talkmagic.co.uk

Nailed it, by john t sheets

THE EFFECT
A large steel nail measuring 6 inches long is examined by a spectator.
The performer then holds the nail at its center and concentrates.
The nail then slowly begins to bend and then straighten.
Once straight the nail is handed out for examination.

NO SWITCHES
NO RESET
NO MAGNETS
NO HEATING

THE PRICE : £111 from MA pro magic

DIFFICULTY : 2 , its easy, but does take practice to make it look good.

WHAT YOU RECIEVE : you get the precision stainless steel gaffed nail,
an ungaffed straight nail and a matching bent nail.
Also you receive a dvd.

REVIEW :

This product is without question the best buy in magic i have made so
far. It is so good on so many levels. The gaffed nail itself is extremely
well made it really is a thing of beauty. The effect is awsome, a nail
bends then straightens. You have complete control on how you want it to
look, from a subtle bend, to a more flashy one hand almost 90 degree
bend, its up to you. And because of that it will fit so many different
performing styles.
There is no reset, so its perfect for walk around or table hopping.
To top all this off the nail can be examined! This is truly the daddy of nail
bending. But saying all that, every rose has a thorn and so does this,
but its minor, you recieve a bent nail so you can switch it for the gaff in
its bent state, but on the dvd he does not go over any of this. Which is a
shame because its quite an awkward object to switch, so some light on
this subject would of been helpful, but its just the difference between
handing out the nail bent or straight, so if you want to hand out the nail
bent you will need to know some switches.
Apart from that this is great and will fit into any metal bending routine or
just as a stand alone effect.

9/10

I don't have this, but the review strikes me in an odd way

colster_ wrote: NO SWITCHES

- - -

... you recieve a bent nail so you can switch it for the gaff in its bent state

So, there are no switchers, but there is a switch? Hmmm...

Yes, we have no bananas!

They offer you the possibility to do a switch (a second ungimmicked nail) ...
... but you don't have to use it.

Cheers
Th.

So in other words, you can use your gaffed nail and say:
"Here is a regular nail, "wink-wink" but I can't let anybody inspect it."

Or you can let the spectator check the nail before, while bent and then after it's straightend again, if you choose to switch four times?

Then they should also add: No trap doors, mirrors, smoke or stooges!

Just a quick question:

Do you have to keep your finger/thumb covering the bend - or can you show the bend in the nail openly before straightening the nail again?

Thanks

Peter

gunnarkr wrote:So in other words, you can use your gaffed nail and say:
"Here is a regular nail, "wink-wink" but I can't let anybody inspect it."

I totally agree with your caveat.
Just wanted to mention that the fact that someone offers you the possibility for a switch not means that you have to do it!

And - by the way - with a little experience you are able to convey the impression that they can inspect the nail if not they did inspect it.
You know this of cause.

peterduffie wrote:Do you have to keep your finger/thumb covering the bend ...

Yes.

peterduffie wrote:... or can you show the bend in the nail openly before straightening the nail again?

This needs a switch.

Cheers
Th.

(Another little annotation:
I just own this effect - but never used it in an real performance.
My doubts are roughly the same as those Gunnar mentioned! )

I'm not at all trying to drag the effect down. I'm sure it's a great effect in the arsenal of metal benders.

But what makes me curious is this:

A large steel nail measuring 6 inches long and 1/4 of an inch thick is examined by a spectator. The performer then holds the nail at its center by the tips of the forefinger and thumb. The performer concentrates, and the nail begins to soften, then bend to almost 90 degrees! This is shown from all angles, it really is bent! Concentrating again , the nail slowly begins to straighten back up, once straight, it is then immediately handed out for examination. No switches! The examined nail is the one that bends and straightens! The speed, angle, and start-stop action of the bend is under the control of the performer at all times. No reset. No pulls, No magnets, No chemicals, No heating or cooling. No covers, and no sleeves or jacket needed.

This device is an absolute beauty! The nail is micro machined from high quality stainless steel.

This set includes the precision stainless steel gaffed nail, plus, as an added bonus, a matching extra un-gaffed straight nail, and a matching un-gaffed bent nail, both also made of stainless steel. The set also includes an instructional DVD.

I know many great magic tricks that are based on switches, ... but then you are honest in the blurb and don't lie to the potential buyer.

Perhaps the gaffed nail can be given out for inspection? If that is so, I stand corrected and apologize for the ranting. But according to Thomas, it needs to be switched out before inspection, so the blurb seems to be a fib. And Mungo don't like fibs!

My understanding is that when the nail is straight, it can be locked. Therefore, it should be examinable before and after. The switch to a bent nail is only if you wish to finish with the nail bent?

Yes, it is possible to hand out the gimmicked nail before your bend.
The gimmick is really well done and on the first view you won't see anything.

BUT my spectators won't leave it at that.
They won't be satisfied with just a quick glimpse.
So giving away the gimmick nail needs balls and a little daredevilry.

It is NOT possible to hand out the gimmicked nail while it's bend!
Handing out "a" nail in this moment needs a switch.

Cheers
Th.

I tend to use the nail in a very subtle way. I perform a coin bend and while the coin is in the spectators hand i talk about how energy can manipulate particles, i demonstrate by using the nail, but i only bend the nail slightly. Then once the nail is straight i put all focus on the coin in the spectators hand.
I have on some occasions used both nails and handed the spectator the real nail, i bend the gaff and once finished i use a false switch ' from looch's sad' so they can apparently examine the nail i just bent. But i have handed the gaffed nail out on a number of occasions and have not been caught, it really is well made.

can you stick this up your nose after?

colster_ wrote: i bend the gaff and once finished i use a false switch ' from looch's sad'

Cassidys switch, which comes from somewhere else anyway I think but can't get to my books right now