FMT-2-MANUAL-VERSION-2.pdf

FMT-2MANUAL VERSION 2.0

RELEASED NOVEMBER 2012

FREE TO REDISTRIBUTE

You are free to redistribute this manual to whomever you think will benefit from it, provided you leave the entire contents intact, including this notice, and do not attempt to reverse engineer the functioning of the FMT-2 in any way.

FMT-2 MANUAL VERSION 2.0Copyright 2012 Subversive Circuits

Introduction And OperationThe FMT-2 was designed by performance electronics guru Jon Thompson specifically to meet the needs of magicians. Pop in a fresh set of batteries, switch on, and its good to go. Underneath the hood, however, a tiny, specially programmed computer chip is working hard to ensure that you give the best performance possible. The FMT-2 contains many design features and safety measures to ensure that it will reliably meet the magnetic detection needs your act demands. By placing the detector and thumper heads on separate leads (each 1 metre long), for example, the FMT-2 removes the problem of vibrating hands that plague other products. And as some FMT-2 users have found, its even possible to use the FMT-2 in short sleeves!

The north pole of a magnet produces a repeating train of three short thumps from the vibration head, and a south pole produces one longer thump. The sensor head is usually worn strapped to the wrist, as in the picture below, but can be worn wherever is convenient or necessary for your act. The tiny black sensor module is set at 45 degrees to turn the fist-sized space below your palm into a detection space.

Strap the sensor to one wrist and the thumper head to the other, and then hold your forearm pointing horizontally as you switch on. Youll feel two soft thumps from the vibration head to indicate that the FMT-2 has run its diagnostics and configured itself, and is functioning normally. Many people like to wear the control unit between the inside of the beltline and the small of their back so that it is out of the way. Others prefer to keep it in an inside jacket pocket. It can also be strapped to a forearm. It is very robust and protected by a tough ABS plastic case.


As the batteries wear down, the FMT-2 may thump whenever the sensor is pointing vertically down. This is an early warning by the unit that the batteries will soon need changing or recharging. You can still keep on using the device with the current batteries for a while, however. To do so, and to stop this warning thump, simply switch off and on again with the sensor horizontal. The FMT-2 will recalibrate itself to the current battery level. This should give you up to hour or so before the next warning thumps, though the interval between warning thumps will decrease as the batteries gradually become flat. Youll certainly be able to safely finish what youre doing before changing the batteries. On the subject of batteries, please read and inwardly digest the following:

FOR BEST PERFORMANCE ALWAYS USE HIGH CAPACITY RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES IN YOUR FMT 2. 1000mA ARE IDEAL AND READILY

AVAILABLE ON THE HIGH STREET. IF YOU WALK OUT ON STAGE WITH BATTERIES YOU TOOK FROM THE TV REMOTE, ITS YOUR OWN FAULT IF

YOUR FMT-2 FAILS AT THE CRITICAL POINT IN YOUR ACT.

Each FMT-2 is configured when built to produce thumps at their highest intensity. To adjust the intensity of the thumps, place the sensor head against the north pole of a magnet and switch on. The device will repeatedly thump once then three times. As you pull the head away from the magnet the intensity will diminish. Turn the magnet over to further adjust the intensity. When youre happy, simply switch off and then use the device normally. The FMT-2 will store your desired thump intensity for future use, even between battery changes.

Short Sleeve UseSeveral FMT-2 users have also contacted us to say that they regularly use their devices in short sleeves. The secret is the use of tattoo sleeves that sit snugly against the arm and give the impression that the skin is covered in tattoos. When terminated at the wrist with a wide leather wristband, the sensor, thumper and wires remain completely hidden.

How Long Do Rechargeable Batteries Last?Rechargeable batteries deliver more power than normal alkaline ones, but theyre not immortal. The first rechargeable batteries needed to be completely flat before they could be recharged otherwise they would never fully charge up again. However, modern rechargeable batteries use advanced metal halide technology, and so you can recharge a partly used set without any ill effects on their overall capacity.

Its reasonable to expect that a brand new set of rechargeable batteries can be used up to 100 times or more, so despite their initial cost, they represent a massive saving over alkaline batteries (not to mention being far kinder to the planet!). Gradually, however, they will begin running down faster between charges, and this is a sign that they may be coming to the end of their working life. Theyll still be good for the TV remote control for many years to come and will not leak, but eventually theyll become no good for powering something as power-hungry as an FMT-2. Gradually failing batteries arent a problem in performance because you can simply re-configure the FMT-2 to the falling battery level by switching it off


and on. As explained in the introduction, when the batteries begin to run down, youll get warning thumps when you hold the sensor head pointing to the ground. Please dispose of old rechargeable batteries sensibly. If theres a local collection point, please drop them off so that the precious metals they contain can be recycled. Never throw them on a fire as they, like other batteries, can explode when exposed to extreme heat.

Coin In Hand RoutinesDerren Brown arguably did much to popularise the coin-in-hand effect in his early TV shows. The FMT-2 allows you to take this type of effect further by also telling the spectator whether the coin is head or tails. For best results, we obviously recommend that you use the Subversive Circuits Curiously Strong Magnetic 1 Coin because the FMT-2 was originally designed to use it. This coin is almost completely neodymium and will give you the best possible detection range.

Covert Assistant As Coin DetectorThe basic coin-in-hand effect is simple and direct, and you can have lots of fun coming up with variations that fit your performance style. The use of covert assistants (stooge is such an ugly word!) is often frowned upon, but it can nevertheless help you produce some extraordinary feats and publicity stunts. This idea uses an FMT-2 to allow a covert assistant to apparently detect the coin through you.

Invite two people to help you, one being the covert assistant. If your performance persona is one of psychological illusionist you can place the assistant into a fake trance. There are plenty of ways to make this piece of theatre look like instant mind control, and its often a shock for the audience to see. Rehearse both your parts properly and, if possible, film your rehearsals to ensure you give the best performances. As part of the induction, guide the assistants hand to take whichever wrist has the FMT-2s thumper head attached.

Give the other spectator a magnetic coin (or ask him for one and swap it out temporarily for a magnetic one) and ask him to hide it randomly behind his back in one or other of his hands. Suggest to the covert assistant that she will be able to pick up the coin through your body and will be able to tell not only which hand the coin is in, but also whether it is heads or tails while you remain silent.

An interesting variation is to place the thumper between your collar and the bones of your neck if youre wearing a shirt and tie, the idea being that the assistant will see through your eyes. If the thumper is placed against the bones of your neck, its thumps will travel quite far down your spine and up into your skull and can be detected by a person placing their hand on the back of your head. You could also simply place your hand on the assistants head and the thumps will become apparent and even audible to her via bone conduction.

Remote Coin Detection Two Person CodeIf you are part of a double act, you can perform an interesting twist on the classic coin in hand effect using a simple spoken code to indicate hand and orientation. Lets assume that your partner is wearing the FMT-2 and detects the coin in a random spectators hand. Heres the basic code:


Left hand: OK, can you feel which hand the coin is in?Right hand: OK, can you feel which hand the coin is in yet?

That tiny little addition of the word yet is all you need. To confirm that you have understood the code, you can reply with something along the lines of, Yes, Im picking up something Your assistant can then continue by telling you whether the coin is heads or tails:

Heads: Is it heads or tails?Tails: Which is it, heads or tails?

Again, the addition of a single word indicates heads or tails.

More Coin In Hand SubtletiesInstead of simply revealing the hand and whether the coin is heads or tails up, you can add to the overall effect on the audience by teasing out pieces of information. Examine the magnetic coin you use. If its a UK 1 coin, there are many different designs on the tails side. If the coin is being held tails up, tease out the concepts from the design. If its a UK 1 coin, there are two designs for the Queens head (young and old). The writing around the edge of the coin used to be exclusively in Latin, but later, Welsh designs feature Welsh around the edge. If theres a bridge on the design, as there are on the backs of several 1 coins, you might patter about the idea that the spectator is someone who likes to build bridges and connect with people or ideas, that theyre interested in what lies ahead, etc. Let your imagination run wild.

You can also create a more straightforward presentation based simply on the hand the spectator uses to hide the coin. If your routine involves guessing the hand several times, you can add a sense of peril by betting your own money, seeming unsure, changing your mind, etc. with each guess.

Envelope RoutinesEnvelopes are great for a wide range of effects because they are convenient, simple and beyond reproach. These qualities them very useful in magic, predominantly for concealing information and objects from the performer, and to be revealed at a later time. For some routines, their very innocence makes them ideal for modifying in a way that an FMT-2 can detect and identify.

A Simple, Ungaffed Envelope TestFor this routine youll need a sturdy table, a selection of large padded mail envelopes, a slim wristwatch, and most alarmingly, a big hammer. You take out the envelopes and place them on the table. You remove your watch and hand it to a spectator. Taking out the hammer, you explain that youd rather use your own watch for this. It neednt be a watch, by the way; any slim object of apparent personal value will do.

You turn your back and ask the spectator to place the watch in one of the envelopes. When shes done, ask her to thoroughly mix them up. You turn back, and after a moment of


hovering your hand over the envelopes, suddenly and repeatedly smash the hammer down on all but one. The untouched envelope contains your watch.

The watch, or other item, is either an old analogue one, or a cheap quartz analogue model. The important thing is that you use a slimline model so that it doesnt create a bulge in the envelope. In preparing for this routine, you take the back off and remove as much of the mechanism as possible, replacing it with as much neodymium as you can. A cheap-looking watch can be explained by it being a present from a relative; it may be cheap but which has great sentimental value for you.

A nice touch here is to perform this effect blindfolded using a genuine blindfold. You can have the spectator pretend to punch you in the face to prove its real. You can also use bubble wrap to create similarly bulky packages to place inside the envelopes so that there are no suspicions that you can feel the watch. In fact, if you discard the envelopes altogether and use a genuine blindfold, then using clear, bubble-wrapped packages will give the spectators covert information that you dont have about the position of the watch, and can add to the excitement if you seem unsure, or that the trick has gone wrong but youre going to continue with it anyway.

Magnetically Marking Padded Mailing EnvelopesMost online magnet suppliers sell a very wide range of neodymium magnets. More specifically, most dedicated suppliers carry ranges of circular neodymium magnets of different diameters, and with thicknesses of as little as 0.5mm, making them ideal for preparing envelopes so that they can be detected later. Despite being wafer thin, such magnets contain a surprisingly large amount of neodymium due to their wide diameter. The FMT-2 can detect a 20 x 0.5mm neodymium magnet from about 6cm away, for example. Heres one, shown below next to a UK 5p.


Padded, self-adhesive mailing envelopes make ideal subjects for tagging using wafer thin magnets. Spectators can also seal such envelopes, thereby ensuring that you cannot peek inside. Being opaque, the spectators can hold the envelopes up to the light and wont see the shadow of the hidden magnet.

Because the FMT-2 can detect magnetic poles, you can create a large selection of envelopes that can be uniquely identified with a few nonchalant movements to get your wrist in a position to read the magnets.

The first envelope, for example, may have no magnets inside it. The second can have a single magnet glued into the bottom left corner with the north pole facing up. A third can have an identical magnet glued into the bottom right corner, also with the north pole facing upwards. Two more envelopes can have similar envelopes with magnets in the bottom right envelopes but with the south poles facing up. For more options, you could mix north and south facing poles in the corners. Working through all the options, the total comes to nine uniquely identifiable envelopes, as below

Envelope Number Left hand corner Right hand corner1 - -2 North -3 - North4 South -5 - South6 North North7 North South8 South North9 South South

This is probably more than youll ever need! By using very thin magnets, the detection range remains high, but because of their thickness, the envelopes will keep the magnets apart, so they wont noticeably stick together when you handle them. Even if you ask an audience member to collect them and pass them forwards, the attraction and repulsion between individual magnets is not apparent unless you know what to look for and carefully test for it.

Whos Property is That?Onstage are several chairs in a line. On each chair is placed a padded mailing envelope. You invite several people up on stage, all of whom have a small item they always carry around with them. It might be a watch, a photograph of a loved one kept in a wallet, a business card something to which they have a personal connection. You neednt see the items.

Turn your back and ask the volunteers to sit on a chair each and put their item in their envelope. Have one of the volunteers collect up the envelopes and shuffle them thoroughly. With the volunteer seated again, you take the envelopes, concentrate on each in turn and hand it to a volunteer. When all envelopes are redistributed, the volunteers open the envelopes and find their own object inside.


This routine is a great use for the envelopes described above, and it has been left loose enough for you to fill with patter that suits your own performing style. In testing, we found that if you place each envelope on your palm and run the hand with the detector over its surface, no one ever questions your actions. You might then hand out the envelopes silently, for example. You could also cold read each person to add to s sense that youre performing a mental miracle. The possibilities are very wide.

Magnetically Marking Pay EnvelopesSmall manila pay envelopes are harder to adequately gaff, but its still possible using very thin rod magnets. An FMT-2 can detect a 2mm x 8mm rod magnet from about 3cm (over an inch) including the polarity.

Because of this, you can hide these tiny magnets inside the bottom of pay envelopes, secured with a tiny amount of glue, such as Copydex rubber solution. When placed on a flat surface, youll find no difficulty in being able to place the sensor head right near the bottom of the envelopes to determine which is which.

In performance, you produce the gaffed pay envelope, and lay out three padded mail envelopes on a table. Hand the spectator the pay envelope and a business card and have her write down something down on the card (her name, for example), place it in the pay envelope and place that inside one of the padded envelopes while your back is turned to completely lose it. She mixes up the padded envelopes. You turn back and are able to tell which padded envelope contains the hidden message by simply placing your palm on each to detect the magnet. If you use an impression device, you can build a more impressive routine in which you reveal the message or word written by the spectator.


Spiked!SUBVERSIVE CIRCUITS TAKES ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR YOUR SAFETY WHILE PERFORMING THIS OR

EFFECTS LIKE IT. YOU DO SO ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN PERSONAL RISK. NEVER USE A SPECTATORS HAND IN THIS OR SIMILAR STUNTS!

This is a hair-raising stunt that will have your audience on the edge of its collective seats. You present three wooden blocks, one with a large nail sticking up from it. While being blindfolded or after turning away, a volunteer mixes them up and places a Styrofoam cup over each block. Seemingly using your intuition, you then slam your hand down on two of the three cups, avoiding impaling yourself on the nail. Spiked-style stunts can be VERY dangerous to perform. Every year, magicians are hospitalised for wounds to their hands caused by bravado. We insist you see the potential dangers involved by typing, spiked magic injury into YouTube. Prepare to wince Being electronic in design, the FMT-2 will easily detect a 20mm diameter circular neodymium magnet of 10mm depth at a range of 6 inches. This means it will keep you safe where electromechanical devices will not. The field given off by such a magnet is strong, but not strong enough to close a reed switch at this distance.

Constructing The GimmickGo to your local hardware shop and ask them to cut you three pieces of wood of around 2 x 2 x 1 inches. Also buy a bag of nails. 2-3 inches should do and will demonstrate to the audience the peril youre about to put yourself in, but will also allow you to bring the sensor near to the magnet during performance. Weve used 4-inch nails here for clarity. Measure the diameter of the nails and if you dont have one, buy a drill bit that width. Also buy a 20mm flat wood drill bit.

20 x 10mm neodymium magnets are available singularly for around 10 ($20) from a large number of online suppliers. Under no circumstances be tempted to skimp on this component of the gimmick or you WILL place yourself in danger. A working magician with a serious hand injury cannot earn a living.


Find the dead centre of one block by drawing diagonal lines from opposite corners. Now use the flat drill bit to cut a hole at the centre. Make it a little deeper than the magnet. If the point of the drill comes through the other surface of the wood, thats OK because the nail will do so anyway.

Next, use the other drill bit to make a hole at the dead centre of the first one. This is where the nail will go and is why it doesnt matter if the flat bit made a hole. Push the nail through the hole and make sure the magnet sits flush when inserted, as shown below. Because it is in contact with the head of the nail, the magnet will magnetise the nail and extend the detection range.

Glue the magnet and nail in place and cover the base of all three blocks with green baize to finish them off nicely. The FMT-2 is slightly better at detecting the north (three thumps) pole of a magnet, so ensure that you glue the magnet in with the north pole facing upwards. The finished prop looks formidable!


Strap on your FMT-2 and switch on. Make sure that you can comfortably detect the magnet well above and around the gimmicked block.

The Gimmick In UseBefore performing the effect, a nice touch is to produce a lemon, apple, or other large, soft fruit. Drop it onto the nail to prove that it is indeed real. Lead into this effect from another using the FMT-2. This will ensure that you know the FMT-2 is definitely functioning properly before you begin. If in any doubt, or if you get no thumps, simply say that you dont feel good and use the fruit in place of your hand if you dont have a better out. To be doubly safe that youre detecting the gimmick under the correct cup, ask the volunteer to space out the cups across the width of your performance table when she mixes them up. This makes the effect even more visual. You can increase the tension by repeatedly hovering your hand over the three cups as if youre genuinely not sure which contains the spike. This will also give you multiple chances of making sure youre reading the correct one. Occasionally, stop to gather your thoughts, and drop your sensing arm. This will enable you to make sure that the batteries in the FMT are not running down and producing false positives. You can still go on, but keep your sensing arm horizontal when detecting the magnet.


About MagnetsThe strongest, readily available magnets are neodymium magnets. The rule is that the bigger the magnet, the stronger the magnetic field surrounding it, and the further away the FMT-2 will be able to detect that field. The 20 x 10mm neodymium magnet used in the Spiked! prop described above gives a far bigger detection range than one with dimensions of just 10 x 10mm, for example. So, when building a prop containing a magnet to be detected by an FMT-2, its important to use the largest neodymium magnet you can fit.

Below is a chart of various thicknesses of 20mm disk magnet and the attendant FMT-2 detection range. As mentioned above, the FMT-2 is slightly more sensitive detecting the north pole (three thumps) of a magnet so these figures are for detecting north.

Magnet Size Detection Range1 x 20mm 9cm2 x 20mm 11cm3 x 20mm 14cm4 x 20mm 16cm5 x 20mm 17cm6 x 20mm 18cm7 x 20mm 19cm8 x 20mm 20cm9 x 20mm 21cm10 x 20mm 23cm

In comparison, the magnet in a 1/1p Coin Unique prop is very thin (0.5mm) because it is only designed to just retain a steel coin, so the detection range using an FMT-2 is only about 6cm.

Please remember to be very careful when handling large neodymium magnets. They have a tendency to quickly snap together and if the flesh of your finger is in the way they will bite painfully and even cause a blood blister. Even the 20 x 10mm magnet used in the Spiked! prop is capable of quite a severe bite if it comes near other magnets or metal objects, including steel coins. If two neodymium magnets do snap together, one may break into shards, which are very sharp so handle them with care.

Here is a short list of neodymium magnet suppliers in the UK and US. There are plenty of others:

http://www.first4magnets.comhttp://e-magnetsuk.comhttp://www.magnet4less.comhttp://www.kjmagnetics.comhttp://www.magnet4us.com

Its a good idea when experimenting with neodymium magnets and a detector to buy a few different sizes and shapes. Theyre cheap enough to experiment. Have lots of fun!



Introduction And OperationShort Sleeve UseHow Long Do Rechargeable Batteries Last?

Coin In Hand RoutinesCovert Assistant As Coin DetectorRemote Coin Detection Two Person CodeMore Coin In Hand Subtleties

Envelope RoutinesA Simple, Ungaffed Envelope TestMagnetically Marking Padded Mailing EnvelopesWhos Property is That?Magnetically Marking Pay Envelopes

Spiked!Constructing The GimmickThe Gimmick In Use

About MagnetsDetection Range

FMT-2-MANUAL-VERSION-2.pdf

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