I used to have a seamless set of 10" rings, and have used many smaller sets with obvious welds and have found that both cause suspicion. 'Perfect' silver rings are not very natural for most people, and nickel plated sets beg the quation, "Why make them pretty when they have those lumps on them?"

I also have a small (3 1/2") set of wire rings with simple welds and no plating that seem to have a greater magical impact, i.e, no one questions the welds as they are natural, and all are casually handled before I switch in the key.

Maybe they are better for me because I think they are less fakey, or it may be a matter of spectator perception.

Anyone have some experience here?

Nope.

I have and continue to perform with my Owen 12 inch stainless steel rings. There is no weld seam because they polish and blend the weld so it is invisible. As far as being perfect, what's wrong with that? Seamless rings can also be made with no weld by forming them in a mold as gears are fabricated. The average layman is familiar with seamless rings such as wedding bands.

Larry

I agree with you Larry. Great observation.

What I do not like about the welds is someone might think that is where the rings open.

They open?..... ...

Oh, you must have thought we were in the "funny" forum. I will meet you there soon.

Thanks for the input, guys. The comments I received were that the welds proved they were not a place to be opened -- no one would be that obvious or something. That's why I asked. As magicians were are suspicious of welds -- what does a lay person think?

My first set of rings (I was ten) was a 4" set that had obvious welds. Whenever I performed with them folks would attempt to pull them apart at the welds, assuming that I was somehow able to open and close the rings. Even though they couldn't pull them open, they still thought that's how the trick was done--they just weren't able to figure out how to open them.

The samething happened with me, Donal.

My first set of rings was an Adams set with obvious welds. Almost always, people thought the welds had something to do with the effect. I agree with the others that a set that doesn't show welds is the way to go.

Ron

I agree too.
Rick

I have been performing Whit Haydn's comedy four ring routine for years and almost every assistant have pulled on the weld join when I ask them to check the ring and look for openings etc.

I then point at the seam and tell them "that is a weld. If you can pull that apart, you are much stronger than me and you will have to pay me for a new ring" (tounge-in-cheek of course).

This gets a laugh and also seems to loosen up the assistant (if they are a bit stiff).

Mikael Johansson
Sweden

I have a set of stainless 12 inch Redefine Rings and a set of Owen stainlesss 12 inch rings. Both are seamless and a joy to handle. To be honest it is extremely difficult to tell them apart. I agree with others that the welds may tend to take away from the effect. Many kids sets contain smaller and cheaper sets of rings, so when you pull out your set of stainless, seamless, 12 inch rings, you are no longer performing with the toys from the magic sets. I have some smaller sets but have gotten to the point that I prefer the 12 inch rings for both stand up and close-up shows.

Have a nice day,

Walking Bob in Iowa