Which reel should I buy, I want to make a silk jump from table about5" away from me, jump to my hand??

I currently do the silk through mic stand in my act and have had difficulties with the various reels I've used.

The main issue is getting a powerful, small and smooth working reel with a strong reliable thread . I have bought a couple from Magicus in Barcelona. They where 65 Euros each.

I had to take them apart and replace the thread with button thread. The thread that comes with the reel just wasn't up to the job. As the thread is covered by the hankercheif during the effect there are non visability issues concerning it. I have also had to re-tension the spring by having it coiled tighter when 'at rest' (ie without the thread extended).

Annoyingly one of them works brilliantly and one of them doesn't. The one that doesn't is great when it works but it gets stuck from time to time so I can't use it in any shows. The spring in being coiled up to it's absolute maximum is trying to force it's way out of the tiny space between the centeral post and the metal plate that holds the spring in place. the tiniest part of one of the coils can catch in this tiny gap. I don't know why it happens with one but not the other.

I can't get the cheaper reels (from India) strong enough even by adjusting the spring's tension as much as possible so I can't concur with Pete's suggestion that cheap reels are ok.

As people have vouched for the Owen reel, the Fantasio Candle Pull, PM reel any more info on the suitability or problems specific to using them for the Silk Through Mic Stand would be most welcomed.

Cheers Neal.

Having just done a bit more research it turns out the reels I bought and adjusted from Magicus are actually Tannen's Utility reels.

Cheers Neal.

El Ducos Magic has been sold to Gay Ljungberg of Gycklaren Magic Marketing here in Sweden and it is his ambistion to continue with El Ducos stuff including the reel I think.
Otherwise you might try the Tim Starr reel I saw him demonstrate it in his Lecture last October and it seems like a great reel.

Michael Ammar has a video demo of this effect as well with his "old" reel. I'm not sure what he uses, but I've been wanting one ever since I'd seen it! It does look like real (reel) magic! His reel seems to be silent which is what I'd want. How do the others match up sound wise?

Also, has anyone tried using one of these standard (cheap) business card/key reels that you can get at any office supply place? I'm not sure they would work, but might be good for practice etc. Perhaps someone even makes a decent one that's somewhat quiet? Thanks!

This reminds me, the best performer I've seen to the silk through mike stand was the late Duke Stern.

Zaprig1 I've had a go with several office supply bought key reels. Even the more sizable ones haven't had enough oomph to them even after I've re tensioned the spring (That's for the ones you can get into. Many of them are riveted shut or heat sealed.)

But if anyone has found one that works let us know.

Neal.

Thanks for the info Sealegs! I don't think I'll waste my time unless someone answers differently.

http://www.stevensmagic.com has "kirkendall reels" CAN'T BEAT 'EM

Pete- that's going to be an "add to cart" then. Thanks for the link! Any references on other material besides the two obvious routines for its use?

Does anyone have a source for the explanation of the Silk thru Mike Stand?

A great learning source is on Vol. 1 of Michael Ammar's Easy To Master Thread Miracles.
Do you have a reel yet?

Have fun,

Doug L.

It's also in Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic. (Not sure which volume -- I have them all on CD.)

I'm kind of new to Thread Reels and have a few questions.1)I purchased the 2004 Thread Boss w/Kevlar Thread and The Standard one,The Boss got broken and I bought the Original 2000 Boss.I thought all of the Reels have Kevlar Thread,is it me or is the Thread on the 2004 stronger.2)I found a site called the Thread Exchange that sells Kevlar Thread.Does anyone know about this Thread?Thanks