Ageing a haunted key

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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Postby slinkey1981 » May 20th, '06, 06:56



magicdiscoman wrote:should take about a week but keep and eye on it.
any acid will do but vinegar is redily avalable.


A long time ago we aged some metal....
It's really disgusting but urine also works well.

Now everyone thinks I am a sicko... great....

But hey! after 2-3 glasses of water, urine is readily available.

(I have a feeling my post may be edited) *



Seriously, it works, just wash your items well.


*(Yes it has been edited...it's correct name is 'Pee-pee')

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Postby dat8962 » May 20th, '06, 09:15

Circa 1750 :wink: :lol:

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It's not really an optical illusion - it just looks like one!
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Postby seige » May 20th, '06, 10:59

Nice work guys!

One little tip though... don't go bashing the key around too much. Due the the delicate nature of it's workings, removing lumps of it could affect the performance.

A top tip to make it look grubby is to go and get some tan shoepolish. Cover the key in the shoepolish (and I mean, cover it) and then start to buff.

Bits of the discoloured wax will hide in the crevices, and look like grime!

I've got two haunted keys which I treasure... one of them I've had for ages, and as stated, sweaty hands and the like have tarnished it to a natural look.

The other, which is pretty new, I have aged using the following process:

1. Use steel wool to take a bit of the coating off. Lengthy process, but it bares the metal beneath, which is ideal for the next phase...

2. Soak the key in WARM vinegar/water solution for a couple of days... this removes any grease/coatings and begins the process

3. Wrap the key in a rag which has soaked in salty water, leave in a dark place for a week

4. Wash the key well (leaving salt on it will continue the rusting process)

5. Cover in wax (as stated) and buff off. You can add layers of darker/lighter waxes to give various grime levels.

6. Go to a jumble sale, car boot sale or the likes, and buy an old looking jewellery box... I found one containing an old watch, and it cost me 80p The box is lined with rotten-looking satin, and makes a perfect presentation.

7. Concoct a story around the key... could it be a crypt key? A church key? The key from a house which burned down?

It all adds to the performance, and once the key looks suitably knackered and ancient, the whole thing comes together as a VERY spooky tale indeed!

The Haunted Key is SO simple, and because it is self-working, it is a great item as an aside, because it rarely fails (except when you've been drinking!)

I'd also recommend you get the Haunted Key Book, which is a great little addition... and adds dimensions which you probably weren't aware of.

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Postby leighton » May 20th, '06, 11:16

I noticed at Toysrus the otherday, Marvins Magic has a Mini set that includes a Haunted Key for only £4.99, this can't be a decent key can it?

I made my wife dissapear just by arguing with her!!!
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Postby seige » May 20th, '06, 11:37

You thunked wrong!

As a 'dealer', I am constantly buying stuff like that to make sure what's happening in the open market.

And I have to say, ashamedly, that the Marvin's key aint bad!

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Postby leighton » May 20th, '06, 11:48

Damn it, I was there with my son who brought some Marvins Magic sets with his birthday money, he went for the card trick set and the money set, I should have got the Key set for me! maybe when I pass next time I will go and get it!

That was a top tip by the way seige, about going to a jumble sale for an old jewellery box to house the key! thanks I will do that.

My story might be built around the key comming from a maximum security prison / death row wing, and because it was turned so often it has developed movement memory!

I made my wife dissapear just by arguing with her!!!
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Postby dat8962 » May 20th, '06, 18:50

I agree with Seige in that there is no need whatsoever to start banging the key around.

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Postby Flash » May 20th, '06, 21:01

My haunted key, one hunk of aged metal, 100's of uses. Having rediscovered this spooky little beauty I am fast creating whole routines around it, I love it when you can create 101 new effects around or that feature the same item... My key is slowly developing all sorts of other creepy pk powers and ghostly stories around it (maybe burying it activated some special features).

Thanks for all the input guys.

Seige nice ideas I may just use some of them as I age my key more (although I quite like)!

Lovely work Dat, I am inspired mate! When I can be parted from the thing I shall place it back in the ground and move it back a few centuries...

:wink:

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Postby magicdiscoman » May 20th, '06, 21:23

hanted key and toms loops need i say more. :!:

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