Anyone know the mechanism that makes a French Arm Chopper work?
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JustJimAZ
Mar 25, 2011, 6:16:13 PM3/25/11
to HeatSync Labs
I guess I'm obsessed with prop magic. It would make a cool effect at
the arm chopper scale or the guillotine scale.
I looked up some videos on YouTube, and I can see the way the illusion
is done, but am having trouble visualizing the mechanism.
Naturally, I want to re-create it for Halloween.
the arm chopper scale or the guillotine scale.
I looked up some videos on YouTube, and I can see the way the illusion
is done, but am having trouble visualizing the mechanism.
Naturally, I want to re-create it for Halloween.
Rick Osgood
Mar 25, 2011, 6:17:51 PM3/25/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
Can you link us to a video so we all know what you are referring too? I can search for it myself but I want to be sure I am looking at the right thing. I have never heard of a "french arm chopper".
Rick Osgood
Mar 25, 2011, 6:24:32 PM3/25/11
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John Kittelsrud
Mar 25, 2011, 6:27:45 PM3/25/11
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You can buy a tiny version that will cut a cigarette that is
positioned under your finger. You demo the blade by cutting a
cigarette on it's own and then you put someones finger in the larger
hole above the cigarette. The blade is an 'L' shaped that moves out of
the way as it touches the assistant's finger. The part that touches
the finger is blunt and quite safe. I took mine apart when I was about
eight, that was a long time ago but that's about how it works.
Sounds like you need to find a few stage magicians that are willing
to lend you a hand in making props, or at least pointing you towards
the secret blueprints. ;-)
positioned under your finger. You demo the blade by cutting a
cigarette on it's own and then you put someones finger in the larger
hole above the cigarette. The blade is an 'L' shaped that moves out of
the way as it touches the assistant's finger. The part that touches
the finger is blunt and quite safe. I took mine apart when I was about
eight, that was a long time ago but that's about how it works.
Sounds like you need to find a few stage magicians that are willing
to lend you a hand in making props, or at least pointing you towards
the secret blueprints. ;-)
-John K.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
www.teamdroid.com
My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:17 PM, Rick Osgood <ri...@heatsynclabs.org> wrote:
> Can you link us to a video so we all know what you are referring too? I can
> search for it myself but I want to be sure I am looking at the right thing.
> I have never heard of a "french arm chopper".
>
John Kittelsrud
Mar 25, 2011, 6:28:33 PM3/25/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
Rick has it right. The gag scales fairly well.
-John K.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
www.teamdroid.com
My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
Rick Osgood
Mar 25, 2011, 6:32:15 PM3/25/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
I was just about to post that I think the blade is L-Shaped on the right side, at least in the video I posted. Based on John's description it sounds like that is correct. It seems like when the magician in the video leaves his fingers in as he brings the blade up, it flips the L onto its side. This way when he brings it back down, it flips the L back over when it hits his wrist. Since it is flipped back over, you can place a carrot in the bottom hole and the blade is now able to cut it. Hope that makes sense.
John Kittelsrud
Mar 25, 2011, 6:36:37 PM3/25/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
That's the best part of the trick. You let people mess with it without
putting the 'safe' blade up. If they don't know how to turn the blade
it will still keep working as a finger chopper. Best you don't allow
them to try it out for real though, a sharp smack to the plunger will
leave a nasty cut on a finger. Watched a friend of mine do that. Oops.
putting the 'safe' blade up. If they don't know how to turn the blade
it will still keep working as a finger chopper. Best you don't allow
them to try it out for real though, a sharp smack to the plunger will
leave a nasty cut on a finger. Watched a friend of mine do that. Oops.
-John K.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
www.teamdroid.com
My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>> >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM, JustJimAZ <jkd.m...@gmail.com>
Will Bradley
Mar 25, 2011, 7:10:42 PM3/25/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com, John Kittelsrud
Awesome. How's our mousetrap-actuator prototype doing for you? I'm still proud of my handyman skills, haven't done anything with wood in awhile :)
>> >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM, JustJimAZ <jkd.man.az@gmail.com>
JustJimAZ
Apr 13, 2011, 10:43:09 AM4/13/11
to HeatSync Labs
http://youtu.be/o0CmMdNwQzs
The version I'm familiar with seems to actually chop the hand off and
it lands in a basket. More stunning than passing through unharmed,
and could be scaled up to make a guillotine.
On Mar 25, 4:10 pm, Will Bradley <w...@heatsynclabs.org> wrote:
> Awesome. How's our mousetrap-actuator prototype doing for you? I'm still
> proud of my handyman skills, haven't done anything with wood in awhile :)
>
The version I'm familiar with seems to actually chop the hand off and
it lands in a basket. More stunning than passing through unharmed,
and could be scaled up to make a guillotine.
On Mar 25, 4:10 pm, Will Bradley <w...@heatsynclabs.org> wrote:
> Awesome. How's our mousetrap-actuator prototype doing for you? I'm still
> proud of my handyman skills, haven't done anything with wood in awhile :)
>
> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:36 PM, John Kittelsrud <john...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > That's the best part of the trick. You let people mess with it without
> > putting the 'safe' blade up. If they don't know how to turn the blade
> > it will still keep working as a finger chopper. Best you don't allow
> > them to try it out for real though, a sharp smack to the plunger will
> > leave a nasty cut on a finger. Watched a friend of mine do that. Oops.
>
> > -John K.
> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> >www.teamdroid.com
> > My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:32 PM, Rick Osgood <ri...@heatsynclabs.org>
> > wrote:
> > > I was just about to post that I think the blade is L-Shaped on the right
> > > side, at least in the video I posted. Based on John's description it
> > sounds
> > > like that is correct. It seems like when the magician in the video
> > leaves
> > > his fingers in as he brings the blade up, it flips the L onto its side.
> > > This way when he brings it back down, it flips the L back over when it
> > hits
> > > his wrist. Since it is flipped back over, you can place a carrot in the
> > > bottom hole and the blade is now able to cut it. Hope that makes sense.
>
> > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:28 PM, John Kittelsrud <john...@gmail.com>
> > That's the best part of the trick. You let people mess with it without
> > putting the 'safe' blade up. If they don't know how to turn the blade
> > it will still keep working as a finger chopper. Best you don't allow
> > them to try it out for real though, a sharp smack to the plunger will
> > leave a nasty cut on a finger. Watched a friend of mine do that. Oops.
>
> > -John K.
> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> >www.teamdroid.com
> > My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:32 PM, Rick Osgood <ri...@heatsynclabs.org>
> > wrote:
> > > I was just about to post that I think the blade is L-Shaped on the right
> > > side, at least in the video I posted. Based on John's description it
> > sounds
> > > like that is correct. It seems like when the magician in the video
> > leaves
> > > his fingers in as he brings the blade up, it flips the L onto its side.
> > > This way when he brings it back down, it flips the L back over when it
> > hits
> > > his wrist. Since it is flipped back over, you can place a carrot in the
> > > bottom hole and the blade is now able to cut it. Hope that makes sense.
>
> > wrote:
>
> > >> Rick has it right. The gag scales fairly well.
>
> > >> -John K.
> > >> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > >>www.teamdroid.com
> > >> My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:27 PM, John Kittelsrud <john...@gmail.com>
>
> > >> Rick has it right. The gag scales fairly well.
>
> > >> -John K.
> > >> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > >>www.teamdroid.com
> > >> My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > >> wrote:
> > >> > You can buy a tiny version that will cut a cigarette that is
> > >> > positioned under your finger. You demo the blade by cutting a
> > >> > cigarette on it's own and then you put someones finger in the larger
> > >> > hole above the cigarette. The blade is an 'L' shaped that moves out of
> > >> > the way as it touches the assistant's finger. The part that touches
> > >> > the finger is blunt and quite safe. I took mine apart when I was about
> > >> > eight, that was a long time ago but that's about how it works.
> > >> > Sounds like you need to find a few stage magicians that are willing
> > >> > to lend you a hand in making props, or at least pointing you towards
> > >> > the secret blueprints. ;-)
>
> > >> > -John K.
> > >> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > >> >www.teamdroid.com
> > >> > My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:17 PM, Rick Osgood <ri...@heatsynclabs.org>
> > >> > wrote:
> > >> >> Can you link us to a video so we all know what you are referring too?
> > >> >> I can
> > >> >> search for it myself but I want to be sure I am looking at the right
> > >> >> thing.
> > >> >> I have never heard of a "french arm chopper".
>
> > >> >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM, JustJimAZ <jkd.man...@gmail.com>
> > >> > You can buy a tiny version that will cut a cigarette that is
> > >> > positioned under your finger. You demo the blade by cutting a
> > >> > cigarette on it's own and then you put someones finger in the larger
> > >> > hole above the cigarette. The blade is an 'L' shaped that moves out of
> > >> > the way as it touches the assistant's finger. The part that touches
> > >> > the finger is blunt and quite safe. I took mine apart when I was about
> > >> > eight, that was a long time ago but that's about how it works.
> > >> > Sounds like you need to find a few stage magicians that are willing
> > >> > to lend you a hand in making props, or at least pointing you towards
> > >> > the secret blueprints. ;-)
>
> > >> > -John K.
> > >> > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > >> >www.teamdroid.com
> > >> > My photos: pics.teamdroid.com
>
> > >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 3:17 PM, Rick Osgood <ri...@heatsynclabs.org>
> > >> > wrote:
> > >> >> Can you link us to a video so we all know what you are referring too?
> > >> >> I can
> > >> >> search for it myself but I want to be sure I am looking at the right
> > >> >> thing.
> > >> >> I have never heard of a "french arm chopper".
>
Rick Osgood
Apr 13, 2011, 11:08:33 AM4/13/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
It looks like the center square slides down. Like there is another hand hole above the original one hidden inside the appaatus. When he slams the blade down it pushes the hidden hand hold down, which pushes the persons hand down quickly behind the bucket.
Corey Renner
Apr 13, 2011, 11:10:45 AM4/13/11
to heatsy...@googlegroups.com
That's what I thought too, his hand seems to motion-blur and move straight down. Also the black lines painted on the front would tend to obscure the moving panel.
c
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