I don't know if there is another name for this effect, but Mark Strivings calls it the nothing grinder on his video. A balloon is blown up inside a tube (looks like an empty coffe can), a couple of spikes are inserted without the balloon popping, then the balloon is popped at the end of the effect. Is this still available, and if so, does anyone know where? Ron Reid had a nice one that he refurbished, but I wasn't able to pick it up at the time. Thanks -

Bill

Check out http://www.practical-magic.com/ - in the children's section - the effect is called Knitty Knitty Bang Bang.

I don't know Mark's routine, but this one is a Do AS I DO effect

It plays really well for me!

Bill, it sounds like you're talking about "Spikes Through Balloon" which works the same way as Knitty Knitty Bang Bang, but isn't interactive, with a kid helping. I think KKBB is far superior because of this, and it makes the kid out to be the clever one, not you!

KKBB sounds great, I will order that. Thanks for the info -

Bill

Hi guys,

The prop I use is indeed the Spikes Through Balloon and the routine is based on the Roy Kissell routine from Kid Stuff Five (Magic Inc.). KKBB is indeed the same principle but most likely would not work for the routine I use because of the way it is constructed. My routine is on my video "Get More Out Of Your Magic" (available at http://www.floraco.com) and briefly mentioned in my book "The Anatomy of a Successful (and Virtually Bullet-Proof) Magic Show". Hope this helps.

Mark Strivings

A trick called "Balloon Penetration" is available for only $4.49 at the gag.
You blow a balloon up in a black tube and you can stick two pencils through the tube and the balloon won't break.

http://www.thegag.com/a5050.html