5 Magic Tricks With A Thumb Tip

A thumb tip is one of the most versatile props in magic–you can use it for vanishes, appearances, restorations, and switches. Here are a few ideas to get your brain going (we’ll include at least one of each): 

Vanishing Sand

Everyone knows about the vanishing salt trick, where you pour salt into the first and steal the thumb tip away in the action of packing the salt into your palm. But, if you’re on the beach and have a pocket in your swimsuit, you have an impromptu miracle on your hands. Just grab some salt, throw it in the thumb tip, and you’re off to the races.

The bill switch

There are tons of bill switches out there, and one option includes starting with the bill-to-be-switched-in sitting in the thumb tip. It’s not our trick to describe here, but know that it’s possible and can be learned in John Lovick’s excellent book on Switch. 

Silk Production

This one is a bit cheesy but totally doable. Take a small piece of silk and pack it into the bottom of the tip. Then, when cupping an empty hand, steal the thumb tip and produce the silk. These are all relatively brief descriptions, and there is ample literature on the topic. So please seek out more descriptions and videos to master the effect. 

Torn and Restored bill

Take the logic of the bill switch, and apply it to a restoration. You have a fully restored bill in the thumb tip, and instead of switching a whole bill for another whole bill, you stick the pieces back into the tip while removing the full bill. Again, this is a minor miracle that you can always carry with you. And remember that you could restore anything (a card, a movie ticket, a receipt).

Liquid production

If you have a small amount of time to prepare, stick a little bit of water into the thumb tip. Then, at dinner, take a sip of water, and as you swallow, act like you’re diverting the water through your arm. Follow by pouring the water out into your preferred receptacle (your glass, a bowl, or on the ground–it depends on where you are). A liquid production is particularly interesting because of how impossible it seems. Like a nail writer, people don’t really suspect that a thumb tip exists, and if it’s well-hidden, you can get away with amazing tricks.