Magic; Chair suspension?

Question

Could some one explain how the chair suspension work? And i can immitate this using household chairs and board? Or do you buy the chair suspension set, whats so different about the chair suspension set?

Sorry if i didnt make it clear, the type of chair suspension i am looking for is this:

http://www.elmagicshop.com/MMGM_chair_250w.JPG

Sorry, i didnt realise there was two kind of suspension chair magic trick.

Answer 1

Instead of a fork lift that is noisy, and expensive, consider a simple machine:

Using common steel scaffolding behind a curtain set a piece of pipe bolted to the bottom of the chair and long enough that it can be counter balanced behind the curtain.


Pulleys 0
```````````` | |
```````````` | | Rope
```````````` | |
()====================Chair
Counter ____/\________________
weight Support

Sorry for the crude drawing.

The counter weight can be comuted using torques summed around the connection of the rope to the pipe. The idea is to balance the weight of the chair and your volunteer so that the chair will suspend. You will also need an assistant behind the curtain to make the fine adjustment and to keep the pipe level.

The intermediate support keeps the system level while the chair is on the floor. The ropes have to be strong enough to lift the weight of the chair, the subject, the counter weight and the pipe.

Assume about 400 lb. Under this tension, you will want pulleys that provide about 10:1 advantage so that your second assistant can manange the task.

Suspend the pulleys from the scaffold, put the support under the pipe, have the subject take a seat, connect the counter weight, have your second assistant operate the rope and pulleys to lift the system while your first assistant keeps the pipe level.

It really works.


j

Answer 2

The times I have seen it explained it is usually done with a fork lift behind the curtain and a iron bar from under the chair to the fork lift. I don't think it would be easy to do at home. It would require a great deal of force at odd angles to make it look magical.