OX BENDER 2.0
Let me just start by saying that I don’t usually buy
every shiny new gimmick that comes out on the market
but a friend gave me an Alakazam gift voucher for my birthday
so I thought I’d put it to good use and get something I could review.
Buckle up mind warriors because today we’re diving skull first
into Ox Bender 2.0, a crafty device by Menny Lindenfeld that promises
to turn your coin bending routines into a supernatural spectacle.
It claims to allow you to bend borrowed, signed coins with ONE hand,
no sleeves, no switches and no suspicious muscle flexing.
Let’s dissect this miniature beast of a gimmick
with precision and a crazy grin!
What the heck is OX Bender 2.0?
OX Bender 2.0 is a small hand held metal bending device
that weighs a mere 26 g. It could well be your new weapon of choice for bending coins, keys, those little flat circular batteries
that nobody ever uses, washers or even twisting spoons.
The best part is you can do it all with just one hand.
It includes a Sharpie snap on so you can keep your marker and gimmick together like peanut butter and jam. No more fumbling about
amongst all the silks, plastic thumbs and dove poo!
It comes with a 144 minute video tutorial packed with performance tips, scripting, psychology and spectator management.
What’s new & improved in version 2?
Adjustable coin slot sizing
Users can adjust the slot to fit varying coin sizes.
Apparently this solves the problem of coins slipping mid trick.
If I’m being perfectly honest, I don’t think this is necessary but at least you have the option should you feel you need it.
Bend position control
Choose centred for an elegant arch or off centre for some dramatic flair.
Ergonomic redesign
Sleeker, smoother and grippier, even sweaty palms or stubborn coins
don’t stand a chance.
Sharpie snap on
This enables you to attach OX Bender to a Sharpie and grab them together
as one then you’re instantly ready to perform.
Why do mentalists love it?
Invisible & camera proof
You can appear to bend metal with your bare hands
but it’s actually the OX Bender hiding in plain sight.
Perform surrounded, close up, on stage or for the camera.
There’s no awkward leg pressing or tabletop tension.
Borrowed & signed coins
Melt the minds of sceptics by bending their coin, signed by them
with one hand. This is the aspect that appeals to me the most.
Performance focused training
A 144 minute video tutorial covers routines, psychology,
scripting and spectator management.
Zero evidence left behind
No scratches, no evidence and the coins remain intact until they’re bent.
Trusted worldwide
Used by thousands of pros, it’s had rave reviews
calling it the best coin bender ever.
There’s gotta be a catch, what’s the downside?
Hand strength required
Bending coins requires quite a bit of muscle strength.
Beginners may need to build up some grip strength first.
I’ve had my fair share of arm wrestles over the years.
I’ve done a bit of Judo and lifted weights
but I found it a bit of a struggle to use the OX Bender.
I was just about ready to give up then after two days practising
it started to feel much more comfortable
but I will say that if you’re in the UK there’s only 2 coins
you can bend with one hand and even then there’s only the penny
that feels easy enough to bend without too much effort.
With other coins it feels like the OX Bender will just break.
I’m not sure how tough the plastic is but for the price I paid for it,
I’m not prepared to find out!
Beware 2 metal coins
Coins like the £1 and £2 have metal inserts and can jam the device.
The grip
Apparently the grip of the device has been improved upon, I don’t know about you but I have reasonably big hands and the grip on this thing is quite slippy. I’m going to rough mine up a bit to make it more grippy.
Price tag
At £92, It’s not a cheap novelty but if you’re serious
about supernatural mentalism,
it’s an investment in supernatural reactions.
Who is this for?
Working mentalists who want jaw dropping routines that blow minds.
Coin magic fans craving real one handed bends.
Performers who need a portable, fully deceptive effect.
Anyone looking to create a real Uri Geller moment.
Tips from Ryan Mentis
Use softer coins while you’re getting to grips with OX Bender 2.0.
If you’re in the UK, I’d suggest using pennies to ensure smooth bending
whilst you build your confidence.
Script it well and set the mood:
Hold the coin. Now imagine the metal getting warm, melting and bending.
Really focus and use the power of your mind to see it happening.
Involve the Sharpie: Let them sign the coin.
Practice one handed: Make it smooth and invisible.
Should you buy it?
Honestly? It’s not perfect but then what is?
The grip is an issue for me but I’m going to fix that myself.
The fact you’re limited to bending 2 UK coins with one hand
also sits a little uneasy with me but again I can work around that.
I don’t trust it to bend other coins with two hands as it actually feels
as though it will break, I won’t even attempt keys!
If you’re willing to put in the work and you’re serious
about weaving mentalism with tangible impact.
The OX Bender 2.0 might just be for you. Sure you’ll need a bit of practice
and you’ll have to be selective with the coins you choose
but this tool is a top tier mentalist addition.
I’m going to spend time with this little bender
and see how we get on
Fragmented Thoughts
Ox Bender 2.0 is the mentalist’s dream in a tiny package.
It’s fun to bend their signed coin inside their hand.
Menny Lindenfeld has engineered a modern metal bending tool
and stuffed it in your palm.
If you’re serious about mentalism, supercharging your reactions
and bending beliefs as well as currency then get out there you bender
and BEND… BEND… BEND!
Stay Weird
ЯYΛП MΣПƬIƧ
International Man of Mischief
Excellent review. I just got mine yesterday and you were pretty spot on with a couple of exceptions. I was a little disappointed by the small coin spacers. A US penny does not fit in the gimmick with two spacers in place. The tutorial very clearly shows using two of them with a penny. The second issue I found with the spacers is that they like to fall out of the gimmick. I resolved this with a little magician’s wax. But it wasn’t mentioned in the tutorial. All in all, I really like it and am nit picking a bit. But you are correct. You need some serious grip strength to one-hand bend some coins. A US penny is no problem. But a US quarter takes two hands for me.