I always have trouble working my invisible deck in the winter. I work outside and my hands get very dry and standard lotion at night doesn't seem to help. Am I going to have to lotion up right before I use the deck or just give up til summer
Anyone else have this issue? Any product recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Brian

Have you tried "Sortquick"? I have seen bank tellers use it to count money, and I have used it for years. I have a lot of trouble in the summer as well as winter, but with this product I don't have much trouble at all. I assume it is available in any store that sells office supplies, and Amazon carries it as well.

Brian,

This is a common issue for those of us with dry hands. Don't know your working situation but for me using Golden touch lotion or Corn Huskers lotion works well for me. In situations where I'm performing without any treatment, pick up a cold drink (soda, beer, etc) and the condensation from the can/bottle will give you enough moisture so that you can easily spread the cards properly. Warning: if you are used to dry hands and get your hands moist you might find that the cards spread TOO EASILY. Practice the moves with differing levels of moisture in your hands so you can get a feel for how to spread them.

Why not try giving your fingers a lick just before the spread? I know this might not suit your style but you could try making it an 'exagerated' lick in a way that shows you are about to perform a miracle. It works for me!

Thanks for the tips!

Roughing fluid??

Sorry...

Something I learned about here on the Café that works for me is O'keefe's working hands cream. It helps my hands get a better grip for both card and coin work. You can by it on online, and I've seen it in Walgreens and Home Depot.

I also use O'keefe's working hands cream.

Hi,

I am NOT a doctor...But, I can tell you from personal experience that taking 4,000mg - 6,000mg of Omega-3 fish oil every day for about 4-5 months will make you hands and skin feel like new.

I took 2 * 1,200 mg capsules 3x per day for 4 months and I started to notice a difference.

Now, I maintain my skin by taking 2,200mg twice per day = about 4,000mg

It made a noticeable difference.

As I said, I am not a doctor or nutritionist....so, I am just telling you what I found my researching the Internet and I dried it...ir works if you do it for 4-5 months.

NOTE: Drinking a lot of water can't hurt either (I drink at least 36 ounces per day).

Good luck with your hands.

I use SortQuick which is available at Staples or most office supply stores. I put a small amount behind my ear lobe and simply touch my ear prior to performing with the Invisible Deck. A small amount is good for the evening.

I always lick my thumb and rub it against my middle finger before I "push off" an ID.

I have the same problem using dry hands with an ID.
I found almost any lotion/creme will work.
However not for long.
Some are greasy which will get on the cards.

Ihor

Corn Huskers has always worked for me, and I use a slick PVC deck. I've been using the same deck for almost 20 years.

If you rough the deck in the middle of the card, leaving about 1/4" or 1/8" un-roughed on the top and the bottom the cards are a lot easier to separate. Pressure on the middle of the cards keeps them together, pressure on the ends of the cards as you go to separate makes them separate much smoother.

I love Golden Touch Lotion. It was the choice of Dai Vernon. I like to put it on about ten minutes before a show or before a practice session. I was having a very hard time mastering the One-Hand Top Palm until I used a little Golden Touch.

Dennis Loomis

I posted in a thread that has long since dropped into oblivion that I use a “tack cloth” from the wood working section of any hardware store. I briefly pick up the “towel”, drop it, and quickly rub the pads of my thumbs over my finger pads. At this point I could palm a watermelon.

Several performers (including Harry Lorayne) use a towel, and the audience just accepts it as one of those “performer things”. They most likely think you’re drying your hands.

None of the glycerin, alcohol, beeswax, corn husker’s anything works for me. It’s got to be the tack cloth or I’ll have to lick my fingers (and people DO notice that!)

I've never heard of tack cloth. I'll have to take a look at one. Thanks for the heads-up.

Maybe a dab of glue stick on your fingers to get them tacky.