I want to shuffle playing cards, while they are on fire...

fiveub · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:18

I am coming up with some ideas for a magic video I want to create. However, it will involve myself performing some pretty decent shuffling and cuts with playing cards, but the cards will be on fire...

I need OcUK's help for recommendations, is there something I could use to practice with, maybe fire proof gloves (need to be quite thin for good card handling for now to get practising. But also, for the actual video I would like it if I didn't wear gloves but had something on my hands which is fire/burning proof.

Any suggestions? I know this is GD, but sensible suggestions would be more welcomed

Many thanks in advance.

Russinating · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:19

You can get fireproof gel that you could cover your hands in. They use it for burning actors.

Fido McNasty · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:34

Treat the cards also to a solution which inhibits the burning and/or lowers the burning temp. Just an idea

Please do post video's of any out takes

tom_e · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:36

nomex gloves can be picked up quite cheap and should be useful

waso_dude · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:46

Real men don't use gloves!

fiveub · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:49

rghjones said:
You can get fireproof gel that you could cover your hands in. They use it for burning actors.

Does anyone know where I can get this gel? I just need something to make sure my hands are not going to have high degree burns and not going to be hurting me.

Fido McNasty said:
Treat the cards also to a solution which inhibits the burning and/or lowers the burning temp. Just an idea

Please do post video's of any out takes

I will most likely be using quite a few decks of cards, and taking quite a few takes with the camera to get the right shots. The cards I have do take a while to burn through as it is.

I will more than likely have uncut footage at the end of the film, but obviously I am going to test and practice before I film to make sure I get it right and I do not get injured.

blitz2163 said:
nomex gloves can be picked up quite cheap and should be useful

Are they quite thick? Do you think shuffling cards and cutting cards should be quite easy? I can always try, is there any local shops I could pick them up from to test them out, or anywhere trustworthy online to buy from?

Monkeynut · 15 Jul 2009 at 21:55

is it possible to somehow coat the cards to prevent them burning then sloshing some alcohol on them and burning that? I don't know if that would burn at a lower temperature.

Tefal · 15 Jul 2009 at 22:00

An idea to try is soak the cards in some water then dip them in acetone. it works for money so might just work. the acetone should burn while the cards remain ok (will probably only last short time before they go up/acetone burns off)

I'd see if you could get some white gloves of the same material race drivers have, thin and light but because their white would look good as a magician.

fiveub · 15 Jul 2009 at 22:07

Monkeynut said:
is it possible to somehow coat the cards to prevent them burning then sloshing some alcohol on them and burning that? I don't know if that would burn at a lower temperature.

I can always give it a try.

Tefal said:
An idea to try is soak the cards in some water then dip them in acetone. it works for money so might just work. the acetone should burn while the cards remain ok (will probably only last short time before they go up/acetone burns off)

I'd see if you could get some white gloves of the same material race drivers have, thin and light but because their white would look good as a magician.

I will use gloves to start off with, in order to practice so I know which way the flames on the cards will end up when performing the shuffles and cuts. Once that is mastered then I need to be able to do it without any gloves or anything on my hands (apart from some liquid or gel of some sort to stop me burning).

Pestilence · 16 Jul 2009 at 01:34

Similar to what has been said before, you'd need to coat the cards in a flammable substance to prevent the cards themselves burning up. Similar to what we used to do at parties with faders -- spraying their legs with aerosol and setting them alight.

For an extended act, ie. more than a few seconds, you would also need to either wear gloves or coat your hands with fire-retardant gel.

It's not an easy thing to be doing.

Cybermyk · 16 Jul 2009 at 01:39

Couldn't you just use a projected flame image over the cards or reflective coatings and seperate flames?

fiveub · 18 Jul 2009 at 17:24

Pestilence said:
Similar to what has been said before, you'd need to coat the cards in a flammable substance to prevent the cards themselves burning up. Similar to what we used to do at parties with faders -- spraying their legs with aerosol and setting them alight.

For an extended act, ie. more than a few seconds, you would also need to either wear gloves or coat your hands with fire-retardant gel.

It's not an easy thing to be doing.

Looks like it could be a good project to work on then. Does anyone know any products out there on the market which are reliable and effective?

Cybermyk said:
Couldn't you just use a projected flame image over the cards or reflective coatings and seperate flames?

How do you mean?