I made a board myself. I got a thin sort of tray/chopping board (an old 1 about 1 cm thick) and put rubber sheet on the bottom of the board (I think it's drawer liner). I put a padding used on dining tables on top of the board and then covered the padding with with felt. It worked out at about 25 euro. The felt is real easy to do the sac move (Stealing Pips) on and the padding stops chatter in coin tricks (matrix). Also even though it worked out to be quite expensive it is really big. I found that the mats you buy in magic shops these days are far too small.

Advantages:The board is very durable, sticks to any surface and is very big.

Disadvantages: It is quite heavy.

I'll post a pic and the measurements tomorrow.

Hope this helps anyone that think mats are too small,

pillaysteven.

PS This is only my 4th post so I would like some comments on the idea.

For walking around the bar, when I use any kind of mat (most of my effects are done in my hands, or in a spectator's hands), I use a regular mouse pad that I got at Walmart for $3.00. It's a big yellow smiley face, about 8 1/2 inches in diameter. For close up effects that require a bit more room, I have a second smiley face mouse pad rolled up in my bag. People like the big smileys, and the bright yellows and oranges, in a dark bar, make for a bright and easy-to-see surface.

Oh yeah, I wrote "Thank You!" at the bottom of both pads, very neatly with a sharpie, which is a subtle and professional way of saying "tips are welcome!"

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