Wand Workshop

Electricity can be very dangerous and unforgiving. The Violet wand converts dangerous current into a form we can play with safely, well mostly safely.

Before you play with a Violet Wand there are a couple of things you should know about the wand. This is not to scare you but so you can make an informed decision and select the level of risk you are comfortable with.

Many people don’t realize that inside the Violet Wand there is a direct connection from the wall outlet’s Neutral blade to the coil connected to the output. During normal operation, this is perfectly safe. The problem occurs when the outlet is wired incorrectly. You wouldn’t want to connect yourself to the Hot lead of the outlet.

The first thing you should check before plugging a wand in is the outlet’s wiring. This can be done with a small $4 device called a circuit checker. You plug it in and three lights indicate if the outlet is wired correctly. If not, it will indicate the problem. The most dangerous situation is an outlet that has its wiring reversed. The Hot and Neutral are reversed. Many electric devices require a specific polarity as indicated by the larger blade on the plug so it can only be plugged in one way. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 37%

If you are new to the Violet Wand or a long term user, your first experience might have been at a Demonstration or ‘Demo.’ If you witnessed a scene that used a Violet Wand and you expressed an interest, you probably received a quick, informal demo so you could see what it felt like.

Either way, what elements should a proper Violet Wand demo contain? This depends on how detailed and advanced the demo is intended to be. That said, the three elements all Violet Wand demos should contain are History, Safety and the three basic techniques. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 33%

I recently bought a Treadlite II foot switch manufactured by Linemaster Switch Corporation. It cost about $26 plus shipping and has a single 6 foot cord with a dual plug on the end. You insert this plug into the wall or extension cord, then plug your wand into the back of it. Using a single line like this reduces the cables in your setup.

I purchased the switch for a couple of reasons. First, using the power knob on the back of the wand to turn the power off, as we do to replace electrodes, can wear the adjustment mechanism out prematurely. This is actually mentioned by the manufacturer as an improper way to turn it off. They recommend that the device be unplugged each time you need to swap electrodes.

In electro-play, we all know how inconvenient this would be. Add the bending over to retrieve the electrical plug and you conclude, their must be a better way. The foot switch allows you to just remove your foot from the switch to turn off the power. Switching electrodes was never easier.

Second, safety could be an issue. Using the knob to turn off the power may not always work. Changing the position of the wand can cause slight changes in power level. Tilt the wand wrong after turning the knob to the point of cut-off and you may get a jolt. Unexpected jolts can cause you to drop the wand or worse, injure someone with a prop or electrode. The foot switch cuts the power so there is no way to get that unintended jolt.

Safety can also be enhanced by the foot switch when it is used as a dead-man’s switch. If you were to trip and fall or remove your foot from the switch for any number of reasons, the power is cut. The safety advantage of not having line voltage running to the wand makes the foot switch a must-have item.

An unexpected bonus to having the foot switch made itself know the first time I used it in a scene. I was able to cut the wand on and off without the “Bottom” knowing if the electrode (or myself in Indirect play) was electrified. I was able to slide the wand around until she let her guard down, then “ZAP!” It is a serious mind game.

If you have a violet wand, or plan to purchase one, I recommend a foot switch without hesitation.

Popularity: 48%