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knick23 New user Wales 83 Posts |
Hi, folks, I have half a dozen TT's and fingers, none quite right. Can anyone lend me their thoughts on reshaping, getting rid of nasty thick edges, too much suction, colouring, etc.? Any thoughts most 'preciated.
Nick. |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
I am guessing that you are trying to fit the tip as tight on your thumb as you can. In fact, if you didn't know, the thumb tip only goes on up to your thumb nail and does not actually fit on your thumb. Remember that you have to have room for the load.
If that helps, then, what does not fit?
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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Michael J. Douglas Inner circle WV, USA 1645 Posts |
I think the Vernet instructions say you can shape them by putting them in boiling water for a couple minutes, but I've never had the best luck with that. If they're too large, you can put a layer or two of cloth tape around the inside edge. For too much suction, put a small hole in the end with a hot needle. I've never worried too much about color, but I suppose I'd paint it if I were.
Michael J.
�Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things.� --from Shakespeare�s �As You Like It� |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
Some pros use it wrong as well. Forget about boiling it.
Once you are secure in having the tip just covering the "cuticle" of your thumb, you may realize that the tip extends longer than your fingertips. So, while wearing the tip, learn to pull your thumb joint back so that the tip of the "prosthetic" is where your normal thumb would be. Once the thumb is in use in your hand, extend your thumb joint back to normal. PM me for a video clip on TT use. Color does not matter: I have used silver tips for magicians lectures and not detected.
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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knick23 New user Wales 83 Posts |
Cheers guys, I've used these things quite extensively and they all do the job quite well, however, It's the finer details of how others might modify them that interested me, the things you don't see in the books/dvds on the subject. I suppose I was trying to find out how you might finesse your tt gimick/practice.
Anyway, the advice you've given is first class. The boiling bit hasn't worked well for me either incidentally, the best I can muster is melting the edges and pinching it with my finger in an attempt to get the chunky edge off the mouth of the tt, which I feel throws quite a prominant shadow. I've heared the tales of folk using improvised tts with blue tape etc and that's commendable, for my purposes I am curious to see how 'realistic' I can get these things. I'm also curious to get a good prosthetic rubber hand in the uk, but haven't found anything decent yet (or reasonably priced). Thanks, Nick. |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
Remember, the TT can be an improvisation. You can use a cigar holder (half), a tooth brush holder (half), top of a glue pen etc. There are no rules, just confidence.
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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VE Day New user LONDON, England, UK 94 Posts |
The boiling water nonsense doesn't work. If you need a tighter fit then cut into it a small distance with a sharp pair of scissors, craft knife or razor, then put it on your thumb and mark it with a pencil where to take it in to fit securely. When you've worked out how tight it needs to be for your thumb stitch up the cut with a large needle and some invisible thread (the same way that you would take in the waist of a pair of trousers to fit). When you've finished stitching it back up put a few drops of Superglue on the stitches on both the inside and outside of the thumbtip to prevent the threads breaking when you are using it. You will then have a perfectly fitting thumbtip made to your own size.
The best place to make the cut is midway on the palm side of the thumb (ie not the nail side). You can buy invisible thread from most haberdashers. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Miss Victoria -- I beg to differ with you. Boiling the TT works just fine. It's what you do with it after you soften the plastic that counts.
In order to shrink the TT, find a shot glass that has a rounded interior at the bottom. Put a pot of water on the stove and heat it to a high, rolling boil. Using a pair of salad tongs, grasp the tip of the TT and hold it in the boiling water, opening downward so that it is immersed up to the joint of the tip. Hold it there for about a minute and a half. Then pull it out and shove it, opening downwards, into the shot glass. This will roll the bottom edge of the opening, just like the edge of a dye tube. If you find that your thumb is too slender for this to work, get a fingertip. They work just fine for people with thin thumbs. To expand the TT, you need a set of rounded objects, such as dowels or even broom handles. Instead of rolling the edge, you try to expand the diameter of the TT. As Ian has pointed out, the TT does not go all the way down on the thumb. It's not a protective device. It's a secret compartment. So you need for it to perch on the end of your thumb with as much room as necessary for what you are trying to do. BTW, I've used this method that I describe here for almost 40 years -- ever since the first Vernet TT's hit the US. Another method, a little messy, but much more convenient than sewing, is to build up the interior of the tip with adhesive tape. Just don't let the adhesive bleed on whatever you are using this for. You can even use rubber cement to glue a shim inside the tip.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
There are so many TT's on the market now, do some shopping and of course use it correctly.
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
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Alexander Wells Veteran user 311 Posts |
Wow, thanks for the clear explanation Bill.
I've not had to do that as I've been able to find ones which fit, but I've always wondered exactly what was involved in that particular operation. I had visions of trying to mould a scalding hot gimmick with my bare hands! |
knick23 New user Wales 83 Posts |
Thanks all, some great info.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-04 06:48, Neal Alexander wrote: You are most welcome. There are limits to how much you can expand or compress one with boiling water, but it's not a difficult operation. Sometimes you have to do it more than once to get it right, but the material is thermoplastic, so it's not a real problem.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Stucky Inner circle I'm Batman! 1355 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-02 14:45, knick23 wrote: Look around the youtubes. There are a number of videos on how to make your own. It's a good skill to have.
Official Thread Killer
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Look for a prosthetic glove. Then you can put whatever you want inside it. Prosthetics shops have them.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
knick23 New user Wales 83 Posts |
Cheers, Bill, Stucky.
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