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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
I was fortunate to purchase my leather dice stacking cup, casino razor-edged die and portable smooth table-top surface from Mike Rogers many years ago.
Recently, I modified my table and now require a new surface for dice stacking. The surface needs to be smooth, black, and customized to meet the dimensions of my table (approximately 16" by 12"). It should also be lightweight (1/8 inch thick maximum). I would appreciate any links or contact info for suppliers that provide such a table top. As an option, perhaps I can go to a local hardware store and have a surface cut to my specifications. I tried this with Plexiglas, but the surface was not right for dice-stacking. What is the best material to use as a table-top? Mike's table-top was very smooth (non-porous) and he encouraged me to give it an added lustre by polishing it with Johnson's clear floor wax, from time to time. This made for a "perfect" surface. I wish I could find something of equal quality. All suggestions (especially if these suggestions are based on your own successful dice-stacking experience) will be appreciated and considered. Many thanks. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
I like smooth Formica like my bar top here in the studio. It's great for dice stacking.
-=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Thanks tabman!
Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Maybe you could glue it to that piece of Plexiglas you already tried, to stiffen it a little???
-=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Perfect solution tabman.
Many thanks! Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Formica glued to masonite.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Frank,
Since I already have the lightweight plexiglas cut to size, I'm curious to know why you suggest gluing the Formica to Masonite instead of gluing it to the plexiglas. Do the two materials adhere better to one another? Also, what type of glue is best (I'm no carpenter!)? Contact cement spread thinly and evenly over each of the two surfaces, let hem dry slightly, then adhere each piece to one another? Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
One reason is that the masonite will warp and is subject to moisture. As long as you don't melt that plexy you will be fine. Look at the glue section at Home Depot or similar and pick something out. Adhesives today are great. Also you could take it by a plastics joint if you don't want to mess with it yourself. I'd imagine it wouldnt cost too much to have it professionally glued and trimmed.
-=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
It worked Tabman (and Pete)!
I am now the proud owner of a customized Dice Stacking board. I bought my rectangle of marble-black formica and glued it with a very strong bonding agent to the plexiglas. Then I added some plastic trim around the edges. This portable table surface nests perfectly on top of my regular frame-edged table surface. So, when I'm ready to switch from cards to dice, I simply remove the felt close-up pad, and lay down the formica surface. I have also polished the Dice Stacking surface with Johnson's floor wax, as recommended by Mike Rogers a few years back. So my new board is th eperfect surface for stacking. My challenge now is to re-establish my ability to stack four dice a top my relatively small table surface. My surface is 12 inches by 16 inches. In spite of the size restriction of my table, a few years back I was able to stack on this restricted surface with both accuracy and consistency. Larger table top surfaces, though easier to work with, cannot fit in my Airline-size travel case. Therefore I am forced to work with this 12 by 16 inch surface. I would be curious to know if anyone else has adopted their routine to such a small surface area? All the best. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Sounds like you did a good job putting it all together. As always I am glad to help a brother out!!!
-=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
A few days ago, I took out and viewed Jim Zachary's video, the Art of Dice Stacking and wached it intently and with great appreciation for this Master in the Art of Dice Stacking.
I was both surprised and pleased, to see that Mr.Zachary himself was demonstrating his techniques on a board similar in size to mine. Through this instructional video, Mr. Zachary reminded me of that the key to stacking is not in making large arm movements, but instead relies on the repeated flick and arc of the wrist. Once I practiced this style of stacking on my small (but now suddenly sufficient) 16 by 12 inch surface, within five minutes, it all "came back" to me. I was stacking without fail over and over and with renewed confidence and zest. Many thanks Mr. Zachary! Immediately after viewing Mr. Zachary's tape, I pulled out my Classics of Magic Video showing the wonderful Mike Rogers sharing his techniques and routines of Dice stacking. What a treat (at 2 a.m., I was wide awake and totally enjoying the showmanship and sage advice). Thank you Mike. You are sorely missed, but your spirit and geneorsity live on. Sincerely, Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I was just suggesting masonite as an alternative. I didn't mention it as a preference. I think Tabby is correct. It might warp.
I like having a pretty large area to do stacking. I don't like to feel cramped. Also, I think stacking looks much more magical when it is done more slowly and smoothly as opposed to fast and furious. A larger surface allows for smoother motions, I've found.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Interesting point Frank.
Still, when I do mingling magic, I like to carry my portable 12 x 16 inch table around with me. This table has served me (and my spectators) nicely over the years. I like the mobility. All the best. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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