I apologize ahead of time if this is the wrong place to ask this question.

I am having a little trouble with the card sword, and I need some advice.
Would you please direct me to the right place to ask questions about this prop.

Thanks!

Did you try to search the Café?

Mysterious, PM me with your questions and I will see if I can help.
Bill

Jeff Dial, I did a search and didn’t find what I was looking for.

videoman, PM’d you, Thanks.

I know there have been questions about card swords, but the original post was a little vauge. Sometimes we forget about the search feature. Best of luck.

PM me too if you still need help. Basically, what is your problem?

Thanks Pete Biro, I sent you a PM.

Without saying to much here, the cards flip flop and spin around in the air before they get on to the sword.
Some suggestions have been made that I will try, but I’m still interested in everyone’s advice.

Generally, this action is covered by the cards coming from a fountain or being sprayed into the air by hand and shouldn't be a problem.

Tighten the elastic.

Card fountains seem to be very expensive, do you know of a place to purchase a less costly version?

Yes have a spectator throw them up in the air for you.

Remind the spectator how kids play "52 pick-up" by curling the deck and shooting the cards up into the air. You can even have a practice, by holding up a pop-up hamper and having the spectator shoot the cards up into it. This also gives you a chance to steal out the force card, if you haven't already done so. One "rehearsal" should be enough to show you that the spectator knows how to shoot the cards up in the air.

I find it risky to have the spectator toss up a deck, so what I do is FAN the cards and hand the fan to the thrower... This way they scatter in the air much better. And you must ask them to toss the cards up high. Wave the sword about in the spray of cards and you will be ok. If you have 3 cards chosen (the classic version) you can, if you wish, cop out the cards and dump as you get the sword.

I agree the risk factor is high with the spectator throwing cards, nothing worse than a bad throw and either having to pick up the cards for a second try or have the trick exposed. If you don't have your own assistant or a card fountain, hold the deck in one hand, like you would for a "Russian" shuffle, pick up the sword and spring the deck as you toss them making a nice shower of cards. Stab and bow.

The elastic is twisted. Next time you load it, extend the elastic as far as it will go and hold it tight on the non-card end while you work out all the twists. Then load up and you'll find that flipping and flopping greatly diminished.