How to Make a Pencil Float

Making a pencil float is a fun illusion that anyone can do. Kids can amaze their friends and family with this trick and adults can show off their magic skills in the office. The pencil will magically float in your fist, leaving your audience wondering how you did it. The following steps will show you how.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Show your audience a long pencil and tell them that you are going to make the pencil float in your hand. Once you have them intrigued, begin your magic trick.

2. Hold the pencil in your left hand, closing your fingers tightly around the pencil.

3. Turn your hand so that the back of your hand faces the audience and the fingers of your fist face away.

4. Position your other hand around the wrist of your left hand, grasping it firmly. Tell your audience that you will place your hand here to ensure there are no tricks.

5. Unfold the fingers of your left hand slowly, letting go of the pencil.

6. Place the forefinger of your right hand on the pencil as you are letting go of it. Hide your forefinger just behind the edge of the index finger of your left hand so that the audience doesn't see.

7. Wiggle the fingers of your left hand, showing the audience that you are no longer holding it and that it is, in fact, floating in midair.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your audience is in front of you and that no one has snuck around behind you when doing this trick. You don't want anyone at the sides of you either, because they can quickly dart behind you before you know it and the trick is ruined.