Octopalm does what they say but you do need to experiment a bit to get it just right for your situation. I found that you do not need to “activate” as long as they say (only about 15 to 30 seconds) but you do need to let it dry for much longer than they say (10 to 15 minutes – depending on how much you use). If you don’t let it dry completely it will transfer to your coins, cards or other objects. The big thing, when working with coins, is the mathematical relationship between the size of the coin and the surface area where you want it to stick. The ratio in surface area between a dime and the middle section of your ring finger is very high (small coin / big finger part). So you don’t need much Octoplam and you have little risk of dislodging the coin prematurely. The problem hits with larger coins like halfs or silver dollars. Now there’s much more coin surface (and more weight) but no more finger surface area to stick the coin to. And you can’t bridge the coin over a knuckle unless you can keep that finger completely straight. As soon as you bend the finger, part of it pulls away from the coin and it can easily dislodge. Same concern if your coin is a lot wider than your finger. Holding your fingers together keeps the coin out of view but you need to keep the coin with the Octopalm held slightly raised from the others. If not, you could very easily bump the coin with one of the neighboring fingers and it will pop right off. Same concept of surface area consideration needs to be taken into account if you’re planning to use Octopalm to aid in classic palming a coin. You can’t put the paste in the area of your palm where you would normally hold a coin in classic. Too many moving surfaces. You have to put it at the base of the thumb and watch your angles as the coin will be in a different spot on your hand. But there’s a lot of surface area there that doesn’t move too much when you flex your hand or move your fingers so a large coin can be held in place with Octopalm. You just need to experiment and plan your positioning well to get the results you want. As for clean-up, I’ve found Goo-Gone is the best. I bought a small bottle for $5 at a craft store. I had several very small toiletry containers that you can get for carrying those types of products on airplane carry-ons. I put a cotton ball in one (filled it up) and squirted it with Goo-Gone. I used a lot, about half filled the container, and the cotton ball soaked it all up. I keep it in a zip-lock type bag in another zip-lock type bag that I keep the Octopalm. I’ll open both containers and use my thumb to apply Octopalm, rubbing for 20 seconds. While I wait for it to dry I can lightly touch the soaked cotton ball and that puts enough Goo-Gone on my thumb to remove the Octopalm. Rub it for a few seconds with the fingers of that same hand and wipe it off. If I need to wash that hand I can being careful not to get the Octopalmed part of my other hand wet. Carefully close both containers and wait the rest of the 15 minutes. I don’t use very much Octopalm but it is on a good size surface area. So I really give it time to dry. Now I can do my coin routine and clean-up of that hand afterwards is just as easy. If I’m working a fuller set and I don’t want the Octopalmed hand to get in the way, I need to position that routine in the act so the sticky part of that hand doesn’t interfere with any other effects. I have the cotton ball container in my case and leave the lid off. After that coin routine, as I am grabbing for the next prop I get a dab of Goo-Gone on my other thumb, do a quick rub of 2 seconds and the Octopalm is gone. No one has ever cared that I wiped my hands on a napkin or handkerchief during a show. And the Octopalm and Goo-Gone a both gone that easily. Much easier and cheaper than turpentine or paint thinner.

All in all, very happy I got Octopalm but it did take some time to work out the best way to use the product. My biggest complaint is that the instructional video is only a single, massive file to download that was obviously taken from a DVD. Now I’ve got to break it back apart into the various original chapters so I can more easily get to whatever section I want to review. Would have been happier with an option, for an additional fee, to get the actual DVD.

This is a product that makes you go "Who? What Where? Why? How?" because it just makes REALLY impossible magic possible with this Octopalm Gel. This is probably #1 the utility gimmick of 2014. You just won't believe it! BUY NOW!

after getting octopalm i realized that the look, smell and texture was remarkably like another product out there called pick honey by gorilla snot, used for guitarists so their pick won't slide out of their hands while playing. seems exactly the same only pick honey i think costs a buck less. Gorilla snot which is used for drummers so their sticks don't slide works just as well. I've been using gorilla snot for coin work for many years,,so although octopalm is supposedly a different product and a different company, i think it is ironic that it is so similar to the gorilla snot products..

Octopalm is a miracle in jar for closeup workers. The uses for Octopalm is literally only limited by your imagination.

You also get a 90 minute video that you can watch online or download, featuring the creator Jim Bodine. He does some live performances for laymen and also teaches how to use the gel and then some of his pet routines.

Eric Jones also joins Jim and they go over applications that include coins, dice ( Dr. Edwin Sachs's dice routine), matches and playing cards. Eric goes over the one hand top palm ( yes, you'll be able to do that difficult sleight with Octopalm ), second dealing and bottom dealing.

Even the venerable salt shaker through table gets revamped with a SIGNED coin and they BOTH go through the table! It's a stunner to perform.

For those of us that fell in love with Jay Sankey's classic Mr. Clean Coins Across, but couldn't do it because the Tenkai ( Goshman ) pinch was not doable, Octopalm not only allows you to do the routine, but the angle issues are eliminated ( unless they are laying non the floor below you;-)

Chris Kavanagh

First want to say anyone thinking this is a trick wrong! It like many items in our art is a utility item and like all utility items if used correctly is amazing. The free video mention on the label is just a small kick starter let your imagination run crazy. Now as to the tackiness I say experiment on what works best for what you are trying to do as for removal the video suggest mineral oil I found good warm water and soap worked just as well. I do not believe it is mention but a little of this stuff goes a long way so don't just glob it on. I'm not sure what those giving such low Stars was expecting but it is a nice product and it does everything promised. It's not the end all to getting that little extra edge but it does have it's place in the world of magic.

Where the $&@"! Has this stuff been all my training days?
I did coins across to my buds that I share new stuff with and they were all blown away. You see they all know by now that I'm using sleights but the found none. This stuff is also great for old tricks that everyone knows what to look for. Thank the Penguin for bringing the Octopus to my attention.

This is THE product of the year! I just watched the video download and I was blown away by the very first effect. Jim Bodine does the most impossible looking Coins Across routine I have ever seen without gimmicks and it looks so magical. I do a version of this routine but having to use Sleight of Hand there is always a trade off. Not any more. With Octopalm those days are gone. And this product will allow you to do some of those card sleights that have been giving you trouble because of dry hands. Now no more greasy product. Just good clean hands and a touch here and there. Octopalm looks to last a good long time too. You use just a touch per application and depending on how much you apply it could last several hours of use. The price is right too so buying more won't break the bank either. The download is actually 1h 50min. Quite a lot of info and some pretty good effects. This is definitely a keeper. Great job Jim. And nice assist on the video Eric Jones.

Goes on OK. Doesn't last very long though. Maybe I did not put enough on. Sorry I bought 2 after the description convinced me it was good.

WOW !!!!!!!

This is an excellent product at an affordable price. This has SO many uses!! Such a great value!