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lunatik
Inner circle
Date me before I become famous!
2356 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 4:30pm
Hi guys, I've recently been wanting to do a coin bending effect and started on my quest to find one that suits me the best. The very first one I played with was with a pre-b*nt coin and doing a bobo's switch. I've gotten mixed but decent reviews with this one. One of the problems I had was I couldn't really have the spec pull out any coin from their pocket. If they pulled out a shiney penny, I would have to have one right there, or if it was dull and dark, I'd have to have that in my pocket as well. Nickels aren't too big of a problem unless they happened to pull out one of the new buffalo ones, but those are few and far betwee. The worst one is if they pull out a quarter. MAN, so many different state quarters, don't even try to perfom it!! So I then read up and checked out the BOA/PYTHON. It was ok, but the handling isn't very natural and your hands look funny trying to get the thing back together. So that just makes a good pre-b*nding tool. Next was the Superman. Lot better idea than the previous as your'e not having to worry what state the coin is from or its condition. But I really didn't like the setup at all. I was never a fan of the raven, so this made it not so fun to do repeatedly. And you're hands have to cover bout everything so as to not reveal the method. Lastly, when reading different threads on the different benders, one that always that was mentioned was the Quantum Bender. Just like the Superman, you can borrow pretty much any coin, have them sign it and bend it. But unlike the Superman, you want to flaunt this before their very eyes! You feel devious when you show it to them and they have no idea that it is anything other than a regular *******. Up to now, I havent mentioned anything about the pricing of each method. Pre-b*nding your coins is by far the cheapest of them all, just a pair of pliers is all you need and you're set. Very effective, but limited in that you cant really borrow any coin. You're better off introducing the coins yourself and then giving it away at the end. Boa/Python is probably around $50-$70, but is impractical to use in performance. But it makes a way better substitution to using pliers..WAY BETTER. Superman is around $40 and enables you to borrow any coin, but you can also use it in performance. The setup is not that fun, and you're hands look pretty awkward at times. Not immediately resetable either. The Quantum Bender 2.0 is between $549 and $599 depending where you pick it up from. WOW, that's some cash!! But I have to say that it priced perfectly as it is leap years ahead of the others. And it keeps 12yr olds with an allowance from picking it up and showing all their friends how it works and then posting it on youtube.com. A lot of top professionals use the Quantum Bender and it's for a good reason. IT'S THE BEST!! So I decided to plunk down the cash and pick up the Quantum Bender 2.0. It'll last longer than I'll ever live. The minute details are amazing. The routine supplied is pure genious. John Sheets leaves nothing to chance, and gives you the best product for the money. When going through the instructions, it seems that I was doing something wrong. I live about 70 miles south of John Sheets and decided to call him and see if he would be available to meet to go over it. On short notice he was more than happy to meet up with me and go over everything. Upon meeting him, he gave me free of charge one of his posters and a set of his lecture notes (which happen to be worth 5x's more than what he charges) After some small chit chat, he then performed the routine for me. I must say that even though I knew the method, he does it so flawlessly that I wasn't sure if I had missed when the coin was bent. He was just so fluid and quick. Another local magician a while back who met up with him knew what the gimmick was, but when he saw the performance, he had no clue as to when the bend actually took place. John has routined it so perfectly that you really have to be complete moron to mess this up. Another thing that is so awesome about this is that you're done with the dirty work well before the effect really begins to take shape. Reconstruction by the spec is pretty much nill. So that just leaves you to concentrate on the presentation with no worries in the world!! For whatever reason I had always thought that John Sheets was just a stage magician. But after sessioning with him last night, he is one of the better closeup magicians that I've ever seen. And so many of his effects are actually of his creation!! He's working on a dvd that will have most of the effects that are in his notes. KEEP AN EYE OUT!! You will have some very special effects in your hands that will bring your magic up a couple of notches. And his handling of his Atomic Bills? YEEEESH!! I know the method, but he has a few sublties that blew me away!! I had no clue as to how he accomlished the transpo, even after repeated demo's by him. At anyrate, I wholly recommend the Quantum Bender 2.0 Will everyone and their grandma whip out their credit cards and order one for each person in their family? Prolly not. But I truely think that every magician who performs any sort of coin bending owes it to themselves to pick this up. You know it's a great effect when you rarely, if ever, see it for sale in the used section.....
"Don't let your Dreams become Fantasies"
Date me before I become famous!
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Knarild
New user
44 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 4:54pm
I find it difficult to cover the bending. Would be nice to see a video of Sheets performing this.
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Eric Gretencord
Regular user
Houston, TX
154 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 5:02pm
There's a short clip of him performing it on LVMI Live! 2003 DVD. I'm sure he was using QB1 back then and maybe had some handling improvements since then but I was not impressed. John is a member here so maybe he'll chime in.
He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder.
-M. C. Escher
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lunatik
Inner circle
Date me before I become famous!
2356 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 7:14pm
Forget the video's, how about ya'll just move out to colorado and see it live.  knarild, I had the exact same problem, but after talking with john, that problem is now solved 100%. today I watched the Superman demo on ellus*onist and when he first had the coin in this hand, it looked like a 5 yr old wearing his dads shirt, as the sleeves were like almost past his fingertips lol. then after the bend he pulls them up. not too impressed by that either. Anyone have a clip of a purchasable coin bend that is impressive in real life? not a promo or demo, but a real performance. The performance of the Boa is laughable from what I've seen also imo. Just out of curiousity, what version do you perform Eric and do you have video footage? I'm always looking for the best bender and would love to be totally impressed by a live performance and not be able to pickup on the method even after watching it over and over and over. I think all of us on the Café would love to see it!!
"Don't let your Dreams become Fantasies"
Date me before I become famous!
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Mike Doogan
New user
US (living in UK)
64 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 8:09pm
$599 or a simple switch? I know which I prefer.
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magicman899
Special user
506 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 8:48pm
I'm for the switch, I've seen the gimmick and thought it was worth $25. It's not something I would buy.
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 9:24pm
Knarild,
I don't mind giving you some help. Pm me if you'd like.
Eric,
Yes, the performance on the LVMI DVD, was with the first version of the Quantum Bender. The device and the handling has been MUCH IMPROVED since then! That was in 2003, it's now 2007, wow how time flies! The old version of the Q.B. compaired to the new version Q.B.2 is like night & day!
Mike & magicman,
It's all good.
Lunatik,
Thanks for the kind comments!
Posted: Mar 25, 2007 9:30pm
Mike & magicman,
P.S. -If you did a quick search for the Quantum Bender, you will see great reveiws. Also, talk to any of the top Pro's that use them & you'll get a whole different story! Many have said it is worth THOUSANDS of dollars to them. Oh well, to each their own!
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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lunatik
Inner circle
Date me before I become famous!
2356 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 10:47pm
I think Gregory Wilson, Nathan Kranzo, Danny Archer, Mark Strivings know a good thing when they see it. Check out the unsolicited comments from these top professionals. http://www.johntsheets.com/catalog.0.html just scroll down a bit  Magicman,what would you do if a spec handed you the newest state quarter?You would be up the creek without a paddle! You'd have to tell the spec that your powers were kind of low and that a different coin would be better to demonstrate those powers. Ummmmm, I guess to each their own if they love the restrictions and handicaps of a switch.
"Don't let your Dreams become Fantasies"
Date me before I become famous!
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magicmanfrank
Inner circle
1085 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 11:16pm
I'm afraid that this instructional problem is contageous!
I also purchased the QB II due to numerous recommendations, and find the instructions difficult to understand!
I was sure that a DVD was going to come with it, (especially for the price!), however one did not.
I am in California so I don't have the luxury of zipping on over to Colorado to meet with Mr. Sheets.
So here I sit with a Pricey, Wonderful trick, that I have not been able to perform!
=Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston
www.FrankThurstonMagic.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf
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lunatik
Inner circle
Date me before I become famous!
2356 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 11:38pm
I've talked with Mr. Sheets and he's thought of putting out a dvd showing some different handlings. I'll let him chime in here and see if a dvd is in the near future or not. I don't know where all the owners of the Quantum Bender live, but I'm sure there has to be a decent amount in California. Maybe Gregory Wilson lives there? But Frank, after about 2 or 3 minutes with John teaching me, he set me straight and now everything makes total sense. I personally have a harder time learning from reading, so that's my excuse as to why I didn't completely understand the instructions. Hmmmmm, if John's up to it, we might have to break out the digital camera and get something going!! But for the time being, pm John as his customer service is second to none.
"Don't let your Dreams become Fantasies"
Date me before I become famous!
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omnibozo
Regular user
Boulder, CO
142 Posts
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Posted: Mar 25, 2007 11:43pm
It's fun to read a review where someone really got it. I am the writer of the directions. Over the years we have had a handful of purchasers who have had difficulty with the directions. I apologize for the inadequate descriptions, but... a only a handful have had trouble. Both John and I have sent additional handling tips and even complete routines to those requesting help... including some people on this thread. There is nothing subtle about the handling. Insert coin. Say something funny. Bend the sucker. Calmly put gimmick away. Fry them as the coin 'bends' in front of their eyes. No fuss. No muss. No problem. Relax guys. Just do it. As I just posted on the EG, I NEVER leave home without the QB2 or John's Atomic Bills. Pricey, yes. Worth it, yes.
Bob LaRue
Omnibozoologist
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magicmanfrank
Inner circle
1085 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 2:00am
Terrific!
I'm in the lucky handful! 
=Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston
www.FrankThurstonMagic.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf
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milez
New user
72 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 2:15am
Six hundred dollars for a coin bend? Does it double as a microwave as well? For that price I would expect it to.
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 3:55am
Milez,
This subject has been covered(the value of this prop), do a search on the Quantum Bender.
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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magicmanfrank
Inner circle
1085 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:09am
Mr. Sheets-
I just sent you a PM.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
=Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston
www.FrankThurstonMagic.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:30am
Frank,
Check your inbox.
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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Branden Darcel
New user
65 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 5:00am
I actually got to see this effect performed by John Sheets himself just the other day, and I have to say I'm highly impressed with it. After watching it performed, and talking with John about it some, I feel the effect is well worth the cost. It really is an amazing effect, and from what I saw, one of the best coin bending effects I've seen.
THE MAGIC OF BRANDEN DARCEL
http://www.brandendarcel.com
http://www.myspace.com/brandendarcel
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Al Straker
Grammar Host
Australia
974 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 6:12am
John's QB2 is vastly superior to any other method out there IMHO. What sets it apart from a switch is that they can sign the coin before you even touch it. A couple of the less expensive benders allow this but have other serious drawbacks. QB2 is a pro-standard item and despite the cost, it is great value for a worker!
Also if you are looking for a nice routine to wrap around it ask Nate Kranzo for his "All Day Bender" routine. It's a gem!
Cheers,
Al
Al Straker Dip F.P, B.Mus.Ed
"Stranger than fiction!"
An unforgettable experience
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david_a_whitehead
Inner circle
USA
2122 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 10:31am
I have test run the QB 2 for three or four months now along with an unsigned switch coin bend. I can't tell you the number of times when I was using the switch method that the person figured it out...maybe not right away but when talking about it later on. Trust me, signing the coin DOES make a difference. I can't stress that enough and no one can convince me otherwise. I don't care how many "pros" say the opposite, having a signed coin bend is more impressive and completely destroys backtracking a method. I also had concerns with the directions of QB 2 but when using it in the real world no one ever catches the bend. You have to try it to believe it. I have done it a ton of times now and no one ever catches the bend and everyone is impressed. This truly is a gem and worth it if you will use it. The gimmick by the way will last a lifetime. Highly recommended.
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magicsiow
Regular user
Malaysia
102 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 2:25pm
As a pro magician perform for many International corporate & upper market... I don't want you to own it, just leave it to our pro and you can continue to use "switch" sorry for that!!! cheer!!!
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sbays
Special user
Burbank, CA
518 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 3:27pm
I keep hearing people here saying they cant hide the bending of the coin. Guys, the QB2 does the BENDING for you. It is up to YOU to routine it and use MISDIRECTION to hide it, just like any other move. Now, the QB2 has a perfectly logical reason for being there as it looks totally innocent and has been in play since the beginning. Trust me, it flies by everyone. Although I am not going to give away my current handling, here is just a quickie to help hide the work.
Ask them for a coin, or provide one yourself. While demonstrating with your hands, ask them to check the coin out to make sure it's real (If its your coin)making sure it doesn't come apart, bend or squirt liquid. (small chuckle there)Then have them sign or mark the coin anyway they like. You have basically conditioned them to the moves later when doing the work. Take the signed coin back and make a comment about letting it dry for a moment. Then, I take a few other coins out of my pocket and have them check those out the same way as the other. (The work is done here)It only takes a moment guys. By the time they are done, the work is done and the Qb2 is long gone. I then take the signed coin and the extra coins and have them open their hands and I give them the coins.
I do my mojo and have them concentrate on their coin, and when they open their hands, their signed coin is bent. This KILLS EVERY SINGLE TIME! Another small thing I will share here is this. Get a m******* coin to add to the extra coins you give them. And also get a M5 or equivalent to wear. When the coins are in their hand, they will actually FEEL movement in their hands. This is good ... REALLY good. Although, I have achieved the same through suggestion, this really adds to the effect.
I also agree that having their own signed coin is far better than switching coins. There are just to many different coins out there today. I initially thought I was crazy to spend this kind of money on a bender. You know what? I am glad I did. If you use this, it will pay off in dividends.
Just my thought!
Scott
"Opportunity may only knock once, but temptation leans on the doorbell."
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Royston South
Regular user
Jersey Channel Islands
137 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 3:47pm
Thanks Scott, I like that handling-really like it!
Royston
www.roystonsouth.co.uk
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billfromoregon
Special user
594 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 3:51pm
Scott - Excellent ideas. Thanks for sharing. I really like the magnetic coin idea. I have the oringinal QB. Can someone who owns or has owned both PM me the diffeence, especially as related to the ease of bending the coin with the QB2 compared to the original? I am considering getting the QB2, but am wondering if there is enough of an improvement to justify spending the extra bucks for the newer unit. Thanks -
Bill
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:37pm
Thanks for all the great comments everyone!
Scott,
You've got a great routine! I like to hear what others come up with. I've heard allot of different, & great routines from many different performers. It's interesting to see how there's so many great routines developing with the Quantum Bender. Thanks for sharing!
Bill,
The "Quantum Bender 2.0" is much improved by its overall design & ease of use. Without revealing too much... It Is made out of better materials, It's now all high quality stainless steel (no plastic). It is much more precise all around. It's now got even better leverage for even faster & easier bending. It is smoother in the operation & execution of insertion & removal of the coin too. To me, the difference between the first version & the second version are like night and day. I really do beleive that it just can't get any better! I hope this helps.
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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D J Hawkins
Loyal user
Reading, UK
296 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:41pm
I'm very tempted to invest in this but would need confirmation that it works with UK coins. Any British close-uppers using this regularly ??? I'd love to hear your comments.
David Hawkins - Close Up Magician
www.david-hawkins.co.uk
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:52pm
Magicsiow,
LOL, I've heard other Pro's say the same thing!
DJ Hawkins,
I have sent several to the UK, with no complaints.
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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Royston South
Regular user
Jersey Channel Islands
137 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 4:55pm
Hi David the QB2 works with 1p,5p,20p and the best 10p it takes a bit of getting used to, then is as easy as spreading butter!!!!!If you have a place for a coin bend in you act then this is the ONE.
Royston.
www.roystonsouth.co.uk
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Dr Spektor
Inner circle
The frosty North
8843 Posts
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Posted: Mar 26, 2007 9:51pm
One of my misdirection tactics is to have the specs all have coins - I demo me trying to bend it with my bare fingers... then ask them to try - and tell them to do it "now" as I do the "work".... then I flip the marked coin between my hands and say something to the effect of "where brute force fails... let us see the power of the mind" and go into the usual mental bend of the coin... then let it drop into the spec's hands.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
www.carcosa-collection.com
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 27, 2007 4:39am
Dr Spektor,
I like it!
Sometimes, if it is a repeat performance or the're burning my hands, I will just ask a direct question. I usually bend Quarters, so I ask "Do you know what a quarter is made of?". Most people don't know. They will look up at me, then to their neighbor. There's the moment. It works everytime!
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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John T. Sheets
Special user
Colorado, USA
801 Posts
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Posted: Mar 27, 2007 5:26am
Royston,
You said, "it takes a bit of getting used to, then is [it's] as easy as spreading butter!!!!!".
I agree 100 percent. For me it feels so natural, that sometimes it feels like I give zero pressure to bend a US Quarter! I know logically it takes more than zero pressure, but that's what it feels like! I have had a moment where after the bend, I had to think to myself "wow! did I just bend that already?"...LOL
Magically,
John
www.johntsheets.com
Inventor of the "Quantum Bender" line, as well as other professional products.
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