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Has any list member had a problem with this effect 'talking' in operation ?

I think it seems very loud in practice sessions and am loath to unleash it in performance mode as yet.

Is that the one where the nut unscrews itself from the bolt underneath a glass or something? If it is, though I don't have it I have looked at it at the magic shop I work at, in fact I'm going in there right now so I'll have another look and see what I think.
Nick

Ok, we don't have it any more so I can't help, sorry.

That's obviously the expensive gizmo we are talking about here isn't it. If it is, I read on another board that it is virtually silent in operation. Indeed it HAS to be in my opinion.

When you perform the effect, the first thing that will happen is the spec/s will go dead silent (before screaming their adoration of you). If they can hear anything at all, the game is up!

... Tony

PS. It probably just needs some TLC!

PPS. If it really is making a noise, I would send it back... It's too expensive not to!

Have just purchased this, will write a review once i have had a chance to give it a good look.

Well it has turned up (Thanks Lawrence). However as my wife bought it as a present you will have to wait a couple of weeksfor me to review it, comes with a nice box by the way. I had a quick sneeky look and now understand how it works.

Simon

there are two versions of this that i have seen one for about £20 - 30 and one for £80, which one is the best

OK - I bought the expensive version from Laurence and I have to say I was EXTREMELY disappointed when it arrived. It most certainly is NOT silent in operation, and I think I can tell you without giving the game away that there is a motor in there - no way COULD it be silent. At first I thought of sending it back, but then I tried a different approach.

The bolt comes in a little plastic see-through box - pop the bolt with the nut on inside the plastic box and place that on top of the close-up case. Then activate the gimmick. The noise of the nut and bolt rattling inside the little box as it unscrews completely masks the noise of the gimmick. Works a treat. Honest - it really works.

You might be tempted to make the thing re-screw itself back together - DON'T - the second problem with the device is that the switch to activate it has an audible click (this IS ridiculous - there are plenty of silent push switches they could have used for this) and you will not get away with the effect twice in succession. Tip number two is that the switch should be activated as you pretend to close/lock the lid in place - the operation is way too obvious without this little piece of "misdirection" (unless someone has a better idea?)

So, with the above in mind, I would say it is worth having providing you don't mind stumping up 80 quid for one trick. Although it IS dual-purpose, of course, in that you have a nice close-up case to use for your tricks too. Fill it with goodies, perform the tricks and then finish with the PK bolt. No one will think twice about the case 'cos they have seen it is just for keeping your gear in.

Bob

I copmpletely agree and Lawrence to his credit has offered me a refund. Before I take him up on this i will try your technique as described.

J

OK, I do have a suggestion here...

The device has an electronic switch, which, with a little care could be replaced with a magnetically activated reed-switch.

Now, with this in mind, switching could be done quite remotely - meaning the bolt could be screwed inside a glass jar and sealed by the spectator.

Then, with a mysterious wave of the magi's "PK'd" hands - voila, the bolt operates.

Surely the sound against the glass of the jar will mask the nosies?

I can't comment really, as I don't have this effect - but for the sake of about 50p for a reed switch and a bit of soldering, this would surely kill three lemons with one aadvark???

There you go with the aardvark obsession again!!!!!!

Keep him talking, Jabbs, the men in white coats are on their way.

Hey, I LOVE that magnetic aardvark - errr, switch - idea. That would certainly solve one problem (and give me yet another use for that nifty PK5)

Placing under an upturned glass could also work providing the nut/bolt has plenty of contact with the glass. Perhaps it could be placed IN a glass? Or a small glass dish. No idea if the gimmick is powerful enough to work like that, but worth a shot.

In the meantime, definitely try to do it inside the little plastic box that comes with it. It really does work - not one person has twigged how it was done so far. It is a neat piece of misdirection too since the box has little clips to "lock" it, making it all seem like part of the effect,like you are locking the nut/bolt away so it cannot be touched. I am actually a lot happier with the effect as a result - even without the requirement to mask the noise it would be a nice touch.

I would have to say though, that without this little workaround, the prop is actually useless as it stands. Bear in mind that nowhere in the instructions does it suggest using the plastic box - and if you do it as they tell you in the instructions you would need to be deaf not to spot the gimmick.

Bob

Careful, Bob, you're obviously falling under the Aardvark spell which means there's no going back to normality!!!

Normality is overrated.... wibble, wibble...

One other thing about the little plastic box - all the suspicion tends to fall on the plastic box itself, since it is clearly the only thing that could be affecting the nut and bolt (don't forget, you have been using the close-up case as your close-up mat throughout the entire performance - clearly nothing funny there then....)

Given that you can have the spectator pick up the little box, open it and examine box, nut and bolt quite freely, the effect is very strong

Bob