Does anyone have a good source for a coin slide?

I'm interested in doing the "Coin in Ball of Yarn," which requires a coin slide. I do have directions for making a slide in "John Mulholland's Book of Magic," but unfortunately, metal fabrication and brazing are way out of my league!

On the same subject, how about a source for two nested locking metal boxes, for the same effect? The only place I've ever seen these advertised is Owen Magic Supreme; although I'm sure they're wonderful, I have no doubt that the price is also way out of my league.

Of course, I could always use a set of nesting wooden boxes I picked up at the local craft store, using rubber bands to hold them closed. But I think the locking metal boxes would be a stronger effect, and might also travel better and hold up longer.

Thanks for any info on these items! SETH

Time to get creative. Some people make stuff from plastic by using just a bit of heat. The nesting boxes can sometimes be found in the oddest shops and places.

Davenport, in London (they have a website) sells a set of plastic nesting boxes. Also, I think Adams here in the US makes a tin set.

Keep checking ebay.

However, if you really want the trick, just buy the darn thing. Maybe http://www.stevensmagic.com has some in "joe's clearance"??

Hi I made a slide from a short piece of 22mm copper piping. I just hammered it flat as careful as I could and it works fine.

Thanks to all for your suggestions, I'm going to my friendly neighborhood hardware store this weekend to see what I can scrounge up.

And Pete, you are correct about S.S. Adams, they still make a set of nesting containers (round flat tins, actually). Funny you should mention them, because the Adams set was one of the tricks that I started with many years ago. I always thought it was a great effect, and still do. SETH

In Mark Wilson's Encyclopedia he shows how to make a coin slide from heavy cardboard!

Viking makes a set of four nested brass boxes that sells for $50 retail -- click
here or
here.

Larry D.

Thanks, Larry, for the Viking link.

I already have Viking's Peerless Nest of Boxes, which actually doesn't require a coin slide; they operate on a different principle. Being a "Nest of Boxes" fan, I had to have them anyway!

But a trip to the local hardware store last night resulted in finding a thin rectangular brass pipe that takes a quarter perfectly. And since the pipe was 18" long, I even got two slides out of it! The hardware guy is also checking to see if he can obtain the same thing for me in "half dollar" size. SETH

Wow Seth,
what is the thin, rectangular, brass pipe used for?
I would like to find some.

Regan

Regan, I have no idea what the rectangular brass pipe is actually used for, and I'd be curious myself to find out what it is, now that you mention it. I found it in the same section as the round brass pipe.

I'm sure it must have some other standard use, but all I know is it makes a darn nice coin slide! <g> SETH

Thin, rectangular brass pipe the size of a half dollar is used for making coin droppers, naturally.

Seth, are you familiar with the version of the "Coin in ball of wool" in which the slide is hidden in plain sight between two knitting needles? I've always liked the idea, but now we're back to seeking brazing skills.

Seth,
I made a very simple coin slide years ago from instructions in one of Bill Tarr's books (I think it was "101 easy to do magic tricks", or something like that).

It required very little in the way of metal fabrication expertise....only a pair of scissors, an aluminum can, and some scotch tape.

It wasn't fancy, but it got the job done (and "on the cheap"!)

Good luck,

Bob

Thanks, everyone, for all the great coin slide tips.

Curtis, I'm not familiar with the "knitting needle" version you described, but it sounds intriguing.

I like the John Mulholland version the best, followed by the one in Bobo (if I could ever afford the apparatus). Scott Guinn had a neat version that didn't require a coin slide at all, but used a Lippincott box. And there was a nice description of a set of nesting boxes in Kaplan's THE FINE ART OF MAGIC that didn't use a coin slide either, somewhat along the lines of the Viking Nest of Boxes.

I just happen to think it's a very strong effect that has stood the test of time, and it's an easy way to make your coin magic play a little "bigger." SETH

I recently made a very effective quarter sized coin slide using a simple, cheap method I read, (the source of which I cannot immediately recall.) It is this: Procure one of those aluminum CIGAR TUBES from a liquor store or tobacco shop. You need not spend a fortune, any tube will do. Remove the cigar. Cut the tin tube in half or to the appropriate size, 6 inches - whatever - (it will cut easily) and gently hammer it flat until your coin fits. VOILA! Also, sand down the edges, they can be very sharp.

Seth,

I think the "knitting needle" idea pretty much speaks for itself. The needles start in their natural position, stuck into the ball of yarn. Naturally, they are removed casually as you focus atttention on the ball. This would not work in a version where the ball is in a nest of boxes, but it would work in those where the nest is in the ball.

Hofzinser had an interesting idea regarding this sort of trick, he designed a ball of wool that got BIGGER as yarn was removed. Makes a nice lead in effect.

Also, who did that "repeat" version? As I recall, you loaded the coin into a box, and then rolled it into the yarn as the ball was being unrolled. Unrolling the ball the first time reveals a key in the middle of the ball. You then unroll the ball again, and now there's a locked box. The key opens the box.

I made some coin slides out of sheet metal (cut from the cheapest baking pan set available at Walmart). I had to file the sharp edges. You could make them out of cardstock and tape. I agree that it is a great routine that plays much bigger than a simple vanish and restoration of a coin in your hands.

Thanks, Curtis, for the knitting needle idea -- very cool, and you would be totally clean at the finish.

Just shows that there's always more than one way to achieve a desired effect, and simpler is usually better. SETH