talkmagic.co.uk

I bought Drawing Room Deceptions by Guy Hollingworth and it is absolutely fantastic. Go and buy it. Card material to die for.

Anyway, in the preface, there is a trick about Voodoo cards where the spectator becomes a witchdoctor and everything they do their selected card, happens to the cards mate in the deck. Ripping off corners etc.

I have to put a burn mark on the back of the card, not so much that it shows on the face, but large enough to clearly been seen as a burn.

Everytime I hold a match underneath, even a few inches below, the card ends up slightly warped and when in the pack, an obvious break forms. The deck is set down on the table a few times so it would be quite clearly obvious something is up with a card!

Any suggestions on getting the appropriate burn mark without completely warping the card?

im pretty sure Jay Sankey does something with a burn mark on a card. This is done with a lighter as you would expect and then he puts it in the middle of a deck and wraps elactic bands around them and leaves them for a while.

I've never done this, but I can think of two ways, one of which will definitely work, but is a bit of a pain. Split the card, removing the front layer (I am assuming you use Bicycle cards, which have three layers), then burn the back using something like a cigarette or a hot piece of metal. I suspect the warping is because the heat from the flame is affecting much of the card. If you can quickly burn the card it might be less likely to warp. Then, reassemble the card.

The other way (which I think makes sense, but might not work), is to clamp the face of the card onto a clean piece of metal. Then burn the back. Again, I think using something that will put a narrow spot of intense heat will work better than a lighter. My theory is that, on the face side, the metal will conduct the heat away, reducing the chances of scorching.

I have no idea if it actually makes sense from a physics point of view!

Would a solder iron or normal iron allow you to make a suitable burn?

draw it on with a brown marker, and then smoke the card, by holding it over A lit candle for a second.

though you may well find that a candle on its own, will give you a more controlled singe than a match or lighter. you could also try damping the card down a tiny bit. this may stop the card from bubbling up under the heat.

Instead, why not mold a paperclip into a shape (or more)...use some tongs or tweezer, and heat the clip up, and sear the card instead? Brand it almost.

Or why not just burn the devil, and just flatten it out overnight between some heavy books, or indeed your bottom.

I am of course, in no way suggesting you have a heavy bottom.