I would really appreciate any useful contacts for sourcing a top quality close up mat or performance board other than Arlen Studio or Dean Dill.

All recommendations are welcome!

Gibson Close-Up Pads and Magician's Choice Close-up Mats are both great!

Thanks Mark, I will check them out.

I make heavy duty, performance pads, PM me for more info.

The best closeup pad use by the pros is company is PMS; they have best I ever seen. Their website is http://www.pmsmagic.com

I'm not sure about the others but the close up mat I ordered from Penguin works really well for me.

I asked the gentleman at the Magic Auction to design one and he did!!! I purchased five of them some with loading sleeves and some without. They were the highest quality for a reasonable price. You should check to see if he has any remaining.

-Jared

I second DrPepper, I know Pat, and he does a great job! http://www.pmsmagic.com

Gibson's I believe is the one with a rubber back. It's needed for a trick by Doug Conn that's very effective. Also keeps the mat from slipping.

You can buy close-up pad material from a fabric shop and make your own if you wish?

Just a thought if you have something specific in mind.

Frank, when you say close-up mat material, what do you mean? I have heard people say that you can buy wet suit material at a fabric shop, which is perfect, neoprene with a cloth cover, but I have never been able to find any...

It depends on your style of course but I find using a real Oriental rug adds a lot of class to your look. Also there are some very inexpensive ($30) Oriental look a likes that are great too.

I Use Trevor Duffy´s Close-Up Mat and I think it is great!

"It is supplied in BLACK and is available in two sizes: 11 x 14 inch and 14 x 18 inch.

Non wrinkling.
99% non slip!
Does not attract hair, fluff, etc.
Fully washable.
Soft rubber underlay."

I've never been able to find any either.

Both Mark and Macruz say that they can't find wet suit material. Try reading this post: work shop—table top, mat padding.

I bought a pad from the funhouse a couple of years back. It was black velvet over two densities of foam with a solid plywood back. It is the sweetest pad I have ever had the pleasure of using. I just found out this weekend that it was made by martini magic. It is not on their site so I do not know if it is still being made or not. Lou sold the funhouse, and the new guys only have the standard pads. After using this pad, I could never think of using anything else.
S.

Mark, You might try looking for wet-suit material at a lithographic or screen-print supply store. It's commonly used on vacuum tables in those industries. Goodyear rubber also sells it.

If you use (or want to) a pad like Martini's or Dill's in table-hopping, you might be interested in my newest product, the "Table-Hopper's Friend" (THF). Check it out here:

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