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The Gaff Factory: A comprehensive dry-mounting tutorial
by Craig Matsuoka

$20

(3 reviews, 20 customer ratings) ★★★★

PDF | by download [7.01 MByte]  
The Gaff Factory: A comprehensive dry-mounting tutorial by Craig Matsuoka

Making dry-mounted gaffs just got a whole lot easier!

This new 80 page ebook introduces you to the wonders of dry mounting tissue (a.k.a. "DMT"). What's DMT? It's an adhesive that lets you make gaffs that look, feel, and snap like a normal card. If all you've ever known are rubber cement, sprays, and glue sticks, then you've been missing out big-time. This book will open your eyes.

On the other hand, perhaps you heard of DMT, but never bothered to try it because the equipment costs turned you off. Or maybe you gave up on it after getting horrible results with a clothes iron. Well, it's time for you to take a second look.

Dry mounting techniques have always been kept somewhat on the down-low, and few sources of information are available about it. Existing material on the subject often gives it shallow treatment and leaves students puzzled when things don't go as smoothly as the instructor says they should. If this has been your experience, then you want this ebook. The Gaff Factory was written by someone who feels your pain and has gone through a great deal of effort to make the process easy to understand.

If you've been afraid of DMT, this book will banish your fear and tip the secrets of success. You'll learn how to get professional quality results without expensive dry mounting presses or a wonky clothes iron. And if you shop wisely, all the necessary equipment and materials can be rounded up for under fifty dollars. The beauty of this system is that we keep things simple. There's nothing to build, and everything can be bought "off the shelf" and used as is.

You'll also learn how to make split face gaffs with virtually undetectable seams, and an unusual method of indirectly laser printing on cards that doesn't require stripping away the finish [This printing method requires an item that is not easily obtainable outside the U.S.A.]. It works without removing the air-cushion finish and does not involve stickers, clear labels, iron-on t-shirt transfers, or waterslide decal paper. As a bonus, the download includes pips and indexes in vector format that you can manipulate in free open source DTP software.

Sound interesting? Then join the growing club of DMT enthusiasts and order your copy today!

Check it out: Take a look at the free downloadable preview of the ebook.

Example gaffed cards

Topics:

  • Dry Splitting
  • Double-facers
  • DMT preparation
  • Materials and equipment
  • Corner Rounding
  • Shimmed Cards
  • Split Faces and Backs
  • Invisible Seams
  • Working with Razor Blades
  • Long Cards
  • Acrobatic Cards
  • Hofzinser's Transparent Cards
  • Erasing Methods
  • Restoring the Finish
  • Toner Transfer Secrets
  • Creating graphics using free open source software
  • List of Sources & Mfrs
1st edition 2007; this ebook is in its 5th edition; 80 pages, 126 photos, 23 illustrations.


Reviewed by Fredrick Turner (confirmed purchase)
★★★★★   Date Added: Wednesday 04 January, 2023

I found this ebook extremely helpful in learning the dry mount process. It’s thorough and detailed to get you started. You’ll need to experiment and practice to get the quality of cards you’ll want to use. Since the book’s publication, some of the specific materials are no longer available however you can quickly find substitutes.

Reviewed by Harold Whipps
★★★★★   Date Added: Friday 24 April, 2020

Purchased because of the print on cards without damaging finish subject only to discover it is for laser printers only. Other than that, it is great for those new to making gaff cards. There was nothing new in it for me. I made a Hofzinser card back in the late 60’s early 70’s. I’m sure I ruined hundreds of cards over the years learning the hard way. This publication would have been great back then. To all those wishing to learn about Gaffed cards, take it from an eighty one year old magician, $20 well spent.

Reviewed by Larry Brodahl (confirmed purchase)
★★★★★   Date Added: Tuesday 12 June, 2018

This book is good. Very good. He gives a clear and thorough explanation of joining cards using dry mount materials. And the method works.

I have not tried everything in his book, as I'm just starting. But I have made double backers and double facers with little effort. A split facer took 1 try.

And because dry mount is used, the cards have the correct feel to them and they coalesce into the deck unlike the rubber cement versions I've built in the past.

I do NOT use his exact method of splitting the cards, nor do I use anyone else's exact method. I think splitting cards is somewhat idiosyncratic, so it might help if you've seen several other tutorials on splitting cards to give you alternative ideas.

But all in all, good book. And if I graduate to the more complicated builds - next up, the Hofzinser card - well, then it's a great book.

This product is listed under the following topics:

Magic & Mentalism / DIY, Makers & Builders

Magic & Mentalism / Cards / DIY Playing Cards

Magic & Mentalism / Cards / Gaffed