PEN  THROUGH  ANYTHING
EFFECT
Borrow a bill from a spectator. Show the pen
and, under the incredulous eyes of the audien-
ce, use it to penetrate the bill. Everyone will see
the bill pierced by the pen from side to side.
To finish pull away the pen, make a magic gestu-
re and return the bill to its owner: it won’t have
any hole!
SECRET
This clever effect is made up of the following
parts: a cap, a regular pen and an additional
point. In the back end of the pen a magnet has
been placed.
Another magnet is fixed at the latter end of the
additional point (Picture 1).
picture 1
magnet
In short, during the presentation, you have to
secretly put the magnetic point under the bill. At
the time of the penetration the pen will securely
attach to the magnetic point, thanks to the two
magnets that will hold the bill tight between
them. This will create the illusion that the pen
really penetrates through the bill.
To assemble the item it is enough to attach the
magnetic point to the bottom of the pen and put
the cap above the regular point. You are then
ready to perform this amazing trick (Picture 2).
picture 2
The pen that leaves the mark!
BASIC MOVE
Before performing the trick in front of an audien-
ce, you have to practice until you have reached
the right confidence in all movements. The most
important one is described a few lines ahead. It
is not difficult and, during the presentation of the
trick, it will have to be performed under the cover
of the bill and this will surely help you. To practi-
ce we suggest to try without the cover of the bill.
Hold the pen in the left hand with thumb, index
and middle finger. Staple it between middle and
ring finger and, to finish, push towards you with
the middle finger. The point of the pen will
detach, remaining in perfect position to perform
the penetration (Picture 3).
picture 3
PRESENTATION
Borrow a bill that you will keep in the right hand,
while in your left hand you have the pen. Place the
bill in the left hand and, meanwhile, rotate the pen
so that it pops a little out from the right side of the
bill. Under its cover do the basic move and with the
right hand bring the pen away, hiding the missing
point with the fingers (Picture 4).
picture 4
In the left hand, obviously, will remain the
magnetic point stapled between the middle and
ring finger. The thumb should stay above the
magnet of the additional point.
In this way you will always know which the exact
point for the penetration is (Picture 5 seen in
detail).
picture 5
With the pen hit the bill in this precise point, as
to really pierce it, paying attention to never show
the missing point. The two magnets coming in
contact will attract and block, between them, the
bill (Picture 6).
picture 6
Lift the pen and by turning it, show the bill from
both sides: the audience can see that it is “real-
ly” pierced by the pen itself (Picture 7).
picture 7
To finish the effect you have to extract the pen
and show the bill undamaged. To do so here is a
convincing method. With the help of the pen,
hold the bill parallel to the floor. Ask a spectator
to hold, between the thumb and index finger of
both hands, the external corners of the bill. So,
with a fast and steady movement, pull the pen
upwards. The bill will fold imperceptibly upwards
and the pen will slide freeing itself (without the
magnetic parts being detached). To everyone it
will seem as if it has been really extracted from
the bill (Picture 8).
picture 8
Give the bill back to its owner and, while they are
examined, help yourself with the fingers of the
right hand detach the magnetic point and keep it
hidden in that same hand. With only one move-
ment detach the cap and throw it, together with
the pen, onto the table. With nonchalance put
your hands in the pocket in a relaxed attitude
and leave in the magnetic point. Everything can
be checked and you will be “clean”.
NOTES
When penetrating the bill try to do it near the
edge of it. In this way, when extracting the pen,
you won’t risk that the magnetic parts detach,
falling on the floor. To strengthen the time of
penetration you can do as follows. Hit the bill
with the pen in the precise point as described
above and, push slightly the pen downwards
through the middle and ring finger. Even the bill
will be dragged downwards and will be found as
in Picture 9.
picture 9
This simple action strengthens the idea that you
have really passed through the bill. Carry on as
described previously.
For those who prefer, you can extract the pen
from the bill even by yourself without the help of
the spectator. To do it you have to hold the bill
with the left hand and extract the pen with the
right hand.
If you ask the help of a spectator to extract the
pen, make sure that he holds the bill only by the
external corners. If he holds it differently, it won’t
fold upwards and the magnetic parts will separa-
te, blowing the effect.
When extracting the pen never grab it from the
cap. In this way you will avoid that, by mistake, it
stays in your hand revealing the secret.
With this pen you can even penetrate different
objects apart from the bill: playing cards, busi-
ness cards, sheets, etc…. Let your imagination
run wild!
Copyright 2009 Vincenzo Di Fatta - Italy