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Effect-Spectator freely selects a card signs it and hands it back to performer. Performer tears the card and brings out a lighter. Performer procedes to 'weld' the card together. Card is handed out for examination.
Cost- around 12.99 from magicbox
Difficulty-3
Review- Very effective as the spectator selects any card. Fire is optional. Easy to do.
overall-10/10. A great trick

Blimey - I wish it had seemed that easy when I did it!!!

The only think I'd add is that this effect is perhaps a difficultly level of 3 - as it involves sleights.

Secondly, I'd say that nothing is actually supplied with the effect except for instructions - you'll have to supply and destroy your own cards - so unless you've got a good stock, you'll need at least a couple of decks of identical cards.

Thirdly... there's a LOT of preparation involved to set this up initially - it's not going to be done in a half hour.

FOURTHLY (and finally) the performer is advised not to let the spectator handle the cards, but the card CAN BE SIGNED by the spectator.

Right.
First of all, maybe it should have been a three and I have changed that. My aplologies.
As for the cards, I just buy cheap plastic coated ones which are fine.
I felt there really wasn't a lot to set up. The preparation for each card only takes under a minute at the most, and you'll probably only want to use around 20 cards so it might take 20 minutes but if you keep doing new cards after you use them and say do this trick every day, thats one minute per day.
The spectator really should sign the card as you signing it is not as effective, but you are right, the spectator shouldn't handle it.
I felt this trick was pretty easy but you are intiltaled to your own opinion and I respct that.
Could you please give a reveiw on it as I would like to hear more of your thoughts on this particular trick.

MoM...

Firstly, sorry if I appeared to 'step on your toes' - I was merely expanding on the review you'd given. There was no offence intended.

The purpose of the reviews system is to give a broad and precise description of the effect. I've been performing magic now for over 10 years at a level, and in that time I've been privileged to sample and use many effects. But most of what I used to by via mail order or even over the counter would be bought 'blind' - as the art was a much more underground one back then.

Therefore, it is so excellent to be able to have the reviews system here and on other boards to hear honest and clear opinions of the effects.

So, my reference to the 'half an hour' thing implied that if you ordered this effect and you'd not got the relevant bits to do the effect, you're certainly not going to be performing it within half an hour - there's a LOT of setting up to do - it's not just 'Buy and perform'. That was the implication.

Secondly - I never mentioned the performer signing the card??? I simply implied that the spectator should not HANDLE the cards, but it's viable for them to sign it.

In my experiences of performing this effect, I've found it pretty easy - although in the context of other 'self-working' effects, this effect would not be deemed EASY by someone who wanted to just buy it and perform straight away. There are SLEIGHTS involved, which take this effect from being a self working trick to being a performance effect. (Yes - conceals, palms, self-gimmicking - they're things that even working magicians may shy away from).

So, sorry for appearing to be a busy body - but this was one of my favourite torn and restored effects for a while (until Yves Doumergue came along with his fantastic method).

So, as you requested, below is a 'mini review' - gleaned from a couple of years experience with this effect...

Torched and Restored - by Brent Braun An addendum to the review by Mistress of Magic
A torn and restored card trick with a fiery finish!

Effect...
The magician removes a deck of cards, and spreads them to show them all different. The spectator names any of the cards she sees, and signs that card boldly across it's face. It truly is a free selection.

The rest of the deck is discarded, and the magician folds the signed selection in half lenthwise. He then folds it into quarters.
And then - you've guessed it - he rips along the folds - leaving four little pieces of card - the face still visible.

The magician reaches into his pocket and takes out a cigarette lighter (or a glue-stick if you're under 16!!!) and proceeds to 'fuse' the edges of the cards. As the torn edges smoulder, the magician puts the lighter back in his pocket. Within a split second, he blows the excess ash off the edges, and the card 'pops' open - fully restored. The signed, torn and restored selection is then handed out to the spectator - complete with 'singed' edges.

Review
Can't really add much more to what has been said above. This does what it says on the tin.

To get up and running, you WILL need extra's to complete the effect - this is purely instructional only. But bear in mind that sacrificing 2 decks is well worth the cost, and effort of creating the gaffs.

During professional performances, I have found this illusion extremely satisfying to perform. It's quick, and as long as you're reasonably proficient with your sleights - it's very clean. Although, a little extra time when setting up the gimmicks can aid the performance immensely.

My only criticism of this effect is, as with many effects of this nature, the reliance upon the gimmicks. There is a 'small' margin for error in here - and it's got one of those 'one-way' paths of if the effect goes slightly wrong, you're on your own - unlike with effects which rely purely on skill and sleights - which you can normally regain control of. This is also evident in the non-tactile nature of the cards - i.e. the spectator must NOT be able to pull a card from the deck with their own hand...

But saying that, this effect can seem completely impromptu - and is bound to impress. There are some minor practice issues best done in front of a mirror to ensure you're on the right track, and from start to finish, there's a 'packet to performance' time of about a couple of hours.

Overall
I'd rate this as 10 out of 10. It's always ready, there truly IS a free choice of card by the spectator, and the booklet supplied to learn the effect is clear and easy to follow. It's one of those effects that becomes better the more you perform it, and once you're fluently pulling off the moves, you can even perform it surrounded.

Nice one, Brent.

thanks to the great review, i was ready to go and get some EXTRAS when i recieved this one. Great effect and found relativly easy to achieve.

i do however agree that a little extra time spent in preperation is well worth it!

(Yes - conceals, palms, self-gimmicking - they're things that even working magicians may shy away from). siege said.

this effect is not for me because its to tricky to get away with kids.
but a good effect none the less worth adding to your arsenal.