The Cut & Restored String
The cut and restored string is one of the oldest tricks in magic, going back to when magic books were sold for 25 cents at the circus side show. With a little rubber cement, you can make this old trick into a new, dramatic cut and restored effect.
Effect – From an envelope, the magician lets a piece of string fall on the table. The string is draped between the blades of a pair of scissors. The magician cuts the string in half, letting it fall to the table in two pieces. The magician places the two ends of the string in his hand and closes his fist around the ends. Two spectators (a male and female couple) are asked to test the strength of their bond by trying to remove their piece of the string from your hand. The spectators pull their string but can’t remove it from your fist. The magician opens his hand to reveal a fully restored string.
The Story Line; Invite a couple to participate is a test of their bond (or friendship). Tell them you have a way to determine the strength of the bond by producing the string. Cut the string as in the effect above with the gimmicked middle in your fist. Give an end to each person to pull. As you ask them to slowly pull their ends of the string, stress that you are holding the ends of the string as tight as you can to prevent them from removing their piece from your hand. When they can long pull a string from your hand, open your hand to show a fully restored string. I tell them their bond is so strong they restored the cut ends of the string…
The String – String is made of a number of cotton threads twisted together. For this trick, a string of 6 strands or greater is required. The common name for such string is Butcher’s twine which can be purchased at Walmart.
The setup – Hold a 34-inch length of string at its center between the thumb and fingertips of each hand. Twist the string counterclockwise to separate it into individual strands and divide the strands equally between your fingers. Pull the separated strands away from each other until the un-twisted sections are two inches long, as shown in Fig. 1. By re-twisting the separated strands as shown in Fig. 2, they will appear to be two separate string ends as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3
Fig. 4 Fig. 5
Cut the real ends of the string at an angle such that when they are placed together, they would appear to be the same thickness as the rest of the string. Fig 4. Rub a small amount of rubber cement into each cut end of the string and let it dry. Place the ends together, angle against angle, and roll between your fingers to give the appearance of a solid uncut string Fig 5. I prepare several strings at one time and keep them in small coin envelopes in my pocket when I do walk around magi.
Presentation – Open an envelope and let the string fall onto the table. Drape the center of the string (the rubber cemented ends) between the blades of a pair of scissors and cut the string, letting it fall to the table in two pieces. Lay the cut strings across the palm of your hand, Fig. 6. At this point, the spectator sees four ends of the string. The two short twisted ends and two long ends. Close your hand into a fist and turn your palm down. Ask the spectators to hold on to each of the two long ends of the string. Tell the spectators to slowly pull their ends of the string. By tightening your fist, you can control and feel the twisted ends disappear in your fist. Let the spectator continue to pull the ends of the string until the string is tight. Move your closed left fist slightly back and forth, and open your hand, leaving the spectators holding a fully restored string.
Fig. 6
Note: Rubber cementing the ends of the string allows you to perform a very visual restoration of the string without any moves or slights. The use of an envelope to introduce the string allows you to make up several tricks in advance and carry them in your pocket, ready to perform.