Hey everyone. I thought this could start an interesting thread... What kind of IT do you use when pitching worms/mice/ufo cards etc.... I've used wooly thread for years. Not very durable though. You??

No matter what string you use, someone will see it. Especialy if you are out side. Not everyone, but there are a few that make the statement. For those people I tell them it is on a leash like a dog so it can't run away. I seem to get a laph out of that. If someone is a wise ass about it I will say you know its a trick its not real right in a suggestive tone. That usually stops them.
Mike

I like the Kevlar thread from James George's Sorcery Shop. You can get a 40-foot piece of it for $15, and I would guess there are at least 75-100 strands in it; that should be enough to last for at least two lifetimes of pitching. Click HERE to view.

This stuff is about 25% stronger than regular woolly nylon. It also has a little more give than regular IT, and will stretch just very slightly before it snaps (a very useful property that helps to prevent breaks). The Kevlar IT is also a little slicker and perhaps even a bit more resistant to moisture (like sweat on hands, which causes friction, drag and breakage). It may be very slightly thicker and thus perhaps slightly more "visible" than regular IT, but not enough, in my opinion, to make any difference. Once you get 18" away from the specs, it can't be seen, period. And of course, your handling must be good so that the animation is realistic and doesn't give away the store.

The only slight downside I have found to the Kevlar is that because it's a little slippery, knots sometimes have a tendency to slip loose or unravel. So now I use a triple overhand knot, or a surgeon's knot (an overhand knot with a double twist, followed by another overhand knot). That seems to have solved the problem.

No matter what IT you use, eventually it's going to break, either from twisting, catching on clothing or your hand, or some sudden movement. So I always keep about a dozen worms pre-tied and ready to go in a little plastic fishing tackle box that I got at K-Mart. That way I can be up and running again in just a minute or two.

In my experience, about 90% of the time the specs don't actually see the thread; what they are seeing is the reflection of light off the thread. But if you work under a tent outside, you should not have a big problem with light reflecting off the line. And if you work behind a pitch table, you can control the distance between you and the specs simply by stepping back a bit. Add a brightly colored plaid shirt to act as a backdrop to distract and confuse the eye, and you're about as well covered as you can be.

As P.T. Barnum said, "You can't fool all the people all the time." But heck, you can try! SETH

Now this thread is getting somewhere.. anyone ekse care to join in? what's your favorite I.T. and why? like I said, I've just always used wooly, because that's how I was taught. you??

Ses

Hey Ses,

Check out Steve Fearson's new Vectra line - substantially stronger than kevlar - http://vectraline.com/ got to the website and choose your favorite dealer

./sam

Hey, we aren't using IT to tow a trailer here, we're just making a little 1-ounce piece of chenille jump around! <grin>

Seriously, while strength is important, there are two things I believe are equally important if you are using IT to demo the worms. First, is it shiny, does it reflect light? Most people will NEVER see the thread itself, but they can and will see the reflection of light off the thread, which is just as bad if not worse. Kevlar IT is slightly shinier than standard IT, but the additional strength makes the tradeoff worth it, in my opinion. As always, you need to control your light, work under a tent if possible.

And second, does the IT have a little "give" to it, so you can feel when you are pressing your luck? Although it is not elastic, the Kevlar IT does have a tiny bit of give to it, which is very helpful. If you accidently snag the gimmick on a finger, it gives you a chance to pull back and save the gimmick; regular IT will usually just snap. Of course, if you pull hard enough on any IT, it will break.

As an added bonus, the Kevlar IT seems to be a bit more slippery than standard IT. That's a plus when you're working with the worms, which need to run over and through your hands, and thus over your fingers and the backs of your hands.

I see that the Vectra IT is being carried by FUN, Inc., so if you get your pitch decks from them, you could get a sample of the Vectra at the same time and give it a try. SETH