Hi, I am based in India and none of the standard coin gaffs are available for Indian coins. Also if I order custom gaffs for Indian coins, the price is above my budget

So, how hard is it to make coin gaffs? are there any books are tutorials available for the same?

Thanks for help!

Special machines and training = $$$$$$$ . If you want to get involved in this the cost is very high and getting the info on how its done is hard to get. Most people want to make gaffs for them self and the price to buy them already made is the way to go.

Good Luck PT

Shakuni, Some of the top gaff makers WILL gaff your coins if you send a set to them and are willing to pay the price.

No books or tutorials exist, as far as I know. Buy a lathe and practice! That's how Todd and Jamie did it. I cannot imagine the learning curve! Broke? Me too.

Perhaps a better direction would be pure sleight-of-hand?

Doug

You can experiment and see how it goes, but personally I'd either work on sleight-of-hand as Dougini suggests or find a way to increase my budget and buy custom gaffs.

Very hard to make. Unless you are very good with machining, you should have a custom coin made. These kinds of coins are very hard to make and require precision.
I know they are very expensive. I’m saving up for a new coin now and it takes a long time.

A very expensive process to make. unless someone would be going to make these for a living.it is just cheaper to buy them.

Hi Shakuni,

You know, you COULD perform with American and British coins and gaffs. Start with some sleight of hand coin stuff that allows the coins to be freely handled by your spectators, then ring in the gaffs. Here in Holland, no one even raises an eyebrow because I don't use Euros - although I will be acquiring some later this year (gaffs I mean lol). What I am trying to suggest is that if you establish the magic, you are home free.

Also, I wish I had the money to get Lassen and Schoolcraft stuff. I don't. And it seems neither do you. So, Johnson Products are STILL superbly crafted gaffs. They are actually a United States Defense contractor who got into gaffs as a kind of fun side business. Johnson offers a lifetime guarantee on their products. I knew an old timer who had his CSB set for twenty plus years. The set became scratched and unusable. He sent the set to Johnson and they sent him a new CSB set with no questions asked. Sasco and Sterling also make excellent gaffs.

Just something to toggle yer noggin!

Namaste,
Vlad

PS: Coins from India work GREAT with PK rings and other ferromagnetic applications - just sayin'

Hey Shakuni. As a newbie with a background in machining I've also been looking into making my own gaffs. Based on the price of a tabletop lathe, chuck, motor (if the lathe is'n't supplied with one)tools and practice materials, you'd wind up paying way more than if you just had the gaff made by a professional.

If only Id have paid attention in shop class....

Yes, it seems buying the gaffs are the way to go!

You need to get a fully complete watchmaker's lathe kit.
Mine cost $500 used at at the Tucson Gem Show this year.

That's not a bad price.

Octopus Sun, what will you be using it for? Watchmaking, or to learn (or possibly continue, I don't know) coin gaffing? Or something else?

I'm def not into watchmaking. I'm a jeweler by trade.
It's an investment into our shop. I'm not making gaffs per say,
but I may try as an experiment. It's mainly for me to work the
silver I cast to make custom bezels etc for the gemstones I cut
and want to mount. This is something I've been wanting for about 10yrs.
you never know though what I may create from within.

What do you consider a fully complete watchmaker's lathe kit? I have never seen one. There were hundreds of accessories and attachments made for them. What did you manage to snag?
MR

A Boley & Leinen lathe No. 77/X1V, made sometime in the 50's

There is an inexpensive e-publication on Jim Riser's website on how to machine a Scotch and Soda set:

http://www.jamesriser.com/Magic/JamesRiserMagic.html

For $5, you can at least see whether the project would be feasible for you.

IMHO you would be wise to contact Mr. Tango here on the Café as he has been more than willing to work with coins supplied by customers.

Thanks for that link, I just may experiment making the coin cup and SS.
I knew this was the lathe I needed to do this work, just need to find time
between cutting stones, carving wax casts, taking care of my boys.

ditch the hobbies and put the boys to work with you on the coins. You can start a coin gaff empire.