is because I'm looking at one on the auction site but you really can't ask any questions, just bid and buy.

Thanks

Wayne

Dye Tubes don't normally come with the silks, but there's no reason you can't ask a question in an auction. You should be able to know what you are bidding on.

I got a real cool dye tube from Hocus-Pocus. It's made by Joe Porper. It is an open ended tube and can hold an 18" silk with no problem. Check out the Hcus-Pocus website for a photo. I like it a lot. Diamond cut silks are too small for this tube. But I do like the diamond cuts for the traditional tubes.

Joe H


I once had a beginners book on Magic written by Henry Hay and he showed a dye tube made from 2 hair curlers that looked pretty good.

Thanks Joe.....they normally show the silks tied together.....but you are right...the auction itself one can ask questions but I don't see links to the individuals selling......I emailed the auction anyways.......

PS: I just received a SC from Hocus Pocus on the 25 percent off sale....can't beat them when they throw a sale::)

The diamond cut silks are perfect for the dye tube sold by Morrissey Products, Johnson Products, Viking Magic and others.

Most dye tubes of this type are to be used by 12" silks, so the diamond cut fills the bill perfectly.

I recently acquired diamond cut silks to start using the with the Morrissey dye tube.

I used the Rice's Palmo for 40 yrs., but want to see if using this style dye tube handling is different.

Any routine ideas for the dye tube ?

Check out the little booklet “Through the Dye Tube”

Dye Tubes are great utility devices used for a ton of different tricks and effects from stage productions of 25-foot long streamers (Duke’s Dye Version) to Half Dyed Silk routines (McCombs Half Dyed Silk). You can do color changes, vanishes, productions, etc., etc., etc.

Check out the little booklet “Through the Dye Tube” put out by Rice for a measly $9.00 plus postage!

It includes:

10 Effects with Poetic Patter
16 Methods of Loading a Dye Tube
22 Methods of Stealing a Dye Tube
41 New Effects with a Dye Tube

It can be easily found at Silk King Studio’s. Their web site is: http://www.silkkingmagic.com

And while you are there buy their Simplex Dye tube (great design) and the Rice Plamo Ball (the best Palmo Design in my opinion!). Also check out the line of inexpensive, large, non-flesh colored, Baker model Dye Tubes they carry. This site is a treasure trove for individuals wanting to do anything with silks!

I have been looking for diamond cut silks that I purchased from an Asian dealer at a SAM convention here in San Antonio a couple of years ago. They fit the small Japanese dye tubes perfectly and appear a little smaller than 12" silks. Any help in locating these again is greatly appreciated! Please PM or email me at richard@rnt2.com

Harry,

That is a great book!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

I just ordered “Through the Dye Tube” as well as "Capers with Color" from SKS.
ChrisG

I just got back from the Virginia / Washington D.C. area where I demonstrated SKS dye tubes for Ruth Rice Chrone (Harold Rice's daughter) at a convention. We even shared the stage for the Saturday night theater show. I considered it quite and honor to get to work on stage with her.

She offered a "show special" that was just too good to pass up. It was a set three of the all brass plunger type Dye tubes in three very practical sizes at $25/set. The largest can even be used with 18" MisMade Flags. These also have the good flange to make it a little harder to embarrass the magician who gets in too much of a hurry performing. As a dove worker, I particularly like the middle size because I use 24" silks on stage. It's perfect! (So now I have a new one!)

I did demonstrate the Simplex in the Friday night dealer show and used 12" square silks. It is probably still the most popular dye tube available from SKS.

The supply of books is a going away thing. Chris, I believe you did the right thing by getting it while you can. Besides the mechanics, they should also help you generate a ton of ideas.

Enjoy!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander


PS --- The diamond cut silk that looks like an 18" square is actually a 12" diamond cut silk. It fits in the same space as a 9" square silk. Silks are NEVER measured diagonally. Measure by the straight hemmed side. Be careful not to pay 18" prices for a 12" diamond cut silk. As the magicians' silk importer, I still have problems with some dealers mismeasuring diamond cut silks. If it will fit into a TT it is not an 18" diamond cut silk. But it will work in the Simplex Dye Tube.

It is easy to make your own dye tube. I have been using one made out of a film canister and wrapped skin type tape around it. I've been using this for years and it's lasted me well. It holds a full size 18" hanky no problem. I've been performing Billy McCombs color change hanky for years using this. I think you might find more information in a book by Wayne Rogers ... from memory it appeared in his lecture notes a few years back on how to make one up using a film canister.