Welcome to the Great Nippulini's performer tools page.  The items listed here are all forged by hand in my workshop by myself alone.   With over a decade of work in the sideshow community and many years hobbying with metalwork I have made these tools specifically with the performer in mind.  If there are any custom requests, please feel free to e-mail me at contact@greatnippulini.com.

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BLOCKHEAD TOOLS "Buy 'The Great Nippulini' Blockhead Tools! The nicest thing you will ever stick up your nose!!"
                    Gwyd the Unusual

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These are shots of me forging a nail.  The steel is about 1,500-2,000ºF!

    All blockhead equipment I make is made of 316L grade surgical stainless steel.  It is non-magnetic, will never rust on its own, holds a mirror finish and is even surgical implant grade steel.  This is the same steel used in skeletal fixator pins, dental braces, cardiac stents, and most commonly in body jewelry.  This type of steel is also used industrially in food processing factories for its extreme anti-corrosive qualities.  What this all means is, IT'S GOOD TO BE IN YOUR BODY!!
    When performers use the blockhead act in their routine, they use common nails purchased from the hardware store, right?  The most average steel used in nails is a low carbon type such as A-36, a structural steel.  This rusts very quickly and needs to be cleaned often.  These nails are also machine made and therefore have be removed of any barbs or sharp edges by tedious sanding and cleaning.
    With my forging process, finishing, and final mirrror finish polishing  ALL the worries performers will incur using store bought common nails are gone!  The smooth surfaces make for better ease in insertion and clean up is a snap.  An added bonus is that they can even be run through an autoclave, the only proper method for sterilizing anything. In addition, that mirror finish just SHINES onstage!!

NAILS!

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All nails start at $20.00 and up per nail, all depending upon whatever size you currently use.  Please do NOT give me pennynail sizes as the pennynail system is based on weight of nails, not exact dimensions.  So, when ordering please be as specific as you can about length and thickness of your nail. DRILL BITS!!
The blockhead drill bit is $20.00 per bit.  Forged to give the running smooth flutes a reverse action while being rotated in a clockwise position on your drill.  This, of course, has extreme potential for on stage use and safety.  There are no sharp edges and the tip is non-cutting as you can see above.  Sizing is the same as for ordering a blockhead nail.

BLOCKHEAD SWORDS!!!

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Blockhead swords are $50.00 and up, depending upon size and decoration.  A blockhead sword can be used for a variety of different routines.  No sharp edges, but rather a light flattening of the steel to give the appearance of a sword.  Brass "handguards" are brazed to the sword followed with hand wrapped stainless wire handle with steel pommel.  Sizing is the same as ordering for a blockhead nail.  NOT recommended for use with a hammer!!

CUSTOM MADE!!!!

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Anything your brain can think of, I can make.  Got an idea you only see in your mind?  Send me a drawing and we'll talk.  Seen another performer with a "one-of-a-kind" piece, send me a picture, I'll make it!  Prices depend upon size and complexity of the request.

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FIRE TOOLS     I am also producing fire torches for general fire work.  These pieces are hand forged of mild steel rod approximately 3/16" to 1/4" thick.  The torch handles are hand forged and run about 15 inches to the head.  The round stock is either used as is or hammered square for more visual effects of twisting and handle variations.
    Most of these are actually forged entirely of a single piece of steel.  Others are fashioned separately then MIG welded.  Welding leaves a puddled trail of molten metal, sometimes referred to "like a stack of nickels".  Well, that ruins the beauty of the hand forged look I want you to get.  So, I use a method of forging, welding, reforging, then a series of finishing sanding.  Some parts of the designs show the black scale, a thick oxidation that adheres to the metal (this is one of the reasons it's called blacksmithing).  This scale enhances the design by balancing with the shiny edges left by the sanding.

TORCHES!

A selection of torch designs
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My "signature" spead out spiral twist leads to the barbed head for the wick.

You may notice that these are all un-wicked torches.  This is because I feel that most fire performers prefer to wrap their own.  The "patented" barbed tip holds on to fabric and string like you wouldn't believe.  Similar to the effect of Velcro©, the barbs snag the wicking material and embed themselves into the wick as you wrap it tighter.

Basket Twist	Wave hook	Punch & Drifted	Loop wrapped	Riveted Through	Shephards Hook
$45.00	$35.00	$50.00	$40.00	$45.00	$30.00

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SKEWERS

  I have recently been comissioned to make custom skewers for the Human Pincushion act.  With knowledge of both the act and the item, I happily accepted.  Now I offer these tools to the list of Nippulini wares.

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My skewers are made of 16 gauge 302/304 stainless steel spring wire.  This material is resistant to corrosion and abrasion as the 316 steel products I offer.  The main difference is that the wire has a spring temper trait, treated at the steel mill, which makes it flex better and resist bending.  Each skewer is hand ground to a precision taper point.  The taper runs approximately 2 to 3 inches, making for easy insertion.  The tips are EXTREMELY sharp and resist bending into a burr (curled tip).  With incorporated ring handle, length is about 10 inches.  Can be made to fit any size requested.

Skewers start at $15.00 plus shipping, custom handle inquiries accepted.  Discounts for multiple orders are applied!

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STAINLESS STEEL SWALLOWING SWORDS

Click HERE to go to the Sword Making Page
 
 

Serious inquiries ONLY, please e-mail me at contact@greatnippulini.com to order TODAY!
 

©2010 The Great Nippulini