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Little Smoke

PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 15:28
by Tom Lauten


Little Smoke

http://www.world-of-magic.co.uk/magic.asp?id=865

Price £12.99

Difficulty n/a

They Say:
This effect will simply amaze. It can be incorporated into any routine. The magician simply starts rubbing his/her index finger and thumb together and smoke begins to appear from in between them. That's right, real smoke starts climbing from the magicians empty hand! This is a real show stopper that will leave them completely dumbfounded.

I say:
Well...showstopper?...I don't think so. Pretty cool and weird? Absolutely!

This isn't a trick, more of a material like flash paper. Use it for effect and weird stuff.

You get a strip of what looks to be tissue paper about 1 metere long. This has clearly been treated with a (now dry) solution which is a deep burgandy /rust colour.

You must place a small amount of this paper (about 30mm length) into the bowl of a spoon and burn it. The slick of amber creme left behind is the stuff that does the "do". It looks like a thin fim of Marmite.

This creme reacts with oxygen and will last for only a short while (15 mins?). When you transfer some onto your fingers and rub them together...TA DA! - Proper smoke!!!

You won't get great palls of smoke rising from you hand...just little wisps of light grey smoke...creepy stuff I can tell you.

It doesn't hurt and doesn't really smell...much...a bit like an old cap gun actually. You have to wash off the residue (it looks a bit like nicotine staining) but that's it.

Rating: 7/10 for what it is. It's a bit pricey but should go a long way. If you can use it, you'll have fun!


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 15:38
by Happy Toad
How does this compare to the stuff you can buy in tubes. Squeeze a small bit onto finger tips and rub?


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 15:47
by Tom Lauten
This is the real stuff...proper smoke not that goo stuff....miles better!


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 15:56
by bananafish
Sounds fun - It could be used with vanishes - ie coin vanishes - in a puff of smoke...

Mind you, my worry would be is that 6 months down the line they find out it gives you cancer or something..

Are there any warnings with it?

Mr. Paranoid


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 16:04
by Tom Lauten
Loads of safety advise.

Basically don't eat it, breathe it, or rub it in any openings or wet places on your person! :shock:

It doesn't make a puff of smoke, just little wisps and curls rising off your fingers...it looks like you are about to catch fire!


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 16:43
by bananafish
In that case, it sounds ideal to try and work in with Pyro Perception. Is that the right name? The one with the blister?

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic1836.p ... light=pyro


PostPosted: May 13th, '05, 16:59
by Tom Lauten
Spot on mate...nice idea!

Perfect for it! :D


PostPosted: Oct 8th, '06, 00:21
by katrielalex
Sorry to reawaken an old post!

This looks v. v. cool and I just had one question about it (assuming I survive all the safety warnings etc...):

How practical is it? That is to say, you say the orange stuff lasts about 15 minutes. Does that mean that every time you want to make some smoke you have to pop outside and burn a bit of paper? If not how would you carry it around?

Cheers,

Kati


PostPosted: Oct 8th, '06, 11:02
by bronz
I agree with Kati, the first thing I thought when I read that was 'Try telling the bouncer you're getting ready for a magic trick when he walks into the club toilet to find you heating something furtively in a spoon'. Could you not make some and store it somehow?


PostPosted: Oct 8th, '06, 21:10
by Jerome the French
bronz wrote:I agree with Kati, the first thing I thought when I read that was 'Try telling the bouncer you're getting ready for a magic trick when he walks into the club toilet to find you heating something furtively in a spoon'. Could you not make some and store it somehow?


If you have a sort of small metal box, that works. It has to be on metal.
It takes only a few seconds, anyway.
This is WAY BETTER than spirit smoke the stuff in tubes (doesn't smell as strong either)...
BUT this stuff is toxic, so you should in theory wash your hands after using it...

But it is real smoke and works real good.
You don't have to only rub your fingers together, you can create smoke by rubbing other things -> spoons -> very visual spoon bending... Don't thank me for the idea... :P


PostPosted: Nov 22nd, '06, 13:41
by Farlsborough
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ IF CONSIDERING BUYING THIS ITEM!

I ordered this from the same place as Tom Lauten recently, and was disappointed to find that I only received a few square inches of the paper substance - hardly enough for plenty of performances!

I contacted them and they said this was the usual amount, so contacted Magic Boutique - the manufacturers in France - who confirmed that this was too little, and kindly offered for one time to replace it with the full amount if I post it back to them.

The plot thickens...! They received it today and it turns out that it is the rip-off version from magixeffect (who's website address is now no longer valid... hmmm), in which you only do receive a small amount of product. Magic Boutique also said it was lower quality - I will have to reserve judgement on this as they would be expected to say that! Apparently magixeffect have to call it "Magic Smoke" now because of copyright - in retrospect, I do remember noticing both the name difference on the packet I received and the website address on the packet not being "magic boutique".

At first I accepted begrudgingly accepted that I had bought a copy-product and had been ripped off, albeit legally, and that I would have to be more careful to buy only original products. But I took another look at my invoice - yup - quoted as "Little Smoke by Magic Boutique"!

I've just spoken to the guy at World of Magic who hadn't realised the product was different and agrees something is odd here, he's getting on to his supplier now (it looks to me like the supplier has knowingly or unknowingly sourced the rip-off version cheaper) so watch this space.

But, the important message is this:
If you buy Little Smoke, make sure it is "Little Smoke" from Magic Boutique and not "Magic Smoke" from "Magixeffect" (whoever they may be). If you buy from elsewhere and they also quote the product as "Little Smoke" by Magic Boutique but send you the other, get on to them about it! If they are not willing to properly sort out changing their supply from ripp-off to original and replacing yours, you have the right to a refund as it is a different product!


PostPosted: Nov 22nd, '06, 13:45
by Jerome the French
Well, it sounds logical to order it directly from magic boutique. I met them they are nice chaps, and it will probably end up being cheaper than what you pay in the UK...


PostPosted: Nov 22nd, '06, 13:47
by IAIN
to add to this already spicy plot, if you buy nosferatu's nail (alakazam amongst others) - you get some items that you burn to create a certain substance...that do the same job as little smoke...

if anyone pm's me and asks dumbly "er...what is it?" they shall be told to go forth and multiply...

however, nosferatu's nail is around £15, full instructions are included...and its a nice prop...especially if you etch into the nail certain psychological force(s) and build up a decent storyline for it...

unfortunately, it was too long ago since i last used it - mainly due to the fact that its sitting round someone's house after a late night drinking session; and i really can't remember what it performed like...

so how close it is to little smoke, i cant say - i do own some (the original by luck), but never used it....


PostPosted: Nov 22nd, '06, 14:53
by merlino750
how much you think this effect is "portable" and usefull?
did you ever try that on performance?


PostPosted: Nov 22nd, '06, 15:22
by IAIN
whose that aimed at? me for nosferatu's nail or tom for reviewing little smoke??