talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect
Copied from "dudethatscoolmagic":

TOOL is much more than a gimmick:
It's a real tool that will allow you to perform more than 11 routines completely different and easy to do!

Imagine this...


Visually change the color of the cards' back witout any sleight
Instantly and visually restore a signed and torn card
Magically produce your credit card or your business card
Ask your spectators to shuffle the cards and instantly produce the 4 aces
Perform the "Substitution trunk" in close-up situation with cards
Show the most amazing version of the "Stabbed card" routine ever

11 professional routines, tested on real audience that made David Stone's réputation in close-up!



Make a signed card reappear in the cardcase without any suspect move
Visually change a coin into a banknote
Make visually turn over all the cards except the choosen one
Let a spectator touch 4 cards at random that will indicate her birth year
Tear the top of a cardcase and visually restore it
Make some cards vanish from your hands whithout any sleight
"David Stone has just proved we can start thinking where others have stopped."
- Etienne Pradier

"Except with a TT, I have never seen so many clever applications with only ONE gimmick!"
- Mickael Chatelain

For a comprehensive list of all the routines, see
http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/aca ... html#aD805


Cost

£25.99 + £2.30 2nd class P & P = £28.29 from dudethatscoolmagic.

I got a free DVD of "Harry Allen - Comedy Bits & Magic Routines" but I don't know if this offer is still on, as I can't see it on the web page.


Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

I don't think I'll be giving too much away by saying that this is not completely self-working. You'll need to be able to manage the following sleights:
D/L & T/L
Forcing a card
controlling a card/false shuffle and cut
Marlo Tilt
Elmsley count

.... based on this I give this a difficulty of 2 - 3, 'cos some of the routines are virtually self-working; others are a bit more difficult, but there's no knuckle-busting moves to master

Review
You've probably kinda guessed the method, after all, it's a gimmick - but don't let that put you off. This is pure class and I LOVE it. This will be coming out with me tonight and getting some use. I personally don't like all of the routines, but there's enough there to please everyone.

The card case can be used to carry your own cards, so get this and ditch your normal card case and take this out with you - it'll take up no more room than normal.

Can the card case be examined ??? Yes and no. People aren't expecting the card case to be gimmicked so don't draw attention to it - you can casually show it as normal and empty and throw it on the table. It's a bit like WOW by Masuda where the sleeve can be casually examined but not intensely scrutinised.


Overall

The explanations on the DVD have no voice-over - it's just sub-titles, which is a bit off-putting and some of the routines needed rewinding to fully understand ...... a bit tedious at times, but maybe this actually makes you concentrate more and helps with the learning of the routine

The gimmicks themselves are quite sturdy (you get one blue-backed and one red-backed) and should last quite a while if handled with care. I suppose you could make your own, I'm just wondering if it would be possible to buy a new gimmick if needed.

Overall I LOVE this - a big thumbs up and 8.5/10

Thank you for that in depth review moonbeam, 'Tool' certainly seems to be one of my next purchases, especially with my CUPS 'n all!

One question, have you seen 'Redemption' by Chris Ballinger by any chance? If not, here it is;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N8GCClm5os

'Tool' looks awfully similar to this. Although you may not have 'Redemption', how would you compare what you have to this trick?

Thanks Moonbeam.This should arrive tomorrow for me.Can you do me a favour and let us know how the audience reacted to your tricks with it.Do they want to examine the box but I'm more interested in how big it plays and what routines you do.I'm sure this willl get excellent reactions seems as it's so damn visual

The good people of NexusMagic said this sold out in 2 days, when it released in the US last week. ---> That's pretty fast for any effect or gimmick, certainly anticipated.

Perhaps its just me, but when does tapping the top of the deck with the box seem like a natural action?

corindaman wrote:Perhaps its just me, but when does tapping the top of the deck with the box seem like a natural action?

It's not a natural action but so what. Taking out a silk handkerchief and stuffing it in to your hand is not a natural action but we do it. I don't have this gimmick and think it unlikely that I will want one but don't get obsessed with making everything in to a natural action. You are a magician out to entertain people. As long as your actions don't give away your method then I don't hink it matters a lot if things don't look totally natural.

just ordered ,(have a 2-3 week wait due to mega sold out) your review sounds cool , is it as good as the demonstration ? if so this will work well with a routine I have in the pipeline ,have you had any use with Quarratine ?

I've had a slight change of heart on this - don't worry nothing major .

My main concern is that I carry my cards with me in my front jeans pocket. With my jeans pocket being tight ish - this is gonna put alot of wear on taking the deck in and out of my pocket and as such it's gonna wear the case out. If you carry your cards around in a jacket pocket, or a looser fitting pocket, then this shouldn't be a problem and the case will last you a long time.

G Pearce wrote:have you had any use with Quarratine ?

.... I haven't had any use with this - so I can't help you soz

i was tempted to purchase this effect but i've heard its very similar to conspiracy....... which i already own.....

would anyone with tool be willing to discuss the differences in the 2 effects with me?? (please let me know if this is breaking the rules MOD's) id just rather not waste money buying tool aswell if it is the same effect

[quote="moonbeam"]I've had a slight change of heart on this - don't worry nothing major .

My main concern is that I carry my cards with me in my front jeans pocket. With my jeans pocket being tight ish - this is gonna put alot of wear on taking the deck in and out of my pocket and as such it's gonna wear the case out. If you carry your cards around in a jacket pocket, or a looser fitting pocket, then this shouldn't be a problem and the case will last you a long time.


---Just get a Deck protector ---> DECK PROTECTOR

________________

Watched some people performing this. It looks nice, tempted to purchase. Only thing I would say is I personally wouldn't even show both sides of the box before the effect. I would just casually bring it out, remove the cards and fling it onto the table.

Then be like 'hmm let's try this' pick it up and do the effect. Then move on.

I keep seeing guys waving the box around as if to say 'look it's real, there's nothing strange...honest!'. As soon as they do the effect, even though no one will know how it's done exactly, they will instantly look at the box. Just my opinion.

A BIG heads up to http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/

..... one of my gimmicks became faulty (I can't really say anymore for fear of tipping the method). I contacted Mike at dudethatscoolmagic - I returned my faulty gimmick and he quickly sent a replacement ....... top banana

Dude That's Cool offer a great service. One of the best.

Tool is an excellent utility which although magicians are bitching about, will slay an audience (for those that perform for the real public).

Have to say that the gimmicks are not the best produced.

Tool is basically a take on Henry Evens 3D advertising but with a little extra something added to expand on the use.

The Henry Evans gimmick is much better quality and the top part of the gimmick sits comfortably plush on top of the other part. However, with Tools both parts of the gimmick are curved so when together there is a blatent gap around the edges.

Also, the card case surprisingly doesn't take a full deck of 52 cards with the gimmick.

Great idea but let down in a few important areas or have I just got a rogue copy?

You're right. 46 cards plus the gimmick replicates the look of a 'normal' deck.

I too am a little disappointed and believe it has become successful because of the (rightly) popularity of David Stone.

The DVD is really tough to navigate - no menu to speak of. I am also concerned about the falseness of tapping a deck with a case, but this can be worked through with proper routining.

However, on the upside the gimmick does allow for a fabulous card stab routine (on the DVD) which is definitely the jewel in the crown.