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How to Do the Bending Fork Trick

Magicians enjoy classifying their tricks almost as much as they do performing them. A production trick astonishes audiences when an item suddenly appears, while a transformation trick surprises them when an item inexplicably changes into an unexpected form. In still another category of trick, a magician amazes his audience by defying the laws of nature. The bending fork trick falls into this category, since the trick surprises audiences that do not expect a metallic object to bend. This trick, if performed properly, leaves audiences dumbfounded.

Things You'll Need

  • Fork
  • Pliers
  • Volunteer
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Take a fork and grasp it firmly with the pliers at the narrowest point of the stem, just before it widens.

    • 2

      Bend the fork back and forth repeatedly until the metal softens and you can bend it in your hand with very little effort. Continue to bend the fork until it nearly breaks.

    • 3

      Bend the fork back into its original shape.

    • 4

      Practice bending the fork by pressing its tines against your thigh until you can bend it quickly and without altering your facial expression.

    Performance

    • 5

      Ask a volunteer to come up to the front of the stage and stand next to you.

    • 6

      Display the unbent fork to the audience as the volunteer approaches. Explain that the volunteer will bend the fork with his mind.

    • 7

      Tell a joke to distract the audience, while you bend the fork quickly by pressing it against your thigh or thumb.

    • 8

      Position the fork in your hand so that the newly created bend cannot be seen by the audience.

    • 9

      Ask the volunteer to hold the fork, and swiftly place it in his hand. Ask him to immediately cover it with his other hand.

    • 10

      Ask the volunteer to concentrate on bending the fork with his mind. Suggest that he can feel the fork bend. Magician Max Mindbender, in his book, "Mental Magic: Spoon Bending, Mind Reading, Clairvoyance," states that people often believe they feel the silverware moving.

    • 11

      Ask the volunteer to reveal the bent fork to the stunned audience.

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Illusions

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