Years ago I bought the small pen-sized "Needle Through Balloon." I never used it in shows, because it wasn't reliable. Sometimes I was able to make it work; other times I had unintentional poppage.

There are a couple of routines I wanna perform with this trick, so I recently purchased the giant needle and wand case, thinking that the reason that I hadn't had success before was because I had the cheap crappy version of the trick. Well, I STILL cannot make the thing work 100 percent of the time. Am I doing something wrong? My needle is well lubricated, and I insert it slowly into the dark end of the balloon. Please HELP ME!!!

Also, have any of you who use this trick ever had a balloon pop when you were trying to insert the needle in the balloon during a show? If so, how did you handle the situation?

My needle is well lubricated, and I insert it slowly into the dark end of the balloon. Please HELP ME!!!

you're on your own with that one pickles.. sorry but that's a little too personal for me to help..

you might have too much air in the balloon, wHEN I DO it, I use 2 needles and then on third I pop the balloon.

I think that you need to set the expectation that you might pop a few before getting it right... You said, "My needle is well lubricated" but I think it is less a lubricant and more something to seal the hole around the balloon. Alpha Clown is probably right about too much air.

Yeah you dont want to over inflate the balloon. And poppage is ok it shows that what you are doing shouldnt happen and when you make it happen it will be that more amazing. Dieter Tasso is an AMAZING juggler and scripts in his drops... he doesnt want it to look too easy so he drops every once in a while to reinforce the fact that what he is doing doesnt normally happen in nature.

Are your balloons fairly new?

Are your balloons fairly new?

The ones I used today are fairly new. I don't think that is the problem. I will try again tomorrow making certain that I didn't over-inflate the balloons.

That's cute. I like it.

Hello, NEEDLE TIPS (NO Pun intended)

I used to use the Needle and Balloon routine with reguar balloons. The trick is to use Vaseline on the Balloon.

Try smearing the vaseline where you intend to penetrate the balloon and where you want to have it exit.
The Vaseline will be slightly visible through the semi-transparent Balloon.
The Vaseline seals the hole around the needle and prevents the balloon from popping. The popping is caused by the sudden expansion of pressurized air and the Vaseline slows the escaping air.

ALSO

I f the balloon still pops - the tip on the needle might have a burr on it. The needle must be very sharp so it sort of slips through the balloon rather than tears a hole in it. If all else fails, try honing the point on a smooth sharpening stone.
Aso try rotating the balloon rather than stabbing it and use very little pressure. Slightly increase the pressure until it penetrates.

I'm sure the Vaseline will stop the problem.

if all else fails use a small piece of transparent tape at the point your going to pierce the balloon.

Hey there Ms. P!!!!!
I use a small rag that is pre-loaded with a little baby oil (lubricant) and then I make a big deal about having to clean the needle so that there is no dirt or even a little grain of sand, otherwise the balloon will pop. I then tell the audience that they must help me by being very very quiet, because if they make noise and make me nervous, then the needle is too wiggly and the balloon will pop!!!! I show them the dirty rag so they can see that it is important to get the needle clean.

That way, if your balloon pops, you have several reasons why that happens!!!! I usually asked the kids who scared me just before I tried inserting the needle!!!!!! etc, etc.....

I always carry several balloons so that if one pops, I can blame something.....then try again!!!!!

Also, Uncle Willy is right about checking the tip or even the shaft (don't go there guys, I'm still talking about the needle!!!!!). My needle had a burr in the middle that I fixed by using very very fine sand paper and smoothing it out. It really makes a difference if your needle isn't flawless!!!!!

is it working on a cheap balloons? ive tried it twice but i failed T_T

The needle through balloon method that was passed to me involves using the large (11") transparent balloons. I turn them inside out, and paint on opposite sides some clear drying rubber cement, thickening the walls of the balloon in two spots, and allowing it to dry before turning right side out.

Keeping the needle burr free, sharp, and lubed are all important aspects, as well. Keeping track of where the thick parts are is a matter of personal preference. Some use a tiny sharpie dot, touching the spot of the balloon inside before painting the rubber cement; others determine where it is after inflating and draw a clown face or some such on the spots.

The needle should be able to pass completely through the balloon through those thickened walls, even popping the red inflated heart inside the big round!

Have fun! It has worked for me for years....

The popping of the Balloons is caused by the needle :applause:allowing the sudden expansion of the pressurized air trapped in thje Balloon. The way to stop this is to slow the escaping air. This is accomplished by using petrolium jelly to seal the area where the needle penetrates the Balloon. The Jelly is usually applied to the needle.The commercially available balloons have one or two areas that are extra thick. Try applying the jelly to the balloons as well.

Another problem that arises is that sometimes the needles become dull or have burrs on the tip from dropping. These burrs can also be the cause of the Balloons bursting. Carefully hone the tip of the needle.

These remedies should stop the problem.

Update: I did include the "Needle Thru Balloon" trick at my VBS show, and, yes, the balloon DID pop. Dang it! I had discovered a bag of the huge clear balloons in the box that came with the needle, and it seemed that I did have better luck with them when practicing--sure wish they would have worked during the performance!

I'm glad I started this thread, though, because at least I was prepared for the possibility of poppage when I performed the trick. My 16-year-old was in the audience, and she said that it looked like it was supposed to pop my first try. And, fortunately, my second attempt was successful.

Perhaps next time I will try to pre-coat spots on the balloon with rubber cement, as a couple of you suggested. But, honestly, I prefer to do magic that works 100 percent of the time. This trick stressed me out a bit. :)

Don't use rubber cement to coat the balloon use petroleum jelly for a better seal.

Ok now I have seen this trick but I could never do it!!! I am sure that it's like impossible for me to do!!!!

I took this out of my show for just that reason.
This was a staple in my act for years, but at the beginning of the summer for some reason every time I tried the trick the balloons popped.
It didn't even occur to me to try sharpening the needle... perhaps this is the solution I was looking for.
My routine always played big for me, and I was sad to have to remove it from the show.

I sharpened my needle, too, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I just don't think I can do a trick that has a 50 percent chance of success. I know magicians who do it in every show and it ALWAYS works, and I'd love to know what their secret is. Maybe I'll try it again later when I'm older and braver. I AM proud of myself for attempting it in a big show, but I think I'll pack it away for a bit.

I use his routine with some changes since there are 2 of us. I pop it on purpose when Tiddles blows the horn. It goes into the balloon but never makes it out the other side.

Lesle, you and your partner look like you're on marionette strings.

Boy Tim, are you absorbent!!!!! LOL I had to go bad and look at the picture again, 'cause when I read your comment, I went, HUH?, WHAT? Then I noticed the walls in the background!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok how bout this make the gag around it popping,
so that way there is no why for you to mess up.

Norm Barnhart has a bit where he draws a face on the balloon, gives it character, then re-vives it after it's popped. The good thing about this approach is that if it accidentally pops you can just go right into the mouth to mouth resuscitation.

Don't forget to hypnotize the balloon before you start. It helps to keep him relaxed so he doesn't tense up and pop. :-)

+1 on the vaseline, tape and needle being sharp and flawless. And don't inflate the balloon so much.

You want to pierce the thickest part of the balloon, usually right at the tip and then near the nozzle.

Don't hesitate, be bold with it. If you hesitate you might scratch the balloon before actually piercing it.

Hope this helps some!
Ashes

I use a small amount of vaseline on the pin. The balloon should be slightly underinflated. I use the safety pin, it holds the vaseline and you get an extra laugh out of it. "You know why it didn't pop? Safety!!!" Sometimes if there are balloons laying around at the party, I'll use their's. then they are really amazed!

YouTube - Dove act (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CHrPqnLDVA&NR=1)

When inflating the balloon, hold some of the round end as you are inflating and release it when you tie it. You can see this in the video above. It will leave the round of of the balloon close to the uninflated thickness.

A sharper needle will always help. I use the one from Bazar De Magia in Argentina: Needle Through Balloon - Bazar De Magia (http://www.mymagicsupply.com/servlet/the-122/Needle-Through-Balloon--dsh-/Detail)

Hi, I did this routine years ago, I found that some balloons just wont work too thin, find some with thick rubber, use vaseline, not too much air, and slowly spin the needle as it goes in, if it pops, use what I call the tinkerbell out, I need everyone to belive, and if you belive then clap your hands etc, keep the audience involved.

Don't use good balloons such as qualatex. They are made clear all the way around, so there is no thick spot. A generic brand from a party store is best.

I do this effect all the time. I usually have a 95%+ success rate. The easiest way to get a good result is to use fresh Qualatex 16 inch Diamond Clear Balloons in the Stars Around pattern. You then inflate them to the size of an 11 inch balloon. Because you are using a 16 inch balloon the rubber is thicker and because you under inflate it, the ends are not under stress. Because it is a Diamond Clear, it is not obvious to the audience that it is under inflated, but it still pops nicely at the end. As long as the balloons are fresh you will be alright.Make sure that the point is sharp and any grease or oil will work, i.e. vaseline or even cooking oil.

Let us know if this works for you.
Presto

Pickles you also can only puncture the balloon at the thicker top point (there is usally a little button of rubber there) and then out by the neck. The needle must also be very sharp and smooth no burs or anything that would drag on the needle . Hope this helps.

If the balloon pops tell every one that you where Thirsty and needed a Pop...DON'T OVER INFLATE THE BALLOON, tell every one before you blow up the balloon that all your balloons have holes in them, but thats Okay thats how you get the Air in them...then if it pops, tell them I told you all my balloons have holes in them...people will laugh. make sure your needle is sharpe. The Needle does need to be sharped from time to time. use the needle wand...You might need to take one of the corks out of one end of the wand and add more vaseline...untill it fills the wand. Melt the vaseline very slowly, over your stove. Put the cork back in the wand and wait an hour before trying this magic trick...vaseline needs to be cooled. Put needle in wand, some of the vaseline will come out the needle hole in the cork. Thats okay...I use a 12" clear balloon, this is larger and gives you more rubber to stick the needle through. I can get up to 6 minutes out of this trick. Luvin you NormaL T. Joey

P.S. I bought one needle and it kept poping the balloons...I had it sharped at a professional knifing sharping place...using the above information I use this needle in most of my magic show's with out poping the balloon...if you use water the needle can rust...vaseline is the best way to go.

i use water on the needle.

Use oil on the needle and make sure you go through the thick rubber around the nozzle and tip

Who does the Banana Bandanna Trick with the Instructional Cd...now this is a very Funny Gag
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