talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect: Sharpie Thru Anything (A bit of an exaggeration as I'm sure it wouldn't work with an Aardvark or Debbie McGhee!)

Cost: £14.95, introductory offer £13.95 (http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_i ... ts_id=4599)

Difficulty: 1
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Examinable: Not really although a cursory handling would be OK. I wouldn't risk it!

Review: The blurb is as follows: This is the new professional quality pen thru anything, which can also be used as a permanent marker for signing playing cards. Many effects are possible with this prop, including those listed below. Pen thru note: A banknote is borrowed from a spectator. The magician stabs the pen thru the note. The note is displayed clearly showing that the pen has "definitely" penetrated the note! The pen is removed and the note is unharmed! As such high quality components are used to make this pen, it can also be used to penetrate coins, clothing... pretty much anything you can imagine. This is without doubt the most versatile and useful pen thru anything ever made.

Dunno about the last sentence but, following all the interest in accessories which are far more than they seem, I noticed this item on sale and thought it would be a nice variation on the usual Pen Thu' etc. and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The bit that impresses me is after shoving the Sharpie through the banknote, you can move it around a bit and 'tear' it out without damage - all being well!

If you already have a Pen Thru then this probably works in exactly the same way but, as we often have Sharpies on the table or in the pocket for marking cards etc, it's a bit of a mind blower when this humble and almost invisible item is suddenly used to such good effect. In the pack you get the penetrating Sharpie, a regular Sharpie and the instructions. These instructions suffer from quite a few typographical errors and are in a very small font but that's only nit-picking on my part.

This effect is easy to do and can be visually stunning if performed correctly. Assuming I have a bit of a clear out and tidy up, this one will be a permanent resident of my jacket pocket - just in case!

Value for money: 8 out of 10

Working in a Kid's Club for 5-11 year olds, part of my job was to write certificates for the bright sparks that won any competitions, games etc. Before even knowing anything about magic, I always used a Sharpie to write my certificates...
All my colleagues etc knew that I used this funky, chunky permanent marker for the kids' certificates, so when I came across the Sharpie Thru, I had to buy it.
It blew their minds - especially as I always kept a couple of Sharpies with me.
This trick is wicked - maybe a version that can actully write would be good... that way you can be using it (for either general or magic use), perform the Sharpie's own magic, then switch. Even if you gave the pen to a spectator to sign something, they wouldn't even consider any kind of gimmick. That way it *must be* a genuine pen.I spose the company that make Sharpies would need to be consulted first though.

Buy it (if only for the fact you can store it piercing thru your beside table!)

Thanks for the follow on review, Sharpie Thru is one of those things where the humble and mundane suddenly becomes quite mind blowing! Assuming you had the time and patience, I'm sure it would be fairly straightforward to load it with some ink - just let it soak in an egg cup of slightly diluted endorsing ink (as used to refresh rubber stamp pads) for a while and see if it works - but don't send me the cleaner's bill if it leaks or anything like that!

What colour ink is the Sharpie in this effect, or is it available in more than one colour?

The one i ordered is black - i don't remember emagictricks.co.uk giving me an option.
Good point, though (no pun inteneded, hehe)

i know this is going to sound dum but what is a sharpie actualy.
iv'e only ever heard this on this board, the nearest iv'e come across is a sharps box for needles

"Sharpy" (er, or is it "Sharpie" even when singular?) is a brand of marker pen.

They aren't too common in the UK, but you can get them. I think Mandrake said you can buy them a "Staples", the office supply shop.

They are permanent, so you can write on cards with them, but the standard ones are smaller and neater than most permanent markers and they also have a pocket clip.

I've got a couple in each of red, blue, black and green and I believe you can get jumbo ones and maybe with different shaped tips.

I buy mine from Asda... only ever seen them in black or blue though.
They have a pointed tip, rather than a chisel tip like most permanent markers.
Buy one... they're grey in colour with a black tip... discoman there's a pic here:

http://www.essentialscompany.co.uk/Mark ... t%20Marker

thanxs zack for clearing that up for me some of the things discussed in the mag only section make more sense now, they must have thought i was more mad than usual talking about my uncle alans ring fountain pen

Sharpies are indeed permanent marker pens but have a nice sharp (hence the brand name) pointy tip so fairly fine writing is possible with a new one. They seem to be available all over the place locally, ASDA, Staples, several Arts & Graphic supplies shops and are certainly available on line from cards4magic at about £1.00 each plus P&P. Boxes of 12 from Staples work out cheaper if you plan on using a lot of them! The usual Sharpie has black ink and this is the version used in many of the effects referred to (plus a few others!). They're also made in Red, Blue and Green and are great for illustrating things as well as a change from black. Sharpie also do a Jumbo version and I've just seen (and bought ) a set of two where there's an additional cap at the other ends which, when removed, reveals an even finer nib. All of which means you can use them as a means of marking or autographing a card, doing coloured drawings and sketches or, if required, adding a few features to cards to change them to something else - extra pips, index marking etc.

Tip:

Don't leave them near any kids though... the fumes make even my head go funny! (and it'll never come out of their clothes...)

the fumes make even my head go funny

This explains an awful lot. I have four of the things uncapped and in use right now - weeeheeeeee!! (sorry! )

I cant help thinking that the company who makes the SHARPIE THROUGH
would be wetting there pants at the thought of a Magician useing a pen that has not been sealed, what a good idea ,you do the trick and cover yourself in ink.
I do not recomend soaking the tip in ink all you will get is a hand full of ink.
The SHARPIE pen is the best pen i have ever used, I have never had any problems. Can be bought at emagictricks.co.uk

As if Sharpie pens weren't mind-numblingly boring enough, this bloke appears yet again talking about Poker.

I bet he's a riot down the allotment.

I think that post may have been deleted along with another six by the same person, sorry!