S.T.EL.TH Loops with Silkworm thread

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S.T.EL.TH Loops with Silkworm thread

Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 9th, '07, 17:59



The Effect
A system to create inexpensive thread loops. For those that don't know, thread loops have been released commercial by Yigal Mesika and can be used for PK, levitation and mentalist effects. Their usage is limited to your imagination.
This release from NUMS includes a booklet of their popular download and a generous reel of Silk Worm thread.


Cost
£22 from www.nothingupmysleeve.co.uk




Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Not really applicable as it more a system to create the tool needed for the effects rather than the effect itself.



Review


One of my recent biggest magical disappointments was on buying Mesika's Loops. I had experimented with thread reels and Loops seemed like the solution to the effects that I wanted to create.
A great concept and nice and easy to use and you end clean. The downside is that they cost £7 per packet for only 5 loops. (Some places sell them for nine quid a pack!)

Now this price wouldn't be so bad if they were durable and long lasting but the thread Mesika uses (in my opinion) is incredibly poor and they snap if you so much as try and move a fork with them. The routines that come with the loops themselves aren't in the main suitable for the kind of thread he uses and seems (to my cynical mind) like a good way to get people to buy more. Many of the effects in his Animated Miracles book seem too ambitious for the strength of the thread used.

Fourteen quids worth of Loops lasted me a week and a half and that was just as I was getting used to what their limitations are. Most of the breakages ocurred when trying the Haunted Deck and fork PK effects included with the loops.

Hmm, so what's the solution?
Well, I'll tell you the problems first. What I want is:
1) cheaper loops
2) loops made with better quality thread.

And I've found the answer. Nothing Up My Sleeve's S.T.EL.TH Loops system is just what I was after. As the advertistment says, you will have you own Loop making factory. And you will.

So what does it entail?

With this package you receive a hard copy of the original PDF (which I much prefer as for some old-fashioned reason I resent paying for downloads after being stung with mobile phone games that don't work).

The eleven page booklet describes the building of your loop making device as clear as possible with diagrams showing you where everything goes. The most joyous thing is that most of the materials needed to make it, I (and probably you) already own, so it was a couple of cheap, easy to find bits and bobs I needed to pop to the shops for.
The whole thing will cost you well under a tenner to make and once you've done it, it will last you a long time.

Are the loops easy to make?
Well, yes, but as with anything it will take you a few attempts to get going. IT is notoriously fiddly to work with, so a slow approach with a gentle touch is the best way to approach it. You will have to fine-tune your device to make the size of loops that suit you, but once you are off, you'll be making them like there's no tomorrow and will save yourself a fortune if you had intended to use he commercially available loops.

Luckily there's enough thread supplied so that it's not problem that your early attempts will be discarded.

It's all too easy in the magic industry for people to make as much money as they can by producing something that's ovepriced but desirable and this is a refreshing antidote to that. Something which will save you a hell of a lot of money for a small outlay and the miniumum of work.

The device itself takes no longer than half an hour to make and is simple to use once you have got the hang of it. I can now make loops to suit myself being the size and strength that I want.

Also, there are some routines in the booklet which are not only great uses for loops, but much more practical and realistic than Mesika's fanciful routines.

Overall, an excellent package. If you are using Loops by Mesika, unless you are inherently lazy, you'd be a fool not to go for this. The minimum of time will save you a lot of money in the future and also making customised loops means you can expand the possibilities of them. Make giant ones if you want!

If you are interested in thread work, I'd recommend buying one pack of loops so you feel the joy then frustration, then this to show you that loops needn't be expensive and frustrating, but easy to make and fun.

The "Oh dear I'm down to my last few loops" feeling will be replaced with "I'll go home and knock up another five."

An excellent, essential package for the thread worker.


Overall
10/10
(My Loops frustration being relived in such a painless way has bumped the score up.)

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Postby .:Ham:. » Sep 9th, '07, 18:42

Great review. I'm not interested in the product, but, great review! :D

.:Ham:.

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 9th, '07, 19:00

Thanks Ham. I appreciate that. If you ever become interested in Loops, this will save you a lot of money and frustration. It's excellent.

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Postby I.D » Sep 9th, '07, 19:32

Ive never got n with IT but I have STELTH and just ordered silkworm thread from NUMS so may give making my own loops a go finally.

Look forward to it.

Good review by the way, and NUMS is forever more becoming a great place to shop.

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 9th, '07, 20:19

Thanks ID, what seperates NUMS from many other magic shops is that their own exclusive things are excellent. I recommend the X wax to go with STEALTH. It's a great wax, been using it this weekend.

Making your own loops is trial and error at first, but once you get into the swing of it then it's as easy as can be. And will save you lots of money in the long run, especially if you start using Loops.

The Mesika ones are so frustrating as they break too easily and as they cost so much it's rather disheartening to think you have order another packet. To know you could just buy a real of thread and make 100's is a much better feeling!

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Postby TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb » Sep 10th, '07, 02:06

Just wanted to add my backing to the 'wow, STELTH rocks' opinions.

I was horrified at the cost of Loops for the quantity per pack and the fragility of them. Got myself the ready made (molded) STELTH jig, some thread and was knocking out loops like a demon in no time for under a penny each! Takes me longer to strip the threads than to make the loops.

If you use loops, get the STELTH jig, you won't regret it, and neither will your wallet!

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 10th, '07, 08:28

It appears I'm not the only person to have been frustrated at how fragile and expensive Loops are.
If you break one, you can just go home and make some more. You could easily make 15 a day, which would cost £21 if bought commercially.

This package is a great deal, you can make 200 loops for £22 (after you have made the jig) or be short of three packets of the commercial ones.

Your choice, but the wise man will know what's best in the long run!

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Postby Beardy » Sep 10th, '07, 09:51

you could make strong loops, and sell them at £2-3 a shot...I'm sure people would buy them...

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Postby greedoniz » Sep 10th, '07, 10:12

I've had the stelth system for sometime now and have nothing but praise for it and the amount of money it has saved me.
To be able to sit down for 5-10 mins and make 5 loops is certainly cheaper and quicker than popping online or to your local magic shop and buying some.
I've not however tried this silkworm thread so will give that a shot as my current E.T is a freebie giveaway from penguin called PET 2.0 and although is very thin and very elastic, it is also not very strong

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Postby I.D » Sep 10th, '07, 10:19

Good Idea Blapse.. I was thinking of bending coins.. and selling them off cheap.. very cheap.. in batches..

it would still make you a tidy profit. And selling loops is a good idea, if you can invest the time into it.

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Postby seige » Sep 11th, '07, 09:35

A big thanks for the kind words on this.

In all honesty, I've never had a complaint about the StElTh Loops system. In fact, much the opposite.

The decision to release the 'DIY' version after Alakazam made a hash and missed the opportunity with the 'ready made jig' was a bold one, and frankly I don't regret it.

Suffice to say, I never saw or had any recompense or monetary benefits (let alone royalties) whatsoever from the Jig sold by them.

However...

With the new format (printed booklet plus thread) I'm having a HUGE response. In fact, I'm 5 short of selling out of a batch of 50+ in just one week.

(I think Freddie's review played a big part in it—thanks kind sir!)

The bottom line is, everyone associates Loops with Mesika. But I think you'll find, as did I, that the original credit should go to Finn Jon. I've used loops for a long time, and being a resourceful chappie, making my own was inevitable.

The LOOPS system I am now selling is VERY close to my original setup many years ago (explained in the booklet), and it just works. Plain and simple. I've seen elaborate ones come on the market, but they're over-complex and expensive. I just wish I'd had the financial backing way-back to beat Mesika into manufacturing them and selling individual LOOPS... cos I'd be rather rich by now.

Anyway, hope anyone buying these gets as much pleasure as I have.

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 11th, '07, 18:54

You're welcome. It's great to see something that's designed to help magicians rather than rip them off. Top marks to you!

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Postby TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb » Sep 12th, '07, 01:35

Now I feel bad for having the moulded jig :( (And anyone that uses Richard Richard as their avatar is alright in my book! :) )

I didn't know about the DIY or the situation though so that eases my conscience a tad!

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 12th, '07, 08:22

I am a complete idiot when it comes to DIY, but even I managed to constructs this. What's better for me, over a moulded one, is that you can construct it to your own personal specifications.
For £22 you can't go wrong.

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Postby Lord Freddie » Sep 15th, '07, 23:38

Just to add (and gloat). I've made three packets of loops in the last two days, effectively saving me £21.
For those that are still buying Mesika's ones, you're being ripped off. Make four packs with this and you have got your moneys worth already.

After playing around with them for the last week, I have found the Silk Worm thread to be of a far better quality than Mesika's own and the Rising Card and Haunted Deck routines have worked fine for me with my home made loops.

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