I rehearse this routine quite a bit, and by show time the silks look like they've been through a shredder (perhaps an exaggeration, but it looks a bit like that from my point of view.) I've bought replacements, but at $15 a pop, I'm thinking a better grade of silks would be in order. Anyone familiar with this routine/gimmick have any suggestions?

I don't have this version of the trick, but if your silks are being pulled and getting snags and runs, it is not the silks, but the gimmick. You need to eliminate all the roughness and burs on the gimmick openings. All silk is very delicate, and will get snags and runs if not properly handled or going over a smooth edge.

If you have rough hands, try a good hand lotion, yes, rough skin will snag silk very easily. Try a good hand lotion that is not greasy.

If it is the gimmick edge, try using masking tape on the hole edges. If it is a plastic gimmick, then trim all rough spots with an X-acto knife and then smooth with an soldering iron to melt the plastic and smooth. Use light touches.

The heaviest silk sold is by P&A Silks company. Their silks are 8 momme and thus it may not fit in your gimmick.

The standard replacement silks I found at Abbott's are $20 for a set of half dyed silks. So I would say you are getting a good price at $15.

I agree with Bill..$15 is a good price for the silks. Silk prices have gone through the roof. PA is out of business. I make 5, 6 or 8 momme silks still. Do check the gimmick for roughness. Silks can really find those spots.

As to the wear factor, it is a factor in the type of gimmick and silks that have to be used. Only 5 momme will fit and they tend to wear out much faster than 6 or 8 momme. The silks that are normally supplied with the McComb gimmick are 6 momme which do hold up better.

The McComb gimmicks as sold by Abbott's are built like a Sherman Tank.....

My preference is to always use the heaviest weight silk I can get that works, with 8 momme silks being my personal preference. The 8 momme silks drape better and hold up better, but as Bill Hegbli and Richard Hughes state above, the weight of silks that you can use depends on YOUR gimmick.

ALWAYS check your silk gimmicks for ANY rough areas BEFORE you put your silks in.

Thank you, gentlemen. It is a plastic gimmick so I will try Bill's suggestions. Hope others with this particular version will chime in with their experiences.

Practice with the shredded set and save the nice set only for perfomances.