Recently I saw a Chop Mug by The Merchant of Magic

Just want to ask if this cup can be used as a regular coffee or tea cup ? As in pouring hot water in it ?

Will it affect the gimmick in it ?

Thanks a lot folks

Two things come to mind:

1) If the gaff is "inside" the cup you risk staining or otherwise ruining the gaff.

2) If they use a neodymium type of gaff, they can lose their special properties at as low as 170 degrees. Too hot to drink, but well below boiling.

Why risk it? you can switch it out... or just pour what "looks" like hot liquid in it. Cold coffee out of a coffee pot and then acting like its hot can be just as convincing.

-DJ

It doesn't have to be hot. I drink water or other cold drinks from a mug since it's sturdy (I'm sometimes a klutz).

I agree with DJ, I only use cofee as final load for a regular chop cup 2 times and always the people reaction is: ohh look cofee. The Hot is a property of cofee that we have in our subconscient... I think.
Good Luck,
Hansel!

Very true - the mind only sees what the eye is prepared to tell it.

I.e. if you say its coffee, and it looks like coffee - its coffee!

...if that makes sense?

All, thanks for the responds.

@Dave: I've confirmed the answer to my questions, it's inside the cup
So probably no good for using it as my daily morning coffee

@djkuttdecks: got your point just that I'm thinking of really using it to drink my coffee

@marty.sasaki: guess I can only use it to drink anything that's not hot

@Hansel: thanks man, I understand your point too

@Kipee: yup. agree


Bottom line, too bad I can't use it to drink hot coffee It's really good if it can

Thank a lot guys.

I purchased a very similar looking mug from one of the major dealers several years ago. It arrived. The package looked good , no dents etc. But when I looked at the cup it was a piece of trash. It was a regular mug with a ill fitting piece of plastic in the bottom that dropped out , the gaff dropped out also. Even if it hadn't it was so poorly made you could never have let anyone even glance at it. $ 40.00 US then , with exchange and shipping $60.00 CDN. I thought the idea was great , product (I got ) wasn't. The supplier took it back no problem with full credit and shipping returned.

Hi Alan, thanks for the info yup I thought it's a great idea too, even more great if I can really have the functionality as an ordinary cup (as in using it for drinking )

In "Approaching Magic" (his latest book), David Regal has a chop mug routine that ends with one of the mugs (it's a two mug routine) filled with cocoa. He provides instructions for making the chop mug yourself, and although I've not made one, it didn't appear to be terribly difficult.

The Chop Mug from Merchant from Magic was created by me, I make each individually.

A video clip of it can be seen here. http://www.magicshop.co.uk/p2434/The_Cho......nfo.html

100 have gone to the U.S for distribution, and I’m just finishing another 100, so you should be able to find them in many U.S dealers.

The m****t is in the base of the mug, so the inside of the mug is totally normal, yes neodymium is used, as is casting plaster and a white finishing plaster with a glaze over the top. The base is reasonably waterproof, but I wouldn't recommend prolonged submergence in water or dishwashers. Regarding heat, it's fine with warm water, but hot water tends to soften the plaster after prolonged exposure.

Whilst testing, I used one as a normal coffee cup, with washing after every use. It was fine for the first 8 or 9 times, but then the plaster started to become a bit soft and wear and tear started to show.

If anyone has any questions about the product or any problems and would like to discuss it, or if you would like any close up photos of the product, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks

Dave Bonsall

I bought one of Bonz' Chop Mugs to add to my collection. Nice item!