The Magic Rice Bowls

When I was 9 years old, I received my first "Marshall Brodien TV Magic Set" that included a very nice magic trick called The Chinese Rice Bowls.  This modern adaption is an easy print, and requires no supports. While I printed mine in a single color, you would be welcome to print it in multiple colors (See the multicolored Where's Waldo style print in the photos).

See a performance here: 

Here is how the trick looks:

Two empty bowls are laying face down on the table...

One is turned upright, shown empty, and is filled to the brim with rice.

The other bowl is placed on top, and the bowls are spun around.

Upon removing the top bowl, the rice appears to have doubled in quantity.

The rice is leveled off, and the bowl is covered once again.

The rice now disappears and water appears in the bowls!

Explanation and set-up;

The two bowls are ungimmicked. A plastic cover is used to both hold the water in place, and give the appearance that the rice has doubled.

Take one of the bowls, fill it with water, and place the plastic cover on top - once pressed into place, the bowl can be turned face down and the water stays in place (Science!).If you have any issues with the seal, some magicians us a small amount of Vaseline on the rim of the bowl (just wipe some on, than wipe off the excess).

The bowl with the water in it is placed face down and the other bowl is inverted and placed on top. This sets the stage for the performance.

Key Scientific Principles

Air Pressure: The air around us pushes against everything in all directions. When you flip the bowl, the outside air pushes upward on the plastic sheet with a strong force. This upward push is much greater than the downward weight of the water.

The Airtight Seal: When you fill the bowl to the top before flipping it, little to no air is trapped inside. A tiny bit of water might try to escape at first, which creates a slight low-pressure area (or partial vacuum) inside the bowl. This makes the outside air pressure even stronger by comparison.

Surface Tension: Water molecules like to stick together. This creates a tight "skin" effect on the surface of the liquid. Surface tension helps the water create a tight, airtight seal with the plastic sheet so that outside air cannot sneak back inside.

Performing the Rice Bowls

1) Lift the first bowl, show it empty, and pour rice into the bowl to fill it.

2) Carefully lift the other bowl (with the water retained) on top of the bowl to cover the rice. 

3) Pick up both bowls together, turn them a few times, and lower them back to the table with the water filled bowl now on the bottom.

4) Remove the top bowl and the rice will spill down the sides and give the appearance of doubling in size (The rice is now sitting on top of the plastic disk)

5) Use the Bowl Scraper to push the rice off, covering the bowl momentarily.

6) Lift off the Bowl Scraper (and remove the water cover at the same time), pick up both bowls and show that the rice has vanished and has turned to water. Notice that the bowl scraper has a beveled edge to make it easier.

The "Stage" was created to allow you to have a surface to lay the equipment on while performing - the sharpened edges will allow the water cover to not stick top the surface when placed facedown. Many magicians us a few toothpicks, matchsticks, or even some spare rice to achieve the same outcome.

Clean Up Note: I found a great item - this wide mouth funnel is used (used by canners) is great for transferring your rice back to a bag or into a cup!

The Golden Rules of Magic

• Never tell the secret: Keep the methods hidden to protect the secret. Revealing how a trick works destroys the mystery.

• Never repeat the same trick for the same audience: If they see it again, they know what to look for and might spot how it works.

• Practice: Rehearse a trick until you can do it smoothly without mistakes. Poor practice can accidentally reveal the secret.

• Don't announce the end result in advance: Let the magic happen as a surprise instead of telling the audience what you plan to do.

• Be yourself and develop your own style: Focus on good showmanship and a unique persona rather than copying other performers.

Want to learn more about being a magician?

Check your local library 793.8 are where the Magic Books are located!

PRINTING THE RICE BOWLS

An amazing magic trick you can print yourself!

This modern adaption is an easy print, and requires no supports. While I printed mine in a single color, you would be welcome to print it in multiple colors.

You will also need some thin plastic sheeting (about .5mm thick) more details on this in the description below!

The Rice Scraper that is included is used to level off the rice. Once again an easy print.

The Rice Bowl Stage is a two piece set (print two of them) that you can lay below the bowls for an even easier performance. The stage is designed to hold the bowls with very few contact points to ensure that the lid on the watered bowl does not stick to the bottom surface.

Printing The Rice Bowls:

You will need to print two (2) bowls to perform the trick. I printed mine with no special filament or settings (I printed mine with PLA).

In addition to the two bowls, you will need some thin clear plastic sheet. I was able to locate thin plastic sheet material (8.5"x11") at a local craft store (Referred to Stained Glass Cuttable Plastic Sheets). The plastic is about .5mm thick. You will be cutting a piece to fit over the top of one of the bowls.

See the included Rice Bowl Cove Cutter Stl - print this out and use it to trace a line around the plastic sheet. Then using scissors, cut out the plastic on the inside of the line. leave a small protruding lip around the bowl, and the small curved tab. My plastic had a removable protective layer on both sides of the plastic. After cutting it to shape & size, remove the protective layer for perfectly clear plastic.

If you want to use the Rice Scraper or the Rice Bowl Stage - print those now as well - all the parts were printed with PLA with NO supports.

For the Rice Bowl Stage, print two (2) parts - they have tabs and will push together to form the stage!

Please leave a comment (and a build) if you can - and maybe even a performance!

See my other items on Printables