When you get a Makoto Street Wand, you're getting a wand that is handmade from a single piece of ultra-dense ironwood. The species I select share exceptional qualities-- they are tough, sink in water, and have high resin content, allowing for smooth polishing. Being wood, they will patina over time, but you can take a couple simple steps to keep it smooth and shiny for as long as possible.
Your wand care begins with how you use it. As strong as ironwood is, it can only handle so much abuse. Tapping cups, table legs, or coins is fine, but bouncing the wand off of concrete sidewalks, or scraping it on the ground can wear it out. Use your common sense. Avoid leaving your wand in a hot vehicle for an extended period of time. Depending on the specific wood, the resin and moisture may dry up, which may lead to warping. To polish your wand and make it look shiny and smooth, use liquid beeswax and super fine #0000 steel wool. Evenly spread a thin layer on the wand. It takes very little to cover a whole street wand, just a few drops. Give it ten minutes to dry, then polish it smooth with the steel wool. Polish it until you are satisfied. It can reach close to a mirror polish. Note: This process is not recommended for all magic wands. Many wands on the market are covered in lacquer or paint, which would not take the wax, and get scraped off by the steel wool. The ironwoods used for Makoto Street Wands are specifically capable of a beautiful natural polish.
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Many street magicians use the gibeciere, or buskers pouch, when performing. It's a useful accessory for cups and balls, coin magic, and manipulations. Pioneered extensively by Jim Cellini, the busker's pouch has regained popularity among magicians. I have been using a pouch for well over twelve years. Most pouches are made of leather. In general, leather is durable, pliable, and stylish enough to look good with a magician's costume. The leather quality can vary greatly between manufacturers, though. On the low end are thin bovine upholstery leather bags, factory made by machines. Higher tier gibecieres have been made by hand out of exotic, durable leathers. Regardless of their origins, all these leathers require conditioning and care. If you can figure out the specific leather of your buskers pouch, a quick search online for specific care should be educational. In general, you will want to clean, condition, and protect your gibeciere. You don't need much for it. Some scrap fabric like old clothes, a horsehair brush, some conditioner like Bick 4, and a waterproofing spray like Saphir Super Invulner or Collonil Waterstop will help keep your pouch looking and being its best. A few times a year, wipe your pouch down with a damp cloth to clean it. Don't let the leather get too wet, though. Once the leather is dry, use a cloth to apply the Bick 4 to the pouch, applying it evenly like you're moisturizing your own skin with lotion. After a couple minutes, when the conditioner has been absorbed by the leather, brush the leather with the horse hair brush. This step is optional, but can help give your pouch a shine. Finally, spray your gibeciere with Super Invulner or Collonil Waterstop. Follow the directions on the packaging. This will weatherproof your pouch, in case you get caught in the rain with it. Congratulations, if you've followed the simple steps to pouch care, your gibeciere should have extra years of use on the pitch. Note: more exotic leathers like Stingray, Shell Cordovan, Ostrich, or Pachyderms require more specific products and care. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with a magician who uses leather bags, Categories |
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March 2025
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