Jun 13 2009
Cheap Magic Update - Corner Shorting For Cards
… back in the saddle again!
As you all know, I’m a big proponent of cheap magic resources - because the less you have to spend for useful, quality magic items, the more you have for, well, all the other stuff you need to pay for.
This time around, I want to talk about “corner shorting” - originally used by card sharps, clipping the corner of a card to mark it in order to locate that card easily.
The biggest challenge in making a corner short is to clip the card evenly - usually this means taking a very small pair of nail scissors and very, very carefully trimming the card. Unless you’re very good with scissors, it’s not easy to make a consistant corner short.
A few years ago a magician began to offer a “corner clip” device for about $30.
I applaud his enterprise, but… I’m cheap. So I did some research at one of my favorite magic supply stores - which is to say a craft store. Turns out there are more than a few “corner rounder” paper punches available from Scrapbooking suppliers for much less.
The “shorter” I like is by the Uchida “Marvy” company and can be found for about $10 at craft stores like Michael’s, Jo-Ann’s, Ben Franklins and, well, right here at the AdequateBlog (shipping & handling, of course, would apply).
It also came in handy for clipping the corners of some DIY playing cards I had made at the local FedEx-Kinko’s for use in the Mallet Trick - which, I think, went over pretty well…
You can order the Marvy Uchida Corner Punch CS here…
Cheap Magic Rules!
