talkmagic.co.uk

I've tried a search on this topic but come up with nothing so perhaps someone could advise or point me in the right direction if the answer to my question is posted elsewhere.

I received Morgan Strebler's Liquid Metal DVD for Christmas which for those of you that don't know, is a fork bending routine.

I've bought a dozen forks today in Asda (their cheapest stainless steel) and don't have any problems with them, other than I can't do the corkscrew as shown in the DVD. I just can't grip the fork as demonstrated and perhaps my hands are just too big. Is this a matter of practice to build up the strength in your fingers?

On the other hand, I was wondering if the forks I've got are the best variety as the DVD recommends using the Dominion Table Fork. I've done a web search and cannot find any stockists in the UK.

Can anyone recommend a fork for this, or other metal bending routines, particularly the corkscrew which is credited to the Banacheck's Psychokinetic Silverware if that helps?

Please also state where to buy if possible - thanks.

OK - In the absence of a local pound shop I tried Wilkinsons (more to the point I sent the wife out) and their forks in different packaging are EXACTLY the same ones as sold by Asda. Also the same price at 99 pence for 4. They're not much better than solder but do stand up to close scrutiny by the spectators.

I've played around since my post and I now have the corkscrew technique and performed the Liquid Metal routine today for the first time in public.

I have to say that before hand I was sceptical as to whether this would work without anyone spotting the misdirections but it did, and the audience reaction was extremely satisfying.

Recommended!

the best by far is any cutlery that has been well used.Pubs, resterants etc, the places you perform this effect.Car boot's and Charity shops will be able to supply you with old stuff by the ton.

It's not something that I've really thought about and would suspect that the layman hasn't either. I find that it's near impossible to tell the difference between well used cutlery and the cheap stuff that's straight out of the packet! Obviously if you're doing table magic and there's a huge difference in weight and design between what the restaurant is using and what you're performing with then I would agree.

Otherwise, the cheap stuff looks dull, rather than shiny and it comes with all of the little imperfections already built in to make it look aged, straight out of the packet. I suppose that this is quite possibly due to modern manufacturing processes and / or mass production.

I use the cheap stuff from our local catering shop. I try and not to get stuff that's too easy to bend phyiscally because it adds to th effect if the spectator tries to bend it - especially the tine bend. You can do Morgan's routine with most cutlery - but starting with the cheap stuff alows you to get confident and build the correct strength (without giving too much away).
If i do the routine at a resturaunt and the cutlery is different I just explain that I'll get into trouble with management. When I'm performing I usually have a pocket full of cutlery and if I'm not at a resturaunt I joke about having just been at a resturaunt. It also helps to point out that the cutlery is stainless steel and give the spectator something to examine.
Fortunately most of the resturaunts (excluding the really expensive ones) use the the same cutlery as i do as they get it from the same catering place. You might want to find out where the resturaunts in your area get their cutlery.
Have fun with the routine

Thanks Taneous and it's worth looking into, particularly as there happens to be a catering supplier on the same street as my local magic dealer.

I've found the Asda / Wilkinson fork do stand up to examination by the specs (well so far anyway) as no one see's, so even if they can bend the tines back they didn't see you bend them so don't bother