Haunted Key

Review area devoted to tricks and effects where props are involved.

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

Web Design for Magicians A web site set up to sell my book, THE STRIPPER DECK, and future magical/mentalism titles. Playing Cards for Magicians World-Of-Magic, Suppliers of quality Magic Worldwide Manufacturer of modern & unique magic apparatus! Best prices around!

Postby Tomo » Jan 1st, '07, 23:46



I've just dreamed this up so it might not work, but don't old keys carry a lot of tiny pits on their surfaces? What about spraying it very lightly with concentrated acid, leaving it until pits appear where the acid has eaten the metal away. Wash off the acid, polish up the key then rub charcoal or perhaps black paint into the pitted surface to give it a feel of age.

Image
User avatar
Tomo
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 9866
Joined: May 4th, '05, 23:46
Location: Darkest Cheshire (forty-bloody-six going on six)

Postby Sir_Digby_Chicken_Ceaser » Jan 2nd, '07, 00:06

I commend you for your wishful thinking Tomo, simply genious. One floor may be getting hold of the materials needed but it certainly seems doable if you ca get them

User avatar
Sir_Digby_Chicken_Ceaser
Senior Member
 
Posts: 775
Joined: Nov 16th, '06, 21:27
Location: Durham 17:AH

Postby Flash » Jan 2nd, '07, 00:07

The vinegar method described in the thread will pit the key (after all it is acidic), it might not be as quick, but patience is a virtue... :wink:

I think I might have used wire wool instead of a wire brush in one of the stages in ageing my key (described in the thread linked to). It will scratch it, which is good, and these will fill with authentic grime when it's buried.

User avatar
Flash
Advanced Member
 
Posts: 1628
Joined: Mar 2nd, '06, 01:21
Location: settling down in Edmonton, Canada...

Postby GrantW » Mar 3rd, '07, 18:53

The effect can be incredibly powerful if incorporated into the right routine. I got mine when I was first starting out in magic when I got marvin's magic mind blowing magic set lol and it's good because it actually looks like a real key unlike many versions where its bright gold with ridiculous patterns on it (aaah! the good ol' days).

Anyway highly recommended if you are going to present it well. If you are not sure then don't buy it because it will be a flop.

GrantW
Junior Member
 
Posts: 34
Joined: Mar 2nd, '07, 18:28
Location: Hertfordshire

Postby Lord Freddie » Mar 3rd, '07, 19:17

I got one years ago from Magic By Post (www.magic-by-post.co.uk) which looks like a very normal key. I have seen fancy ones, but they just aren't believable to the genral public.

User avatar
Lord Freddie
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3657
Joined: Oct 8th, '06, 15:23
Location: Berkshire

Postby I.D » Mar 8th, '07, 00:26

I got mine today :D First glance very dissapointed... 1 hour later.. joyful as the sun!!

The beauty of it is what I first disliked!! It LOOKS like a normal key!! And I getto age it to my own personal taste... 8)

ONE THOUGHT.. I have been playing around with this for a few hours now and reading the histroy of it here in the forum. I dont see anywhere mentioned that the key can be sent the other way and end up in a startin position. I dont know how risky this would be in practice but...

storyline wise... ''A key also knows that whenever it unlocks a door.. the probability is that it will / has to lock the door again.. otherwise who knows who might get in!! '' and have the key turn back over which is quite easy to do convincingly!!

And I have a REALLY slow turn going.. but its so translike to watch.. when it stops at the half way point... then continnues SLOWLY down which looks impossible!! especially to a layperson

Last edited by I.D on Mar 8th, '07, 11:10, edited 1 time in total.
www.youtube.com/brum2redmagic !! Youtube Project started.. early days

Reading: Nothing right now
Studying: loving band redemption
Performing: Speechless, Stand up Monte, Coinvexed,
User avatar
I.D
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2588
Joined: Oct 1st, '06, 22:47
Location: Redditch

Postby dat8962 » Mar 8th, '07, 00:59

when it stops at the half way point... then continnues SLOWLY down which looks impossible!!


That's the secret in selling this effect - getting the key to lie down as slowly as it was raised. Many people allow the key to simply fall once it's past the vertical and from start to finish, if you're around 90 seconds which will seem painfully slow then you're about on the mark.

There is a thread elsewhere about ageing a key and acids etc. will generaly clean the metal or disolve it if it's a strong acid. Bury it in the garden about an inch and a half from the surface when it's not being used.

The properties of the soil will give the key the best ageing look and feel in the shortest time and will add small amounts of rust which give the authentic ageing that you're after. Wire brushes and acid are just a waste.

Anyway, look for the thread on ageing and you'll save yourself a whole lot of time and experimentation through the experiences of others.

Member of the Magic Circle & The 2009 British Isles Close-Up Magician of the Year
It's not really an optical illusion - it just looks like one!
User avatar
dat8962
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 9265
Joined: Jan 29th, '04, 19:19
Location: Leamington Spa (50:Semi-Pro)

Postby I.D » Mar 8th, '07, 11:09

Yeh I read the previous threadsabout the ageing process... im gonna bury mine later this week :D

I agree, I think themore slowly it turns the better as its impossible to a layperson thatit could turn that slow.. if yousimplyturned your hand ver it would flip round fast so it does look creepy..

I like the fat I can send it back the other way as I found out.. some interesting storylines there too

www.youtube.com/brum2redmagic !! Youtube Project started.. early days

Reading: Nothing right now
Studying: loving band redemption
Performing: Speechless, Stand up Monte, Coinvexed,
User avatar
I.D
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2588
Joined: Oct 1st, '06, 22:47
Location: Redditch

Postby Nightfall » Mar 8th, '07, 14:07

I.D wrote:I got mine today :D First glance very dissapointed... 1 hour later.. joyful as the sun!!

The beauty of it is what I first disliked!! It LOOKS like a normal key!! And I getto age it to my own personal taste... 8)


Exactly my thoughts mate !
In the beginning I thought that it wouldn't impress anyone.
After a bit of practice I started gaining confidence and was quite happy.
The first reactions where great ! I urged them to grab it at any point they thought I was doing something. It left them buffled !
I have tried various speeds from 10'' to more than a minute for a complete turn, IMO a time of around 30'' - 45'' with stops in various positions is the ideal performance.
What is your opinion ?

Next to Haunted Key tasks :
- Age it (just finished a jar of pickled cucumbers , I will add some more vinegar ,water and salt then I will leave it for a week and then bury it)
- Find a nice antique wooden case for it

My only concern is if the ageing of the key disturbes the "nature" of the key and it's performance (that's as much as I can say without exposure) ?

User avatar
Nightfall
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 277
Joined: Nov 10th, '06, 14:35
Location: Now: hamburg, Germany, orig:Athens, Greece (38:AH)

Postby Tomo » Mar 8th, '07, 14:34

One tip: Watch for how the glint on the metal changes as you go into the effect. If it changes at all, even very slowly indeed, the rotation process is already under way and you're in line for some gasps. Be patient and watch.

Image
User avatar
Tomo
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 9866
Joined: May 4th, '05, 23:46
Location: Darkest Cheshire (forty-bloody-six going on six)

Postby Carl Buck » Mar 8th, '07, 14:35

I thought exactly the same. Not impressed at all when I first got it, but now I've mastered the technique it looks fantastic. :D

I haven't bothered ageing mine at all, I just keep it on a key ring and do the trick as a psycho kinetic, mind over matter effect rather than a haunted key. I even ask spectators to concetrate really hard on the key and 'imagine' it moving, to show them the power of the human mind. The look on some of their faces at times is priceless, especially when you get comments like 'I really believe in all this stuff'

Again I say that they can grab the key at any time if they think there are any threads involved. Invariable somebody does, but then if I do the floating note or card around the body routine AFTER performing this they are less likely to want to look for a thread! :wink:

User avatar
Carl Buck
Senior Member
 
Posts: 514
Joined: Feb 28th, '07, 14:47
Location: UK (34:WP)

Postby Tomo » Mar 8th, '07, 14:44

Carlos75 wrote:Again I say that they can grab the key at any time if they think there are any threads involved.

That's a nice touch!

Image
User avatar
Tomo
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 9866
Joined: May 4th, '05, 23:46
Location: Darkest Cheshire (forty-bloody-six going on six)

Postby Morgan » Apr 25th, '07, 15:52

Whatever method you use and however long it takes, ageing the key is definitely a good idea. What I want to know is, why don't the guys who make them do the ageing effect for you?! It'd be so much easier...

I sourced my key from information held within Paul Zenon's Street Magic and am more than happy with my lovely old looking key.
I can't remember off hand if it was the same book that suggested combining the haunted key with a pulse stop.
Have the Speccy checking the pulse on your other wrist whilst you slow/stop your pulse in time with the "turn". Transforming your life-force into the key.

Both effects are little beauties on there own but together they blow the speccies minds.

User avatar
Morgan
Full Member
 
Posts: 59
Joined: Nov 28th, '06, 21:48
Location: Inverness, Scotland, UK (38;AH)

Previous

Return to Reviews - Tricks 'n Props

Aeternum Servare Secreta UK's Online Magic Tricks and Jokes Shop offers kids and beginner magic tricks and jokes. Best prices around! Dude That's Cool Magic MagicWorld Magic Shop for Magic Tricks Visit Magicbox for all the latest and best effects! Sorcery Shop - Home of the ITR

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests