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The Gaff Factory by Craig Matsuoka (ebook)

Instant download for $20 USD at Lybrary.com

Preview the book here.

The sales pitch:

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!

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.

The review:
Quite simply, this book delivers what it promises. The instructions are clear. The photos do the job of providing visual aid as to what should be going on at any given step. The information on splitting cards for the purpose of double facers/double backers may not be needed given that you can buy a pack of either for just a couple of bucks but then not including the method in a book about card gaffing would be a sin.

The shimmed card method is brilliant and undetectable.

Hofzinser's Transparent Cards are similar to something currently being pimped under a different name on the various magic sites. I do not have one of theirs to compare to mine but I can tell you that mine are just fine thanks to the clear instruction provided. I think that what's being offered by the magic shops has the disadvantage of showing only the pips and not the index. If that's the case then Hofzinser's Transparent Cards has the upper hand by far as the entire card is viewable.

The toner transfer method is genius and damn near perfect 100% of the time. A little touch up is usually needed but we're talking a speck here and there that needs to be filled in. This is a YMMV issue anyway as it will vary some from printer to printer.

My only complaint is that the Materials and Equipment section is not complete. As you go along in the book you'll come across little things here and there that for whatever reason were not included. A one stop shopping list would have been nice.

If you've dreamed up a gaffed card, packet or deck but aren't sure as to the best way of making it then pick up this book.