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Steadyhands New user 24 Posts |
I’m just a dabbler that likes to perform for friends and family. I’ve played with the three shells on and off for years, have had some La Maggiore Classic shells for many years but didn’t warm to them. I’ve made my own shells but local walnuts are a bit small. But my home made ones look a million dollars after three coats of shellac.
I've been doing the Boot Camp for the last three weeks and am happy with my ability so far. It really is a short cut to a new level of skill if you practice regularly. I need to work on making it my own now. I've had a very quick play with the bottom ridge shells and really like the size. Good size length-wise and a little higher than the S4S street shells which is nice from a grip point of view. I’ll need to play with them more to become accustomed to the extra freedom the bottom ridge gives me. My S4S Copper Shells were harder to grip. A spray with a grip spay fixed this. I really like the extra weight these have. Different peas. I find I like Al's peas on harder surfaces and the S4S Perfect Pea on my close up mat. I found I need to clean my peas every few days as they picked up lint from the velvet on my close up mat. You learn your "slide distance" and when the pea regularly stays under the shell for longer then this it is time for a clean. Further experience might change this as I practice with different shells on different surfaces. Close up Mat I made my own based on the dimensions in the Dr. Beaumont's "The Famous Three Shell Game" book. One sheet of plywood cut to size. Covered with wadding doubled over for extra thickness. Covered with velvet cloth and stapled down. Seems to be a lint and fluff magnet but nice to work on. Props Collection La Maggiore "Classics" School for Scoundrels Street Shells School for Scoundrels Copper Shells 3shell.com Bottom Ridge Shells 3shell.com Large Black Con Caps Shell Game Boot Camp Caps DIY Shells (2 sets + spares) Literature Collection Diversions for the Shell and Pea Game - Dusty Johnson Dr. Beaumont's The Famous Three Shell Game - Dr Henry Beaumont The HanXamean Approach to the 3 Shell Game - Jason Whittker Hello Sucker! - Jack Chanin Manual of The Three Shell Game, The - Eddie Joseph Oh No! Not a Magician!! - Phil Cass The Shell Game - The School for Scoundrels - Whit Pop Haydn & Chef Anton The Shell Game - Tom Osborne Supershells A Magical Masterpiece - Gary Ouellet Video Collection Scoundrels Intro Shell Game Scoundrels Touch Vol 1 Scoundrels Touch Vol 2 Three Shell Game Boot Camp Phil Cass - Shell Game It's not an addiction, I can stop at any time... |
shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Welcome, SteadyHands
You have a nice collection of shells, literature, and videos. The only problem I feel you could correct is a different working surface or you could be pressing down too hard on the shells on your mat. This is why you have to clean them so much. The pea is not rolling freely in the shell. I have seen many who have made their own close-up mats and many times they have made them with too much give, where the surface is spongy. Having a level working surface is important. A spongy type surface does not work well with the bottom ridge type shells. As when you press down on the shell with a spongy surface the ridge sinks into the mat and cannot do its job to hit under the pea. If you try the 3shells.com peas with a normal close-mat you will see a big difference working with your bottom ridge shells. The reason you find these peas to work well on a hard surface it is because they are now working on a level surface. Hope this helps some, Al
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
Steadyhands New user 24 Posts |
Thanks for the advice Al, I've got another piece of plywood so I will try this with less padding and maybe a different surface.
Greg |
shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
This is the padding material I use to make close -up tables: 3/16" thick rubber material. It is a medium soft rubber with a little give, but it being 3/16" thick it won't give in too much.
It has a texture on the surface to hold the glue well. Just glue to the board and then cover with the material you want to use for the working surface. Good luck with it, Al
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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