(Making Invisible Thread & Wax)

Copyright © 2001 by Steve Fearson and DOWNLOADMAGIC.COM

What is this about? Invisible thread and Magician’s wax are tools commonly used by magicians to levitate small objects. The real secret, even to most magicians is... Where does this stuff come from? Well, you are about to find out! Invisible thread is just what is sounds like, a thread that is invisible to the naked eye under most conditions. The thread is so thin that it can’t be seen, yet it is strong enough to lift a small object like a bill or a cigarette. Magician’s Wax is magician’s lingo for any sticky or tacky substance. This substance is often a blend of different waxes, specially formulated to be suitably soft and tacky. The wax is often used as an anchor to hold the ends of a piece of invisible thread. Invisible Thread (IT) The most common source for invisible thread used to be a ladies nylon stocking. If you buy a cheap pair of black nylons, you will find that you can cut a strip out and seperate the fibers until you have a single strand which is quite invisible. Magicians around the world have used this as a source for many years. The process of stripping out a single strand of any length can be very frustrating.

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Recently, a product has come onto the market which is a wonderful source of inexpensive, high quality invisble thread. The product is a sewing yarn/thread that goes by the brand name “Wooly Nylon”. This is where most of the invisible thread packaged in magic tricks like comes from now. Here is what a spool of wooly nylon looks like. Some of the spool in the photograph has been used already, the amount you get on one spool will last the average magician a lifetime. So where can I get IT? Wooly Nylon is produced by the YLI Corporation. YLI does not retail to individuals. They do have a list of distributors on their site. If you search the net for “Wooly Nylon”, you might find distributors who offer mail order delivery. Visit this link for a current list of Wooly Nylon Suppliers. Rather than ordering it through the mail, you may be able to find it locally. Wooly Nylon is sold by many major fabric and sewing companies. One nationwide US company that carries it is Jo-Ann Fabrics. It is used as a sewing thread and the spools are usually wrapped in a clear plastic. Be sure to look under the bottom of the spool and note the color of the thread. The brown appears to be black at first glance, but it is not as invisible as the black. Be sure the color is listed as black

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How come I can see it? Before you can use the Wooly Nylon as invisible thread, you will need to perform a task commonly called “stripping the thread”. It’s nice to have some Magician’s Wax available to help manage the thread during the stripping process, so the stripping will be described at the end of the manuscript. First we will reveal the secret of the origin of Magician’s Wax. What is Magician’s Wax? Magician’s Wax is most often a pliable, tacky wax which magicians use to perform different feats. Probably the two most common use of Magician’s Wax are the classic “Card on the Ceiling” effect, where a chosen card sticks to the ceiling, and using it as an anchor for invisible thread work. (For a free copy of “The Card in the Ceiling” click here) Although wax is prefered, magicians have been known to use any sticky substance available. Even bubble gum! But poster putty or a similar substance will work in a pinch. The best wax for use with invisible thread is a tacky wax used in candle making. It comes in the form of honeycomb imprinted beeswax sheets. The sheets are used to make beeswax candles by rolling the sheet around a wick. Being pressed into the sheet makes this beeswax perfectly pliable and ready for working. The sheets come in different colors. Depending on the effect you perform, you may require a certain color. For example, if you are going to

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attach the wax to a button on your shirt that is black, you may wish to have a supply of black wax. For an effect like Fearson’s Floating Cigarette, where the wax is attached to your nail, the natural or mauve colors are perfect for most people. Where to get the Wax A craft store carrying candle making supplies will often have the honeycomb sheets. One nationwide chain in the United States which carries the wax is Michael’s crafts. A search on the web for “Beeswax Candle” will also yield some results, but your best bet would be to go straight to our updated list of Beeswax Sheet providers. You’ll find online suppliers as well as local merchants. If you decide to try to locate the wax locally, do not buy regular beeswax blocks. That will not work. You need the sheets that have been pressed into the honeycomb, or it will be nearly impossible to work with. If you visit your local candle shop, you may be able to find another type of wax called “Ply Wax” or “Tacky Wax”. This is a stickier wax which is great for an effect like the Card In the Ceiling and it often comes in a little container, perfect for carrying! This wax is usually a white color and is very soft.

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Stripping the Thread Begin by removing a length of thread from the spool. The exact length of course depends on the effect you are going to perform.

If you look closely at the end of the strand you’ll see many tiny filaments. You must take hold of one of these tiny strands with your right fingers. Use a tweezers if necessary.

Gently pull the single strand of thread out from the rest about an inch or two.

Attach a piece of wax to the single strand, and using the wax secure the thread to a wall just above your head so that the length of thread is hanging down towards the floor and the top end is attached to the wall by a single strand.

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With the first finger and thumb of the right hand, lightly pinch the thread just below the bunch of threads at the top and slowly pull downward on the thread, causing the single strand to pull out another inch or two. When you feel the thread begin to bind, take a grip under the bunched up strands and pull the bundle of strands down a little more. Work the thread off the single strand inch by inch, and be careful not to snag or knot the thread. Repeat this until you have pulled the bundle right off the end of the thread. When you have removed the entire length of invisible thread, attach a piece of wax to the bottom end, and if you are not using it right away, you may wrap it around a card for safe keeping. WWW.DOWNLOADMAGIC.COM Click the link above to visit Steve Fearson’s DownloadMagic Magic tricks, videos and more available for download 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! See Steve explain his Original Invisible Thread hookup for the first time ever on video in AREA 51 The Ultimate Flying Light! In this great routine, a piece of space junk is displayed which lights up and begins to levitate! But that’s not all! The performer tosses the light out the door or window, and it FLIES AWAY! Your audience sees it disappear into the night sky!

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