DIY, Makers & Builders

Jerry Clowin has made a significant improvement to the method published in Golf Ball in Glass. It builds on that same basic method, but introduces an important refinement which allows you to overcome a bigger difference between golf ball diameter and jar opening. With this new method it is much less of a hit and miss, and the search for the proper jars has become a lot easier, too.

Besides safety equipment (safety glasses and gloves) you will need in particular three tools to accomplish this task. One tool pretty much every normal household has. The second tool is found in most workshops, the last one you...

Here's a rare opportunity to obtain 50 of Thayer's ideas for tricks that they planned to release in the 1940s, but due to wartime restrictions, were unable to produce in large quantities. Back in the day, hundreds of magicians said: "Thayer, I wish I could go through your files. You must have hundreds of ideas stored away: tricks that magicians have sent you for sale and manufacture." And Thayer listened. In their files and desk drawers were literally hundreds of ideas. Some they sought out and paid for. Others were given to them. But because of wartime government priorities, it was impossible...

Build yourself this clever roll-on table that converts from a rolling suitcase to a roll-on magic table in less than 60 seconds.

A roll-on table adds to the attractiveness of your tricks and adds considerably to the efficiency and professional appearance of your act. So easy to build that the author claims you can have excellent results, even if this is your first magic building project. Detailed measurements and a complete listing of all materials is included. Everything has been figured out for you. These illustrated building plans take you step by step through the process, until your beautiful...

Build an "impossible" floating object from six playing cards and display it on your book shelf.

1st edition 2020, PDF 7 pages.

You will learn the secrets and get detailed video instructions of how to make four impressive 'impossible' objects.

• Spider Link
• Checker Board
• The Needle
• Fork on Card

The Fork on Card will impress...

A beautifully illustrated ebook on tables and side stands for you to build. Gene Gloye uses the tag line, "without drapes", because all the tables described are used in many ways, but without cloth drapes.

The ebook begins with several pages of discussion on stage furniture and its possibilities, with illustrated advice on transporting it, plus storing it. The various multi-panel and single panel tables described in detail, with easy to follow building plans, often have diabolically clever "black art wells" and other secret devices. A "Night Club Table" is so simple and so useful, and so...

This is for advanced folders only, those who want to tackle some of the most difficult and at the same time most beautiful impossible folds there are. Ralf has developed a new method for the Robert E. Neale braided banknote which he is teaching on this video. He will also teach you variations to the braided banknote theme.

However the highlight of the video is the most astounding braid for the Borromean Cube. For this object there was no folding method in existence at all, until Ralf tackled the problem and came up with a remarkable solution. Please note that there is no cutting and gluing involved. (The...

This is included in Grant's Lost Illusion Secrets.

At last, anyone can own a floating lamp. You can have one right in your living room or den with no special lamp to buy. Yes, one of the lamps sitting around your home now can be made into a floating lamp for a few dollars.

EFFECT: Spectators see an ordinary lamp sitting on a table. You produce a covering cloth and place it over the lamp. The lamp then seems to float right up into space, high over their heads or down near the floor in a very strange manner. After its flight, it glides back to the table and once again comes to rest. This is actually what they see,...

Although you can find versions of these Electronic Monte boxes for sale on magic websites, I could not find one large enough for my needs nor one that included a buzzer (not just a light). So I built my own. In spite of the fact that my electronic knowledge only involves the ability to insert a plug into an outlet, I built my own the first time in under an hour for around $20.

The premise is simple. From among multiple buttons, you win if you can find the button that lights the light and sets off the buzzer. With the diagram included in my instructions you aren't limited to only three buttons...

This package includes the templates and photos of 13 incredible 'impossible' cards. There are no instructions of how to fold the cards. For each card you get the template of how to cut the card as a PDF, and a photo of how the folded card looks like. We are assuming you know how to fold these cards. If you do not know check out Ralf Rudolph's various impossible folding videos. One that will get you started is Impossible Foldings Volume 2 (Part 1)

The 13 cards are:

• 2-Framed
• 3-Link
• 3-Framed
• 4-Linked
• Arachnophobia
• Card Sculpture
• Hexagon
• Rounded P-Link
• Square Knot
• Star Card
• Tri-Clops
• Two Swirled
• Wave

1st edition...

Solar Wind - The Perpetual Floating Card - is not so much a magic trick as it is a piece of magic art. A card hovers above the deck...and just keeps on hovering. Leave it on a desk, table, or shelf and it could be enjoyed for years.

Is the method invisible? It depends on the surface, the background, and the lighting. Set up on a dark surface it is very difficult to see the mechanism, even from a couple of feet away. By choosing the right conditions it is possible to make it even more invisible. However, the method is not 100% invisible.

This is hard to build. Some of the steps require...

Loo'Pen' is an elastic loop holder that is disguised as a normal pen. Loo'Pen' allows you to carry the loop with you all the time without worrying of breaking it. With Loo'Pen' you are ready to have your Loop at moments notice. So make yourself a Loo'Pen'.

1st edition 2018, length 10 min.

Ten completely new impossible bill foldings by Ralf Rudolph. You will get a video that describes how each and every bill is correctly folded. And you also get a PDF (download from your digital shelf), which gives you the cut pattern and shows a photo of the finished folded bill.

1st edition 2017, length 41 min, PDF 10 pages

Learn how to permanently link two cards in such a way that no cut is visible.

Ralf Rudolph, famous for his impossible objects, has spent many years researching and testing the method to link two cards in a seemingly impossible way, because no cut can be seen. Ralf shares in detail all the tools and secret supplies you will need to pull off this feat, and shows you in minute detail the process of how the cards are linked. Right in front of your eyes he creates his perfect Lorraine's Link.

These linked cards make for wonderful presents, display objects, and conversation starters. Potentially...

Learn to make two impossible objects without glue or other bonding agents. You can hand it out for examination. No joint or slit will be visible, because there is none. No glue or hidden cuts or anything like that. Have a wooden arrow pass through a Chinese coin with a hole or a bottle with a hole.

1st edition 2017, 15 minutes

New impossible linking card designs

Here you learn a few simple ways to make some new impossible folded playing cards. You also can do this with your own business cards or banknotes. You even could link your business card with a banknote or playing card. A perfect souvenir! You don't need glue or anything like that. Put it in a frame or carry some with you and hand them out.

1st edition 2017, 23 min

Effect: The magician shows a piece of cardboard that resembles a cheese wedge: "This is not a piece of cheese, it is the cardboard cut-out of a piece of cheese". "It is a piece of Dutch cheese. You can recognise this as the holes run horizontally". The magician shows the card on both sides. "What is the difference between Dutch and Swiss cheese?", she asks the audience. She places the card in her fist, indicates the moment of magic, and reveals the card again. "Dutch cheese has horizontal holes, and Swiss cheese has vertical holes". The magician displays the card on both sides to show that...

Thirty more excellent effects with plastic cups.

• Introduction
• Rationale For Using Disposable Cups
• Folding Or Collapsible Cup
• Vanishing Cup Of Liquid
• Additional Folding Cup Ideas
• Improved Foo Cup
• Fake Bottom Cup
• Foo Cup, Continued
• Vanishing Omelet
• Transformation Tricks With Eggs
• Baking Tricks
• Baking Cup Cakes In Paper Bag
• Cake In Hat
• Egg Shampoo
• Using The Foo Cup For Changes
• Production Cups
• Productions Using One Cup
• Funny Routine With Fruit Punch
• Thrilling Rice Production
• Shades Of The Coffee, Milk, And Sugar Trick
• Magic With New Transparent Solo Cups
• Liquid Appear Outfit ...

This is a collection of 22 impossible cards created by Ralf Rudolph. For each card you will get a photo of the finished (cut and folded) card, as well as a template to make the necessary cuts. You will NOT get the folding instructions. This means you have to be familiar with the basic folds to create impossible cards. A good place to start is Complete Guide to Impossible Foldings.

The cards included in this collection are:

1. 2 Framed Card
2. 3 Framed Card
3. 4 Way Trapdoor Card
4. Celtic Knot
5. Circlo Cross
6. Clover Circle
7. Criss Cross Link
8. Heart Henge
9. Hex Box
10. Latice
11. Opti Knot
12. Ribbon
13. Rounded Link
14. Simply Squared
15. Square Knot ...

[Note: An improved method has been released by Jerry Clowin in his New Way Golf Ball in Glass.

You will learn the secret of how to get a golf ball inside a glass with an opening smaller than the golf ball, without harming either the glass or the ball. Ralf Rudolph is a master of the impossible object. He describes his method of how to make such an object. Once you know how it is done you can make as many presents as you wish. No special tools are necessary. No chemicals are used. With a bit of preparation and the know how you can make something cool.

[Note that the specific German brand of glass Ralf recommends has changed its dimensions and thus it can't be used anymore. The method itself is still valid, but you will have to experiment and search yourself for a suitable glass. Or use the improved method referenced above, which does not depend as much on the glass dimensions as this method does.]

1st edition 2016, 2 pages.

Watch how Nathan Coe Marsh incorporates this impossible bottle into a really nice effect.

...

A complete mental act with an impossible object!

You present a bottle with a full deck of cards inside. (You can hand out the bottle for examination). The spectator selects one of five playing cards (no force!). With the heritage from your grandpa you are able to reveal any selected card.

You can perform this on stage and even close up. Build the routine up to 4-5 minutes.

You will learn:

• How to build the impossible bottle (with all the cards inside plus the jokers)
• How to build the other gimmicks - they are very easy.
• (You will also learn an easy way to put a playing card inside...

In this video you will learn folding techniques on how to make your own impossible folded cards and banknotes.

[Note: This compilation overlaps with Ralf Rudolph's earlier series of impossible foldings (1-6). There are some new things here and not everything from the six volumes is taught here, but there is a good amount of overlap.]

You will learn:

• Trabdoor Fold
• Trabdoor "E" Fold
• "V" Fold
• Inside-out Banknote Variation
• Real Impossible Fold
• Braided Banknotes
• Hypercards
• Shrinking Banknote
• Linking Cards
• and more...

1st edition 2016, length 1 hour 24 min.

...

The owners of this ebook can get Elemental 2 for a special price.

This is that rare routine which can be powerful even in the hands of a beginner. And for a pro this can become a reputation maker. Stunning impact and yet so easy to do that it can be performed within 10 minutes of learning. No sleights, no stooges, no preshow, no reset, instantly repeatable. Nothing is spoken or written down by the participant related to her choices.

About 40 cleverly designed and ready to print props are included. You may not actually need all these because you will only use 5 cards. But they are included as creative...

This is a DIY ebook is for building an attractive, light weight, portable and cost effective performance table. Everyone needs a table or ten when doing shows. Many on the market today are just way too much table and way too much money. This ebook is the answer to your table needs. Pip tables are attractive, sturdy for medium duty, fold-able, compact, reliable, easy to build, cost effective, light weight, airline friendly and great for all venues and performing styles/audiences. Build it in a weekend or less and have a great utility for a lifetime. This manual goes through the process of building...

If you are familiar with Magician's DIY Tips and Tricks then Tricks of the Trade is written with a very similar idea in mind just 60 years prior. It describes a multitude of DIY tips and gimmicks and improvements for the magician.

It describes things like:

• How to turn a sock into a billiard ball holder.
• The two ingredients to make fake beer.
• How to clean cards.
• How to make a candle shell.
• How to make coin holders from pins and safety pins.
• How to make colored flash paper.
• etc.

1st edition 1949, PDF 22 pages.

Learn 5 new impossible folded playing cards or banknotes without hidden cuts or glue or anything like that. This time Ralf is a bit more sneaky. On some of his designs he first cuts, then folds, and then cuts again, making the card appear even more impossible.

• Slalom
• Outlet
• Quarters
• Linking Triangles
• Tri-Clops

1st edition 2015, length 27 min

Two Secret Moves

In this video you will learn two "secret" folding techniques to make your impossible folding collection more impossible! No hidden cuts or glue are involved. You can give the cards (or banknotes) right away as an impossible souvenir.

• The Trapdoor Fold
• The Circled Queen
• Trapdoor Fold with a Star
• Backwards Fold

1st edition 2015, length 27 min

This fourth volume of Ralf's impossible objects series is a little bit of a departure in his methods. He is still not using any glue. However, all these objects have hidden cuts to make the illusions possible. The "Interlocking Banknotes" can be handed out for examination. The other two need to be kept behind glass.

• Impossible 8
• Interlocking Banknotes
• Impossible Ring on Cardboard

length 21 min

Fold more impossible objects from a regular banknote. No glue. No hidden cuts. A perfect gift or souvenir for your audience.

• Pleated Bill
• Pleated Bill Variation
• Shrinking Banknote
• Diamond Pyramid
• Multi Folded Bill

length 27 min

Six more impossible cards taught are:

• Circled: A particularly beautiful and super easy fold.
• P'linked
• Holed
• Hyper Variation
• Ezy Fold
• Interlocked

1st edition 2014, length 25 min

This time Ralf teaches you how to make impossible looking cards. With a few simple cuts and folds you can make beautiful objects which you can hand out as presents or keep for yourself. Once you know the basic method you can start to create your own variations and combine different cuts and folds into new creative designs. Also remember that while Ralf uses playing cards you can do the same designs with many other paper products, be they business cards, bank notes, designer paper, craft paper, etc.

The four impossible cards taught are:

• Basic Fold: Here you will learn one of the basic folds...

Ralf Rudolph explains three impossible looking objects which you can make from paper or paper money. Remember that there is no gluing and there are no hidden cuts. You take pieces of paper, fold, cut, braid and interlock them to achieve these beautiful objects. Surprisingly they are very simple to make once you know how.

The three impossible objects taught are:

• Braided Bills: Two bills are cut, folded and woven together.
• Inside-Out Banknote: An individual bill is cut an folded in a way that looks completely impossible.
• Braided Pyramid: You fold one bill into a pyramid shape and then...

Backdrops add so much to a show, but they can also subtract so much from your wallet. Here's a great resource for building inexpensive backdrops for as low as $30!

A good backdrop can really kick things up on a notch on attaining that professional look. Yet, they don't have to be expensive. Using materials you can find just about anywhere, even around the house, you can make your own backdrop for less than $30.

Many different types of backdrop systems are shown, and the pros and cons of each one discussed. There is a lot of information in these notes... extremely helpful if you want to...

Phase I - Bite off the pen nib and spit it back on. Immediately, open the refill compartment, let the spectator touch the nib.

Phase II - Make the refill rise out of the pen.

Bonus - A Russian Roulette with pens, where spectators select the pens to be smashed. The whole effect is totally under the performer's control.

The video will explain you how to gimmick a pen. No special pen is needed.

1st edition 2013, 12 minutes