So how DO they bend spoons?

[sorgoth]

No, I do not believe they have psychic powers. I'm curious, though, as to how to do it.

[Zep]

One word - misdirection.

Oh look! {points} A flying pig over there!

{Bend spoon against leg}

Oh look! It's started to bend already!

{*snort!*}

[Voob]

See this thread (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24846).

[epepke]

Originally posted by sorgoth
No, I do not believe they have psychic powers. I'm curious, though, as to how to do it.

Woo hoo! This isn't the Conjurer's Corner, so it's not against the rules to reveal secrets here.

There are many, many ways.

First, you can just bend it. Most spoons are soft, and if you practice, you can bend it while it looks like you aren't exerting any force.

Second, you can bend it when nobody is looking and then gradually reveal the bend.

Third, you can bend it using some sort of apparatus concealed in your hand. You can buy these, though they are overpriced. Some consist just of a tube. Some are a couple of tubes or open structures with a hinge. This lets you bend the spoon much more easily with more leverage.

Fourth, you can bend the spoon back and forth beforehand until the metal in a certain place work-hardens. Work-hardening happens to many metals; the metal crystal gets broken up. It actually becomes harder but more brittle. Just wiggling it a little bit can break the bonds. I saw Randi do this once on television; he had the mark hold both ends of the spoon while he wiggled it up and down at the work-hardened point. He had quite good skill in making it seem that the metal was softening instead of breaking, but this was all it really was.

Fifth, you could always cast the spoon out of something that is easier to bend. But there are much more enjoyable things to do like this, such as casting it out of an alloy of woodsmetal that melts below the boiling point of water and giving it to someone with a really hot cup of coffee. Don't let him drink it!

[Mendor]

Penn and Teller said they could teach the secret of spoon-bending in six words.

"Bend it while nobody is looking"

[ceptimus]

For a discussion of magic and magicians, NOT TO INCLUDE THE DISCLOSING OF SECRETSNow you've done it. You'll all be banned! :D

[Jeff Corey]

Originally posted by epepke
...Fourth, you can bend the spoon back and forth beforehand until the metal in a certain place work-hardens. Work-hardening happens to many metals; the metal crystal gets broken up. It actually becomes harder but more brittle. Just wiggling it a little bit can break the bonds.
You should do this while the spoon is under cold, running water. For some reason, this seems to control the metal fatigue so that you don't end up with a *load of broken spoons.