Fine thorough post, Mystician.

I've been playing around with the Hottrix thumb tip some more and just FYI: It's bigger than most TT's, but not awkward to handle (I have the hard tip), so it can hold a larger silk and more salt or water if you're using them. The silk vanish with a bigger silk has more impact, so the Hottrix gets the nod with that. Also, the more I check it out, the more it seems to be indesctructible--don't think you'll have to ever buy another one.

As for the realistic factor: There's a studio in California (don't know the name now, but have seen their website) who makes a custom TT and according to them it's indistinguishable from the real thing. It costs $100. Be that as it may, I'll still stick with the standard ones. I think a lot of concern about TT's not being realistic is misplaced. My main concern is working my trick (oops, effect) and then ditching the TT in a natural manner. And for that I believe our greatest strength is not the TT--no matter how realistic it looks or doesn't--but misdirection.

Also, sure, laymen know about TT's. . .sort of. But when you do your trick and do it right, you'll still be able to pull it off, I believe. I don't worry about it very much, because I seem to have had great luck succeeding with my bits. And I'm sure I couldn't fool a magician, but then again, I don't try to--how many magicians do we ever have in our audience? And if they are there and we do a good job, I think they'd appreciate that. I know I do when I watch other magicians.

$100 for a thumb tip? I hope it comes with a DVD and 24-hour tecnical support.

Darwin Ortiz has some of the best thumb tips I've seen. His other fingers are pretty good too.

Ahhh... The thumbtip. My favorite gimmick (first magic item I ever got)

As a child,I really used that little device till it fell apart. I came up with dozens of tricks using the thumb tip, and its still my very favorite device. I have a huge collection of them, but I must admit I still most often use a vernet regular size or a vernet jumbo.

I also have the thumbs up tip. I have an eclipse tip, I have a flp tip, extreme close up workers tip, japenese tips, I have a steel tip, I even have a copper tip as well. All in all I'd say I have a box of 20 or so different tips.

I use different tips for different tricks. I don't feel one is best for everything.

Steven

Heeeelp ! where can I get my thumbs on a japanese seo vinyl soft Salz thumbtip in EUrope ??

thanks
VG