PROS

It is an interesting gimmick that can be used during performance or to pre-bend coins and certain other objects.

It is the size of a key, so it could fit on your keychain.

CONS

First, I was disappointed that is doesn’t bend dimes, or pennies, as they are too small. However, it does a great job of bending quarters and if you can bend any coin, that is magic. You should rarely have a problem with not being able to borrow a quarter.

Second, I find it more difficult to justify why I am involving keys in a bending routine, unless I am bending keys (which this will do). However, I think it is so much more practical to bend coins. Because of the convenience of being able to carry Benz with you at all times, it is just a matter of coming up with your own justification.

I think a product like Coinvexed is more natural to coin bending. However, Benz is more convenient to carry with you at all times on your keychain. They key is to have a justification for using the keys. In the explanation, he covers this, and in the “Suggestion” section, I have some ideas on this as well.

VERDICT

I am happy with this product, I think it has its place. I also like other coin bending devices like Coinvexed. I think the advantage to Benz is you can place it on your keychain and it is always available to you. You don’t even have to think about whether you have your prop with you.

Suggestions

I think the biggest challenge with Benz if you are using the gimmick during the performance is the justification of why you need keys to bend a coin. Here is an idea: Go in your pocket to retrieve a coin. Come out with a handful of keys and coins. As you are looking through your coins, offer to do something with a coin. Ask them, as a second thought, if they have a quarter. Ask them to look at their coin and read the date. Have the benz gimmick on a quick release mini carabiner clip on your keychain. Take their coin and tap it onto the keys to show it is solid. As you do, you insert it into the Benz device and you switch out another quarter. Bend the quarter as you show the switched coin. Go into your pocket to leave the keys and coins, but come out with the bent quarter. Hold the quarter in finger palm, probably the easiest finger palm because it will curve to your finger. Ask your participant to hold out their hand and place the bent quarter in their hand as pull the un-bent coin into finger palm. Close their hand around the coin. Have a group of people wrap their hands around the participant’s hand. You have your hand around theirs as well. With your body sideways to the participant, along with a group of other people, you can pocket the un-bent coin. When they reveal the coin, they can verify it is the same coin they took from their pocket.