BUILDING AN ILLUSION FROM A SET OF

PLANS
By jcsum - March 14, 2013

Illusions are an expensive investment and one solution for new illusionists (and seasoned professionals) is to
build the illusion yourself as opposed to purchasing one from a professional illusion builder.

Now, there are many bene ts from purchasing from a professional builder and it is well worth the asking fee,
simply because the builder brings expertise and experience to an illusion. And, if he has built the illusion
before, he would know what works and what does not.

However, when budgets do not allow you to spend much on new illusions, building your own can be a cost-
saving approach to adding scale to your show. I hope to share some basic tips on how to build an illusion from
a set of plans.

3 Ways to Build Your Own Illusion

There are three ways to go about building your own illusion:

1. Build it yourself with your own tools.
2. Get a friend with workshop tools, a carpenter, stage props or exhibition stand builder to build
for you under your direction and supervision.
3. Get different parts built yourself or recycle different parts from other places (furniture) and
assemble the illusion yourself.

I have done all three ways before but mainly do a combination of the second and third methods along with
buying illusions from pro builders.
 Photo courtesy of Magic Sax

What You Need to Know

Whether you intend to build your own illusion or supervise the build, you need to gain technical knowledge on
the building process, tools and materials.

Speci cally, you need to be familiar with types of wood, metals, plastics and their thickness and availability in
your location. Hang out at lumber yards, metal shops and plastic sheet suppliers to see what is available and
talk to the people there if they have time.

You need to understand basic building methods such as cutting, joining and nishing. Di erent materials
needs di erent tools to cut and there are multiple ways to join parts depending on the material. Finishing
includes painting, laminate or vinyl/ carpet covering.

Only when you have a grasp of the above should you embark on your rst build. It helps greatly if you have an
interest and knack for building things.

I remember my rst build project was when I built my rst skateboard street ramp when I was 11 years old. I
got scrape wood from all over the neighbourhood and used nails and a hammer. I had no tools or knowledge
of how to cut curves but created the curve of the ramp using the exible nature of the plywood nailed onto
support bars of 2″ x 1″ lumber nailed at di erent angles to create a curve. It looked crappy but it worked! I
executed many jumps o that ramp.

That probably was a starting point for me in illusion building. Subsequently, all my technical knowledge was
acquired in school (technical module which I aced), observing builders of all kinds and examining nished
props – from furniture to illusions to exhibition stands.

Choose the Right Illusion

When building your own/ rst illusion, you will be constrained by budget, time and resources so you need to
choose an illusion within your means, as well as within capabilities of the builder.

You have to choose the right illusion project. Here are some tips:

Start with a manageable illusion first. Something without too many moving parts or requires
too many different materials.
Avoid illusions that require complex metal work like metal forms, bending or welding.
Avoid anything with electronic or remote control elements.
Avoid anything that requires a full D******** B***. If you do not know what that is, you
should not be building it.
Being a first illusion, you probably want something manageable in size and weight.

Look for a Set of Illusion Plans

Now, you have to look for resources to build that illusion.

Please note that not all illusions have illusion plans available. Many illusions are licensed to professional
builders and the creators never released building plans to the “public” magic community. If no plans are
released, it is an ethical unwritten rule that that particular illusion is o limits for you to build or have built,
unless by the authorized builder.

However, there are hundreds of illusions that have building plans that are described in books or sold
as individual illusion plans.

Most works by Jim Steinmeyer, Rand Woodburry, Mark Parker, Tim Clothier, Milan Forzetting, Paul Osbourne
and… cough cough… J C Sum are essential for an illusionist’s library. Check out my recommended books and
DVDs for the beginner illusionist in my list HERE.
Having said the above, not all illusion books or plans are very detailed or comprehensive. Sometimes building
instructions are not as detailed because it is assumed the builder is experienced in building props. Some
designers also do not give dimensions or speci c material lists as they feel that each illusion is custom to each
illusionist, hence dimensions are not useful.

Personally, in my books and plans, I always give dimensions and material lists as I feel it is an important guide
for builders to get a sense of the illusion.

An experienced builder will be able to assess the size & weight of the illusion and based on the material lists &
plans can get a sense of the amount of time & money it will take to build the prop.

I feel dimensions and material lists are even more important for new builders as they need all the help they
can get to guide them through the process. However, even in my plans, I do not go into the basics of how to
cut a piece of material, embed a T-Nut or apply a plastic laminate nish. I do assume the builder possesses
these basic fabrication skills.

It is best for you to research on a set of plans or book before purchasing them. If you intend to buy a book or
set of plans for your illusion education and knowledge building, exact dimensions and material lists may not
be as essential. However, if you intend to build the prop, then speci cs are critical. Ask around or leave a
comment on this blog if you want feedback or clari cation on a particular set of plans or book.

Understanding the Plans

Once you have the plans, the rst thing to do is to understand the e ect of the illusion, followed by the
method. This should be explained clearly in the write-up of the illusion plan. Most of the time, the plans of the
physical illusion prop will only make sense if you understand the e ect and the method.

When you interpret the illusion plans, try to visual how the illusion works. If there are moving panels or
components, understand how those components move together.

Try to visualize the size of the prop. You may need a tape measure to help you out. This will give you an idea of
the space you will need to perform, rehearse and transport the illusion.

An example of one of my illusion drawings is given below. It is not drawn as a schematic but as an easy to
understand drawing.
Examine the list of materials needed and the building methods. For example, if the prop requires welded
parts, you must be able to weld metal together. If not, you must gure out an alternative method of joining the
material.

Ensure that you will be able to obtain all of the materials needed to build the prop.

 
Have the Right Materials & Tools

Once you have chosen your illusion and decided to build it. Create detailed lists of what you need to buy. You
will need to combine total measurements to calculate how much material you need to buy. For example, if you
are building a prop that requires four legs made from aluminum tubing, each 2ft long, you will need to buy 8ft
of aluminum tubing. But, also note that if you buy an exact length of 8ft of aluminum tubing and cut it into
four lengths, each length will be a few millimeters short of 2ft as you will lose material when you make each
cut. This is important if you need a precise amount of material.

Once you have calculated all the material, you will also need to know how many connectors you might need,
like wood screws, rivets or bolts & nuts.

Ensure you have the right tools for the job. For example, if you are cutting both metal & wood, you need two
di erent saws or at least two di erent blades. If you need to drill through thick steel, you will need a di erent
drill bit and drill than drilling through thin aluminum.

A measuring tape and pencil/ marker is a must! Measure twice & cut once. Wrong measurements can be costly
as they can result into material wastage.

Build the Illusion

Follow the building instructions to build the prop. If no speci c build order is given, I generally recommend
building from the main base, table or structure of the prop and build the “box” part or other panels/ doors
after.

Always build some kind of mock-up with cardboard cartons and duct tape. Follow the dimensions in the set of
plans and build at least the shell to ensure that it ts your assistant or yourself.

After you build the illusion, ensure any small sharp edges or corners are led and sanded smooth. Splinters or
metal burrs are very dangerous and can hurt someone during rehearsal or performance.

Well, that is a basic guide on how to build an illusion from a set of plans. I know, its is easier said than done.
But, every illusion prop begins with the rst cut of material. So, best of luck and work safe!

If you are interested in my illusion plans, check out my webstore page below:

 

If you enjoyed this article, check out my original books/ plans/ DVDs HERE and use this Promo Code
“5OFF2014″ upon Checkout to receive a 5% discount o all books, sets, DVDs, plans & downloads.

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Related

Review of Illusionworks 4 by 5 Steps to Get Started in How to Be An Illusionist ­ A

Rand Woodbury Illusions Fundamental Course in
In "Illusion Books & DVDs" In "Illusion Performing & Show Performing Modern Illusions
Production" In "Announcements & News"

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