From: n5gax@leo.unm.edu (Duke McMullan n5gax)
Subject: Re: Ping-Pong Balls
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 05:33:28 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

In article <Dec11.021908.57386@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU>
tesla@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Jon Nash) writes:
>I've recently been thinking about magic using ping-pong balls...  Are there
>any ball routines that are easily described or especially suited for ping-pong
>balls?

Take seven (7) ping-pong (actually, it's table tennis, but never mind that)
balls, cut one (1) in half, along the seam if possible, and PRESTO!  Two (2)
sets of multiplying ping-pong balls.

I haven't examined any commercial multiplying billiard ball sets lately, but
memory says that the PPBs are about the same size.  Paint them the same color,
and you have balls with two distinct sets of properties.  Useful.

Unless the composition of the PPBs has changed in the past few years, they are
made of nitrocellulose.  Take a sacrificial ball and ignite it on a brick or
concrete surface . . . it'll burn quite spectacularly!  As to whether this can
be used in a reasonable effect or not, I leave up to you.

The balls are light enough that they can be picked up by double-sided trans-
parent tape or tacky putties.  They are, regrettably, rather talkative.

They can, of course, be "levitated" on a stream of air, such as a vaccuum
cleaner vent, but the equipment usually is too noisy and, besides, too many
people have seen that gag.

I've never worked with it, but you might try carefully splitting a ball and
tacking it back together with cyanoacrilate adhesive, after loading an object
inside.  Do a switch, and produce the item at your leisure.  (If the item is
not damaged by heat, _burn_ the ball to display it.)

If you cut a round hole in the ball, say about 3/4", and run a cord through a
small hole in the opposite side, you have the basis for a small pull.  White,
unfortunately.

The balls could be loaded with fluid from a hypodermic needle, and sealed with
a spot of adhesive.  (Visions of table tennis balls filled with mercury come to
mind.  "Service!"  ;^)

Fill 'em with an acetylene/air mix, and you might get a healthy BANG when you
ignite them.  (Don't try that at home, kids, it's more dangerous than it
sounds.)

I used to mess around by "serving" a vanishing ball.  The ball is tossed up,
the paddle swept up toward it from below, but the paddle passes in _front_ of
the ball and the ball is seized and clipped by the forefinger, behind the
paddle.  No, it didn't fool anyone.  It wasn't supposed to.  "Messing around",
I said.  (The "pencil grip" won't work on this one.)

Again, cutting a ball in half, you have a pair of "false eyes" which can be
decorated at your pleasure.  You may want perforations for vision, and beware
of sharp edges!  Sandpaper will remove any really dangerous edges.  Just open
your eyes widely, and tuck 'em into place.  Relax.  They'll stay, for a while.
If you need to wear them for an extended period, use theatrical skin adhesive
to help hold them in.

Be sure no one hits you in the "eye" while you're wearing 'em.  ;^)

Be safe; have fun.

						d
-- 
		"I've let my cat use my typewriter on occasion,
		    and the results were cryptic at best." 
						-- Larry Niven
	Duke McMullan n5gax nss13429r phon505-255-4642 n5gax@leo.unm.edu
Newsgroups: alt.magic