Just wanted to share some more pics of projects. Here is the square circle I made. I have used it a couple of times in performance and really enjoy working with this prop.

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp31/paulyp/IMG_1973.jpg

Another great picture...awesome!

Pauly, you cease to amaze.

Looks great

Or "never" cease.......just read my post and realized that it takes on a whole new connotation without that one tiny word.

I also think it looks great! What did you use for the tube?
Thanks,
Bruce

Paul,

I'm really enjoying the photos of your work! Keep 'em coming!

Amazing craftmanship, Paul.

Thanks for the compliments everyone. Like the Lota Vase this was an example of me seeing something and using it for a magic prop. This never ceases to **** off my wife because I am always getting stuff out of the trash or buying stuff at Goodwill or flea markets. Usually I have no clue what I will do with it at the time. (I have a whole box of cool stuff just waiting to be used for something).

My father in law put in new carpet and he had the cardboard roll from the center of it. This was thick and strong and pretty big around and I thought it would probably work for the tube. Of course, it is cardboard and the surface didn't look good so I had to cover it. I found metallic contact paper at Target and laid this on a sheet of posterboard. I then glued the posterboard to the cardboard tube. That is how I did the tube.

This shows that potential magic items (raw materials) are lying every where just waiting to be reborn into good magic props.

Agreed. When I was younger I crafted a set of linking rings from those 10" brass rings you could get a walmart in the craft section. I eventually got a heaver set from a dealer, but those brass rings lasted for quite some time.

I've noticed that most square circles have fairly small front openings.

Is this necessary to pull off the illusion? I was thinking of trying to build one that looked like an "animal crate" for animal production. The front would be a mostly open frame with vertical "bars" set in it.

Depends on lighting, how high (and thick) the top (procenium) is in relationship to the audience view and how absorbent the interior is in addition to the brightness of the grill on the front.

I have seen Square Circles with completely open fronts as well as one that was hinged to open completely that used triple black velvet on the interior surface.

Love the look and great work on the front.

Beautiful work, Paul! My son and I are going to begin to build some classic props (starting with the Silk Cabby and the Mirror Box) with beautiful woods, rather than the normal "magic look". There is a place for both types of props, but there are far too few available of the wood-finished ones.

Again, nice job!

Thanks guys. I hate that typo in the name, but oh well... I still use this prop and it is still in good shape. I still enjoy making most of my own props. My most recent is a bed of nails.

Thanks guys. I hate that typo in the name, but oh well... I still use this prop and it is still in good shape. I still enjoy making most of my own props. My most recent is a bed of nails.