some great ideas but if your living in the country with no place to shop except online or having to drive 2 hours away just to look and with radio shack not being around any more and some of the info on the dvd still a bit vague, not really worth it but still cheaper than having to buy one of the good ones. The motor should have some more rpm options to choose from.

This is a great instructional video. You can buy a card fountain for $200~$300, or you can build your own with this video. Some comments complain that it's more than $20 to build this, and that's true, but then again, a carton of eggs costs more than it did when this video was made. If I had a wish, it would be that a current parts/source list was provided. Some of the things in the video come from Radio Shack, and you're fortunate if you have one of those stores near you these days. I had to buy "similar" parts online, and hope that they worked... and they did.
Know that you're going to spend just under a hundred bucks to make this Card Fountain, but compare that to the pre-assembled units on the market for 2 or 3 times the price. Not only that, but the video is entertaining, and the unit is a lot of fun to make. Well done, David and Scott, but think about providing some updated information. FIVE STARS, though - I had a great time assembling and executing this wonderful effect. One of my favorite Penguin purchases of the year.

This was funny and detailed buiding instruction video. I am very experienced mechanic and have all the needed at my shop, so I can't tell how accurate that $20 is and perhaps much more here in Europe, but one is sure, this was so detailed that everybody can build this. As I told, I'm very expereinced but still could find a new way to build the wheel. That was one of the best advices in this video. So, why only 4 stars? That's because I believe that the cost of the materials is much more that twenty bucks. Anyway, the structure is good and I believe that this can last longer than cheap factory produsct. One add to the instructions: You should secure the nuts using spring washer, locking compound like nail polish or what better, locknuts (Nyloc).

I did a thorough review of every card fountain on the market and ultimately settled on this video because the finished fountain seemed to have the greatest balance between ability and price. I was able to watch the video the day I got it, gather the supplies needed over the next several days and within a week I had a very reliable and professional working card fountain. I have already used it in a show to rave response. My finished fountain shoots five to six feet in the air out of a hat I hide it in. I built the fountain for $68.69 plus the price of the video, so like $80 total. The major tools you’ll need to get into this card fountain as inexpensively as possible are a drill with standard sized drill bits, soldering iron, wire stripper/cutter, screw driver, and pliers. If you have these or can borrow them you will significantly cut down on the price, this is what I did. I realize the total price at $80 is comparable to other entry level fountains you could just buy on the market without investing any time, but I firmly believe that this fountain works better than any model you could buy in the entry level category of card fountains. Furthermore, I have enough left over parts now that I could easily build a second fountain for under or close to $20. The greatest advantage of buying this video is gaining the knowledge they impart to you. You can easily go out with their knowledge and some common sense after building this fountain and make a more improved and powerful version if you wanted. If you have basic building knowledge and are a DIY person like me you will love learning to make this product, just don't buy it expecting to save money on a card fountain. Think of this purchase as an investment, with a solid product at the end that you will be proud to own. Overall, the video delivers what it promises which is why I give it 5 stars.

No way to build it under $20. and it is way too big and bulky.Dave Powell is the real go to guy for this item.

the title is certainly misleading.
Card fountains on the market start at around $60-$75.
After spending $20 on the DVD, and then the price of supplies you'll easily be up in the $50-$60 range if not more depending on if you have all the tools needed.... and it may be a better idea for some magicians to just buy a professionally made card fountain.
If you're like me and you prefer to build your own props then this DVD is great for you. It requires very little knowledge about drilling, wiring, and a little soldering.
The end result will not be as small or pretty as the ones you may buy on the market, but it will be yours... and that's something to be proud of.

The title is misleading though. Unless the parts required are much cheaper wherever this was filmed, there is no way to keep the price under $20. I already had all the tools, so those don't need to be calculated into the price... but by just buying the pieces you need to build the fountain yesterday, I'm already at $34.
Granted, you do get multiple pieces in some of the packages... perhaps they are saying the price to build it is under $20 if you average it out over a couple complete fountains. If you build just one it will not be that cheap.

Easy to follow DVD instructional and you can actually do as it instructs. Most parts in any hardware store. You can make a few modifications of your own to make it a bit smaller I found but the one they teach you to build is practical and will work every time particularly if you check the batteries before the show.