Scratch

Long, Chad

Chad Long

(Based on 2 reviews)
"Diabolical!"
- Max Maven

3 Killer Routines:
  • Scratch the wrong card into a signed selection!
  • Scratch a lotto ticket to reveal a freely named number!
  • Scratch a Five-dollar bill into a Fifty!
Bonus Ideas!
Handling Tips!


Includes approximately 100 scratchers and instructional DVD.

Reviews

Doc Johnson

Official Reviewer

Aug 09, 2015

PROS

A great, creative idea! On the DVD, he teaches three applications, one card routine, a clever bill switch routine, and a home-made “lotto” routine.

The instruction is good and the routines are very good.

The gimmicks are very well made.

CONS

The biggest negative is you use up a gimmick every time you perform. I really don’t like effects where I need to repurchase gimmicks. However, in the suggestion section you will find instructions for making your own scratchers! This really opens this world wide open.

VERDICT

This is a great DVD with a clever new approach to magic. This is a ton of fun.


Suggestions

The biggest problem with this effect is you are limited to the gimmicks provided. However, below are instructions for making your own scratchers. This opens a whole new world of magic! For example, you could take actual, scratched scratchers and re-coat them with scratcher paint to make your own prediction of the outcome of the scratcher.

To make your own scratch off tickets you'll need:
dish soap (any brand will do)
acrylic paint (any color and brand of your choice)
paint brush
packing tape
painters tape
scrap paper
Let's get started!

1. Prepare your mixture. Two parts paint for every one part dish soap. Mix it up good, but try not to stir too aggressively - you don't want too many little bubbles.
2. Grab a piece of scratch paper and tape down (with packing tape) the card you're wanting to put the scratch off area on - making sure to cover the whole area you want painted over.
3. With painters tape, mark off what you don't want painted over. If you're brave and have a steady hand you could skip this step but I definitely prefer the clean lines that painters tape gives me.
4. Paint! Use thin, even layers. Don't worry if you can still see through it after the first coat, it will most likely take two or three coats to get it all covered.
5. After the paint is thoroughly dry, carefully peel off your painters tape. Go slowly so you don't accidentally rip off any of the paint.
6. Remove the card off of scratch paper and TA-DA!
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Jeff Stone

Official Reviewer

Feb 28, 2015

Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: All The Fools Sailed Away by DIO


Chad Long: Scratch Review


One DVD, three effects, 96 scratchers and $20 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method


What you're really getting is a whole bunch (96) of stickers that you can stick on whatever you want. The stickers are like lottery ticket scratch-off stuff. So what you can do is write something on a piece of paper, playing card, dollar bill, etc. and cover it with the scratch-off sticker. Then you can incorporate it into your routine where the audience scratches off the sticker to reveal a prediction.

The example in the trailer was a five dollar bill that "happened to have" a scratch sticker on it. The bill is folded up so that only the scratch sticker is showing. The spectator scratches it off with a penny. Underneath the scratch is the number (written in sharpie) 50. Then the five dollar bill is unfolded to reveal that it has changed to a $50 bill.

In one of the effects, a freely named number (truly free, no force) is found under the scratcher. The scratcher is on a "homemade lottery ticket" inside of a sealed envelope. The spectator names any number between 1 and 100. The envelope is then torn open and a "lottery card" is removed. The spectator removes the card and scratches it off to reveal their freely named number.

There are a total of three effects taught on the DVD, all use the scratcher, and very simple methods that are common and legitimate, and very doable.

Ad Copy Integrity


What you see in the trailer and in the written ad copy is what you get. 100% accurate.

Product Quality


The DVD is relatively well produced. The teaching is excellent. Not too much; not too little. The included gimmicks are perfect, and the whole think only costs $20 bucks. Plus, you can get a refill pack of 100 scratchers for only $10 bucks.

Final Thoughts


The bottom line is this: if you even sort of like this idea, it's a no brainer. Just get it. If you have even the tiniest creative bone in your body, you'll find plenty of uses for this.

Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!

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