Magic Tricks

I've had these type of gimmicks before, but this one is much better. I recommend it. The old style metal ones are fast but very LOUD . A newer one that I got a few years ago is electronic, so it is relatively quiet ,but has a weak power, so the silk is pulled more slowly than I would have preferred. This new one by Peng Min & Storm Creative is both fast and (relatively) quiet. There is a slight noise, but it can't be heard from standard performing distance from audience, especially if you're using music (keep in mind, it's a stand-up/stage effect, not intended for close-up, but with some appropriate misdirection -- a well-timed cough or shaking out a newspaper or paper bag or something else that's a bit noisy -- you could cover the sound even up close.) I wouldn't advise using it just as a straightforward means of visibly turning a silk handkerchief into a ball as is suggested by the name "Silk To Ball"-- it's too obvious as a "mechanical" type effect if you do it like that -- but if you use it under cover of time misdirection, to secretly vanish or transform a silk handkerchief (which is ditched along with the gimmick well before it is revealed to have vanished or transformed) it can be very useful. Some nice alternate handlings (beyond just a simple "Silk to Ball" effect) are shown on the tutorial video. I got the black on because I'm not using it to transform a silk handkerchief to a ball, so black is all the easier to conceal.

I have only had this for a little while, so the main thing will be to see how this gimmick holds up over time and heavy usage. As it is now I give it 5 stars, but if it doesn't last very long I may revise my review, as it's fairly expensive at $85 (if it only cost $20, I'd say buy three or four of them as backups in case the first one wears out, but at the $85 price tag I hope this lasts a good long time.)