Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

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erdnasephile
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Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby erdnasephile » July 28th, 2014, 8:14 am

I want to make my own Tommy Wonder Pom Poms to customize the size for my set of cups.

Has anyone made these before? If so, I have three questions please:

1. Is there a particular yarn that works best? In his write up, Dr. Gene Matsuura mentions "4 ply worsted yarn", but in looking this up, it seems there are various thicknesses of this type of yarn. Does any particular type work best?

2. How much yarn does one need to make the 4 balls?

3. Any Internet sources for an appropriate Tarbell gimmick? Local magic shop has none and it's hard to know over the Web which will be suitable (needs to unscrew with no more than 360 degrees of turn).

Many thanks in advance for your help!

(PS: I know about the Van Dokkum set, which is very beautiful. However, that set will not fit the shorter, Paul Fox type cups, Johnson Cups, etc.)

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mrgoat
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby mrgoat » July 28th, 2014, 9:43 am

I totally read the thread title as "porn porn"

Colour me disappointed.

Bill Mullins
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Bill Mullins » July 28th, 2014, 10:09 am

Tricks that Damian won't do because they sound "dirty"

Penetrating Matches
Balls in the Net
Portable Hole
One in the Hand, Two in the Pocket
Hooker Rising Cards
Ascanio Spread
Mexican Turnover

Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Jonathan Townsend » July 28th, 2014, 10:25 am

mrgoat wrote:I totally read the thread title as "porn porn"

Colour me disappointed.


If you go back to Imam's comment about who was performing the cups trick ... <grin>
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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mrgoat
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby mrgoat » July 28th, 2014, 11:14 am

Bill Mullins wrote:Tricks that Damian won't do because they sound "dirty"

Penetrating Matches
Balls in the Net
Portable Hole
One in the Hand, Two in the Pocket
Hooker Rising Cards
Ascanio Spread
Mexican Turnover


Heheheheheheheheh.

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Tom Stone
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Tom Stone » July 28th, 2014, 12:12 pm

mrgoat wrote:I totally read the thread title as "porn porn"

Colour me disappointed.

Exposed for too much keming? :-)

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Krenz
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Krenz » July 29th, 2014, 8:06 am

It's almost been three decades since I made my pom poms. I hope my recollections are helpful. I showed them to Tommy, and he was complimentary.

erdnasephile wrote:1. Is there a particular yarn that works best? In his write up, Dr. Gene Matsuura mentions "4 ply worsted yarn", but in looking this up, it seems there are various thicknesses of this type of yarn. Does any particular type work best?


I used thin four ply worsted yarn. I don't remember the exact size. If you want tighter/firmer pom poms, use thinner yarn.

You are crafting props that will last a long time. Yarn is not that expensive. Experiment.

erdnasephile wrote:2. How much yarn does one need to make the 4 balls?


I bought one skein of blue (for the bag's pom pom), and two of orange (to make the balls). I had yarn left over. Keep in mind that I only made three balls for Tommy's routine. Your milage may vary, depending on the size that you are aiming for.

erdnasephile wrote:3. Any Internet sources for an appropriate Tarbell gimmick? Local magic shop has none and it's hard to know over the Web which will be suitable (needs to unscrew with no more than 360 degrees of turn).


Magic, Inc. used to carry them. Give them a call. Any of the "old-school" shops should have staff that will understand your need, and they will check their stock to see if they have the thinner Tarbell gimmick. If Magic, Inc. doesn't have any, try Denny & Lee or Abbott's.

Other thoughts:

When you cut the yarn "donuts" open, the pom poms will be very large. You will have to do a lot of trimming to bring them down to a usable size.

When I cut the bag pom pom, I used regular scissors. After an extended cutting session, my thumb felt numb. After my thumb healed, I switched to shears (the type that will cut magician's rope in one snip) and the shaping of the balls was much easier, and the process was much kinder on my thumb.

I recommend using very strong thread to hold the pom poms together. I used a type called "Button & Carpet Thread"—and I tied two separate loops, in case the first one ever broke.

I hope that helps.

Jim

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Q. Kumber
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Q. Kumber » July 29th, 2014, 9:30 am

What a useful post.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 29th, 2014, 11:22 am

Krenz lives! Welcome, Jim.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

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mrgoat
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby mrgoat » July 29th, 2014, 11:36 am

Krenz wrote:SNIP: Very useful info


Best. First. Post. Ever.

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Krenz
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Krenz » July 29th, 2014, 12:20 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:Krenz lives! Welcome, Jim.

To quote Mark Twain, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Thanks Richard.

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Matthew Field
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Matthew Field » July 29th, 2014, 12:28 pm

Jim Krenz! How lovely to see you here. I first met you more than 15 years ago when I visited Magic Inc., where you were working. I also saw you work at Schulien's in Chicago. A big hello!

Matt Field

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Krenz
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Krenz » July 29th, 2014, 1:00 pm

Matthew Field wrote:A big hello!

A big hello to you too Matt.

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erdnasephile
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby erdnasephile » July 29th, 2014, 3:26 pm

Hi, Mr. Krenz:

Thanks for your detailed and VERY helpful reply!

One more question please: what type of wire did you end up using to attach the Tarbell gimmick to the big pom-pom? A coat hanger sounds way too hard to work with, while solder, florist's wire, and the like sound too flimsy.

Thanks!

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Krenz
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Krenz » July 29th, 2014, 4:13 pm

erdnasephile wrote:One more question please: what type of wire did you end up using to attach the Tarbell gimmick to the big pom-pom?

I ended up not using a wire at all. When made with thin yarn, the pom pom is very solid. I simply coated the gimmick with glue, and inserted/wedged it into the pom pom. The gimmick has never come out.

If you make a looser pom pom (with thicker yarn, or you don't make a thoroughly wrapped "donut"), I would use a wire. Look for a thin coat hanger (the type that buckles under the weight of a heavy coat). Or, if you are ambitious, try piano wire.

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erdnasephile
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby erdnasephile » July 29th, 2014, 4:35 pm

This is the exactly the information I was hoping for. Thanks so much!

PS: I still have my copy of NeoMix--great routine! :D

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Krenz
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby Krenz » July 29th, 2014, 4:38 pm

erdnasephile wrote:This is the exactly the information I was hoping for. Thanks so much!

PS: I still have my copy of NeoMix--great routine! :D

You're welcome. And thank you for the kind comment about NeoMix.

rpmagicshop
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Re: Tommy Wonder Pom Pom questions

Postby rpmagicshop » August 16th, 2014, 10:51 am

Hi, I made my own set of these right from the directions out of the Tommy Wonder Books.
Perfect weight and size.
Took a while but they came out great, My fingers hurt for about a week but I still use them 8 years later.
RichP


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