Creating magic smoke from your hands has become very popular for magicians over the last couple of years. It’s popularity was boosted by Dynamo Magician Impossible producing magic smoke on his TV Series.

Deciding which device is better depends on several factors. We looked at the following areas to compare Pure Smoke with SSS to see which is best:

• Easy of use
• Practicality
• Set up
• Durability
• Price

Ease of use.

Pure Smoke by Ellusionist: Pure smoke is a contained unit, designed to produce magic smoke and deliver it to your hand when required. The device has to be worn, and as such requires that you use a jacket or coat to hide the workings. It’s ready to go, the moment the package arrives to you. You will need to use regular batteries to power Pure smoke, and these can run out quite quickly with everyday use. Pure smoke uses specially made cartridges that contain the Vegetable Glycerin liquid. You simply need to plug in a cartridge, put on the device, turn it on and you are ready to go.

SSS By Shin Lim: SSS requires you to put together the device yourself. However, this is very easy, and once done, you are ready to go. Shin Lim teaches several different magic tricks and ideas on the SSS  DVD included. Some of these require additional materials. Once constructed, SSS is very easy to use device. The battery is rechargeable via  USB. You don’t need special cartridges, and you can refill the unit cheaply with VG liquid obtainable easily from many sources.

Practicality.

Pure Smoke by Ellusionist: This is, in our opinion, a more polished product. It’s a ‘switch on and go’ magic smoke from hands device that is very easy to use. Because it uses regular batteries, it does have the disadvantage of having a large motor unit to hide.

The motor also makes a hum. Although this is not a problem at all during working situations, it can be off putting for beginners or magicians who perform in very quiet locations.

You need to wear a jacket or coat with sleeves to hide the working.

Pure smoke was created specifically to produce smoke from a magicians hands, and as such it is the most practice of the two devices for magicians walking around performing strolling close-up magic. For adapting to use in other places than your hands, it’s less practical than SSS.

SSS By Shin Lim: SSS is very customizable. As the battery unit is tiny, there is much less to hide. Because you can take the device apart, it can be set up in lots of different ways.

The selling point for SSS is the ability to produce magic smoke from places other than your hands. This is a real advantage. Many magicians are looking for a way to produce magic smoke from objects, tables or close up mats, and due to the adaptability of SSS, it is a clear winner over Pure Smoke for this.

Set Up.

Pure Smoke by Ellusionist: Put it on, switch it on and you are ready to make magic smoke from your hands whenever you want. It’s ready to go right from the box and includes some cartridges to get you started right away.

SSS By Shin Lim: SSS comes as a DVD and a small gimmick. You need to buy a few very common and cheap additional parts to set it up. This can be a real pain if your excited about the product arriving and then have to go shopping all over again.

Once you have constructed your device, which is very easy to do and requires no technical knowledge, the device requires very little set up before producing magic smoke.

You will need to ensure the battery is fully charged (or simply pick up some spares), and you will need to top up the device with VG liquid.

Set up becomes more of an issue when you want to produce magic smoke from other places than your hands. Each type of routine requires it’s own set up.

Durability

Pure Smoke by Ellusionist: This uses it’s own atomiser (The heat element that burns the VG Liquid to produce magic smoke) The original version was none user serviceable and many magic dealers reported reliability issues with both the atomiser burning out or the motor unit failing. Some users report that their device does now make very much magic smoke when activated.

Ellusionists’ customer care is excellent and faulty units were replaced very quickly. The new version (V2 onwards) has a replaceable atomiser. The unit will fail over time as the atomisers burn out, so replacement parts may need to be ordered quite often with everyday use.

SSS By Shin Lim: SSS is totally user serviceable very cheaply. If the atomiser fails, you can just click on a new one, and these can be purchased very cheaply from many stores online. The batteries used in SSS tend on average to be good for up to 300 charges, but again can be replaced at very little cost.

For reliability SSS,  scores over Pure Smoke as the device can quite easily be throw away and replaced cheaply and easily.

Price.

Pure smoke costs considerably more than SSS. The extra cost is justifiable for a fully set up, polished and professional magic smoke creator and the backup and customer care available are excellent. But compared to the more DIY SSS, price may be an issue for hobbyist magicians. SSS produces magic smoke in much the same way, and is more adaptable, but if you don’t like having to go shopping for parts once a new magic trick arrives, the premium for Pure Smoke may be attractive.

What’s most important to you:

Pure Smoke:

• I want this to work the moment I get my device.
• I want to use normal batteries.
• 99% of the time I will be performing magic tricks strolling.
• I need to set this up quickly at my gigs.
• It’s a gift, so I like products to come in attractive packaging.

SSS:

• I’m on a budget.
• I want to do more than make magic smoke appear from my hands.
• I like to be able to replace all the parts easily.
• I prefer to do this sleeveless.
• I would like to be taught a range of other uses for magic smoke.
• I want cheap and easy refills.
• I need this to be almost silent.

Do you already own a device? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below: