I can verify that the roughing spray sold in magic stores is really Testor's Dullcote. Once when a magic shop was out of roughing spray, the clerk let me in on the secret.

-Phil in KC

I already sprayed self made Jumbo Playing Cards, just keep the can far enough away from the cards and do not spray to much. Two thin layers worked good for me.

Christian

Thanks for the response, Card-Shark! Did you spray the whole surface of the card, or did you cover the borders?

The original ingredient for roughing fluid was carbolic acid (now it is called "phenol"). Testors Dullcote is the same thing. Most of us are familiar with the spray (Dullcote #1260) but do you know that the liquid is still available? It is sold as Testors Dullcote #1160. There are some applications where it is much easier to apply roughing fluid with a brush, cotton swab or cotton ball. It is possible to buy phenol in the form of disinfectants also. (e.g. Lysol)

Indeed it is.

I'm in England and we can't get Testors Dull Cote for love nor money and we can't import it from the US as it's restricted.

So I ordered some Roughing spray from an online magic shop in England and when I got it, they hadn't even bothered relabeling it! I had in my hands a small can of Testors Dull Cote!

I even kept the label as a trophy! (Sad but true)

But it kind of begs the question: If a small UK magic shop can import it, why can't an individual?

And for the record: I use two light coates allowing each to dry and mask the centre third so that it's rough both ends and smooth in the centre.