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T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:41 pm
by BluBob
Greetings,

Tenyo T-205 Confined Cubes is one of my personal favorites.

The biggest drawback to this fine effect is the "stock" cheap plastic bar which is inserted into the tube. Upon receiving this, and reading the instructions, I was immediately concerned about *sMacKinG* the "Pink" cube into the bottom of the Tube without breaking the cheap plastic bar.

Doing this too hard might break the plastic bar, too soft, and the miracle might not happen. So I did my best to find a happy medium. Every time I came to pushing the "pink" cube into the bottom, I was too timid. Sometimes I was right on, other times I missed. (frustrating)

Today I was playing with "Confined Tube" and when I reached the last move, I vowed not to be too timid, and gave the bottom a solid smack. Sure enough, I broke the the plastic bar.

I couldn't give up, I loved the trick too much. I began to think a substitute for the plastic bar. It hit me! I remember having a few "thinish" white coat hangers. These were cheap versions which dry cleaners began to use to save money.

Shortly, I found one of the hangers. I tried the hook end of the hanger too see if it would fit into the tube. PrEeSTo! WhAM, ViolA, instant success. I am inclosing a picture of the shapes which I made from one coat hanger. My new coat hanger bar/shapes work brilliantly and I will never again be intimidated of correctly performing the miraculous conclusion of the "Confined Cube."

Bob~

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:51 pm
by Elliot W.
Try the Upload Attachment tab below the Submit buttons. Once uploaded you can insert them in your reply.
I am very interested in your pictures as I did the same thing. After only a couple of time trying the trick, I snapped the end right off. I ended up taping it back together but it looks pretty pathetic. Definitely could use a better replacement.

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:59 pm
by BluBob
Thanks Elliot, I hope this is a help ...

Bob~

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 2:39 am
by SimonC
Very nice idea Bob, you've got me on eBay now searching for antique silver toothpicks!

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:36 am
by BluBob
SimonC wrote:Very nice idea Bob, you've got me on eBay now searching for antique silver toothpicks!
Simon, a Silver toothpick could be very interesting. Especially if a storyline might run along the lines of an imprisoned vampire who escapes the black coffin, (tube) impervious to the fact that he has been impaled by a "silver stake." (I know, I know, but It's late)

This is a VERY cool, and overlooked effect. It badly fooled everyone I have shown it to. There is only that ONE sleight which takes it out of the "completely self-working" category. But from the spectators point of view ... it's impossible to explain.

Best,
Bob~

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:45 am
by SimonC
It's one of my favourites too, great sideways thinking. I had a routine where the green block represents the good thing NGOs in life and the red bad. You need both to be a well rounded person but you hope there's more good than bad (explains the size difference) then you talk about how the bad can get on top of you sometimes and get trapped in negative thoughts (red block on top, spike goes in) but you just have to shake it off and stay positive (do the move, free the green, trap the red)

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:58 am
by BluBob
SimonC wrote:It's one of my favourites too, great sideways thinking. I had a routine where the green block represents the good thing NGOs in life and the red bad. You need both to be a well rounded person but you hope there's more good than bad (explains the size difference) then you talk about how the bad can get on top of you sometimes and get trapped in negative thoughts (red block on top, spike goes in) but you just have to shake it off and stay positive (do the move, free the green, trap the red)
LOVE IT!

In keeping with your routine, I would respectively submit using a metal bar, which is painted GRAY. I would call the gray metal bar "The Neutralizer." (Good/Bad thoughts need to be confronted by "The Neutralizer.")

(Once having an encounter with the neutralizer, the good/bad thoughts having been "neutralized" can be set free to function as separate entities.)

Scientifically middle gray has RGB values of 128, 128, 128 ---> (Neutral Gray)

Best,
Bob~

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 6:14 am
by Rob Rand
Yes great story line Simon! And the idea of a gray bar Bob is nice too! Maybe one of the bars from Spikes through coin could be used!

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:17 pm
by Brett H
SimonC wrote:It's one of my favourites too, great sideways thinking. I had a routine where the green block represents the good thing NGOs in life and the red bad. You need both to be a well rounded person but you hope there's more good than bad (explains the size difference) then you talk about how the bad can get on top of you sometimes and get trapped in negative thoughts (red block on top, spike goes in) but you just have to shake it off and stay positive (do the move, free the green, trap the red)
This routine is the ONLY reason I still want Confined Cubes

But the hanger idea is helpful. I have wondered for a while if something like that would work instead of the plastic rod.

Good find, Bob!

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 7:27 pm
by Richard Kaufman
Great trick, doesn't need fancy patter in my opinion. Never had a problem with the plastic toothpick breaking. Sugawara is a real smart guy.

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:31 pm
by KirkW
I believe Confined Cubes is a very under rated effect.

I overlooked it when it was first released because I thought it was nothing more than another version of the Impossible Die Escape which I never really cared for.

A few years after its release, I actually watched the video and was baffled. I decided to purchase the effect and was extremely pleased not only by how cleaver the method is but also by how visual the magic is. It is now one of my favorite Tenyo effects.

I believe this will be one of the more sought after effects in the coming years. It is already going for $50 and up on big auction site.

I highly recommend it if you don’t already own it. It is quickly becoming harder to find so if you see one available at a fair price, grab it now!

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:12 pm
by magicjeff
I got mine used and was missing the plastic rod, so I broke off a section of metal coat hanger and used that and it works perfectly!

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 1:23 pm
by bobt1
I also broke the stick so the stick is 1/2” shorter. The reduced size stick still can be used. I also found a toothpick type stick (used to hold fruit in a drink) that was a little too thick I sanded it down and it fits the tube well and is close to length of original. I am trying to sell this item (single owner with English Packaging/Instructions and works perfectly). Price is $50.00 USA sale only with PayPal. If interested send a PM. Bob

Re: T-205 Confined Cubes - plastic bar replacement

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:21 pm
by Brett H
I second the notion of a coat hanger.

I haven’t tried it, but this has come up on and off for years and metal coat hanger is the cheapest, most reliable replacement