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Octopalm Review:

A 2 hour video download, a small tub o' "stuff" and a mere $10 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method

This isn't an effect or a method per se. It's a utility device. As mentioned in the ad copy, it's a gel that allows stuff to stick to your hands. This allows you to do some pretty incredible things that normally you may not have been able to do.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is pretty solid. The only thing I would take issue with is probably something that they were just using hyberbole rather than dishonesty, and that's the claim that objects will stick to you like Super Glue. That's not true. Also, it mentions that there is no sticky residue. That's true, but only if you make sure you give the gel time to dry.

Product Quality

This product is well made, and does what it claims. The video download is well produced, well lit, well mic'd, etc., etc., and it's full of great content. It covers some new/original effects from Jim Bodine (the creator of Octopalm) as well as some updated (read: improved) handling ideas on some classic effects. These updates are made possible by Octopalm.

Here's the skinny on the actual gel. I have super dry skin. Nothing sticks to it at all. I followed the directions for applying Octopalm, and it made a huge difference. Suddenly, stuff would stick to me, but it wouldn't make my hands all gross and sticky.

The video claims that after applying it, it will last for hours. I would slightly disagree with that statement. It depends on how much you apply, how you use it, and how often you do the effect that requires its use. In some cases, I think it could last a couple hours, but if you're constantly sticking stuff to the area where the Octopalm was applied, the you'll, likely, need to reapply sooner than two hours.

The way it works is you apply it to the area of your hand/finger/etc. that will be used for whatever effect you're planning on doing. Depending on the effect and the location of the gel, you may have to wash it off before going on to the next effect. I found that leaving it on is not a problem at all. I was able to move on to other stuff with no problem. THey suggest Turpentine or Mineral Spirits to remove it. However, Simply washing my hands with soap an water was enough. In fact, typically it wore off well before then.

They had a simple way for removing it during a stand up show if you're working out of a case. They did not, however, address removing it during a close up show. But from my experience, there is no need to wash it off.

Final Thoughts

I have extremely dry skin, and this stuff worked like a charm. Within minutes of putting it on, I was able to do moves that I haven't been able to do for years (back when I had less-dry hands). There were moves that I thought I'd lost the knack for. Turns out, my hands were too dry.

This is also for you folks who don't suffer from dry hands as well. It allows for some incredible effects and possibilities that could not be done otherwise. For $9.95, it's hard to not highly recommend you give this stuff a try.

Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM

32 Comments

  • Bob Renwick says:

    This has been a very useful review. I too have problems manipulating with dry hands. I initially thought this stuff was not for me but now I’m more likely to try it for sure.

  • MagicPel says:

    Great review
    I purchased some here in the UK but only received
    the product no paperwork or instructions
    This has helped
    Thank you

  • Dr. J. says:

    To be honest, before I even thought about getting this for review, I came up with a bunch (quite a few, really) of ideas for using this stuff. Not having the product in hand, I had no idea how well, if at all, any of those ideas would actually work. Quite surprised to find out that most of them do.

    As for cleaning this off your hands in the middle of a show? I would never use mineral spirits or turpentine, mostly because those would be near impossible to travel with. I found that nail polish remover (acetone) works a treat. As Jeff points out, soap and water do just as well.

    This is one of the most useful products I have ever seen for our market and the applications are endless.

  • Jay Best says:

    For $10 I gotta try it. My only question is does it make cards sticky?

    • Dr. J. says:

      If you let it dry properly, it will not leave any residue at all on anything. I really road tested this stuff at the Motor City Magic Convention tonight and I think Jeff was onto something really good with the baby wipes. It removes the aggressive tack but leaves it functional, though for certain things you may want it to have stronger tack.

      Again, if you let it dry properly, there will be no residue.

      Hope this helps!

      • Jeff Stone says:

        @Dr. J – Yep . . . I got lucky with the whole Baby Wipe thing. I was just looking for a portable way to clean the stuff off, and I discovered the best of both worlds.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Jay – I found that if I didn’t wait for it to thoroughly dry, it would leave a grease mark on the deck. However, if I wait for it dry, no issues whatsoever.

  • Jay Best says:

    Just ordered me some, looking forward to trying it out. Dry hands have limited my ability to do quiet a few effects that I really like, I’m hopeful this is the answer.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Jay – So far, it’s been a miracle for me as you saw in the video. Three major things that I haven’t been able to do for years are suddenly easy again. 🙂

  • Jay Best says:

    Isn’t enough that I was stuck in my house for 5 days and my car was hit by a snowplow because of this storm here in Buffalo NY but now the mail is delayed and I have to wait longer for my Octopalm? What the heck!

  • Dan Waterman says:

    I work part time in a magic shop. I have tried Octopalm and can see it’s value in the context of those with dry hands…it may replace the lotions that were used at one time to help magicians with dry hands. One thing is for sure, it will be only a matter of time before Octopalm conversations/reviews will take a back seat to the new flavor of the month… most likely another Paul Harris endorsed effect!

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Dan – You’re definitely right about dry-handed magi for sure. However, I think even those with “good” hands will find some value with this. There are plenty of effects you can do that even the “best handed” magicians would not be able to do without using Octopalm.

  • Dr. J. says:

    So it is with everything, but it remains up to those would use it to find the value in it.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Dr. J – That is correct. Hopefully in my review video I gave a good sense of the potential of it so that people can decide if they will want/need it.

      • Dr. J. says:

        I think our response order got mixed up – my last one was intended as a response to Octopalm eventually fading out of the spotlight.

        As for your review, I believe you did give a good sense of its potential.

  • Jay Best says:

    Hmmm. Been playing around with this stuff for a couple days and so far, not too impressed. I have tried a couple of the effects in the video and the octopalm seem to do what it is supposed to do well enough to do them. I have tried more, I have tried less, keeping it more wet, letting it dry… I don’t know if I am doing something wrong or it is just is my baby butt smooth skin. It has however when strategically placed made my Houdini/Erdanase change and Goshman pinch easier, so its not a total loss.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Jay – The big breakthrough I had with it was to make sure that I rub it in completely until it’s totally dry. That can take quite a few minutes.

      Also, your comment about your Houdini change is the exact way this stuff is supposed to be used. It’s not meant to be a lotion or cream, etc. It’s more about placing it strategically and using it to improve your technique. So from what I can tell it seems to be doing what it’s supposed to.

      Jeffro

  • Jay Best says:

    Okay I’ll try rubbing in more. Perhaps I was expecting this to turn me into David Roth or Lennart Greene. Still well worth $10.

  • Jay Best says:

    I finally got some time to play around with it more, still not much luck doing the effect in the video. Works well for the other stuff like I said in a past post. Worth ten bucks.

  • Alan Chitty says:

    Just found these comments from all you good people. I must try it! Dry hands have been my problem since I took up magic 7 years ago. Even a simple glide won’t work for me

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Alan – For the price, it’s worth the risk just to find out if it works for you. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the video exactly.

  • Mark Paulson says:

    For $10, I’ve bought a lot worse than this! I’ve got pretty dry hands (meaning they are dry, and they are pretty), and I’ve used lotions, but this seems to be the product I’ve been looking for. Your review helped to tip this product into my “cart” of items to buy. Thanks, Jeff.

  • Mark P says:

    I have owned Octopalm for over a year, but I just discovered the video download today. Man, I can finally do the Sachs Dice routine with a lot more ease. For me, this is the best use of Octopalm. My dry fingers use to have trouble handling dice, but no more! After watching the video, I watched your review, Jeff, and it is spot on!

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