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Mr. Ree Elite user Sedona AZ 414 Posts |
I have a couple of “favorite” packet card tricks that
are getting a lot of use. I have already started seeing signs of wear. I have read threads and information on fanning powder and card presses. Is there anything else that can be done to extend the life of cards? Sprays, coatings, etc? I don’t mind buying certain tricks over as they wear. But if “changing the oil” will get me better engine life I’ll do it.
An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
---- William Bernbach (1911 - 1982) ---- (After 25 years of PCs, everything switched to Macs, June 2008) |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Wash your hands . . . that will help greatly
Cards never lie
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Kevin Viner Loyal user San Diego, CA 203 Posts |
Washing hands helps, but in the end, just buy new ones.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Viner Corporate Magician in Los Angeles, CA | Magician in San Diego | Magician in Orange County, CA | |
Magikrn Veteran user 333 Posts |
You can also learn how to split cards and make your own gaffed cards if the effects require gaffed cards. It takes a bit of practice to get the homemade cards to look good but it is cheaper in the long run.
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Good call - If you would like to embark that do-it-yourself avenue I can warmly recommend THE ART OF CARD SPLITTING.
Cards never lie
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Kevin Viner Loyal user San Diego, CA 203 Posts |
I agree. Card splitting is great. I have noticed, however, that it is nearly impossible to get the same quality gimmick as having one printed directly. Please correct me if I am wrong. I use card splitting primarily when I cannot find a specific card I will need.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Viner Corporate Magician in Los Angeles, CA | Magician in San Diego | Magician in Orange County, CA | |
Mr. Ree Elite user Sedona AZ 414 Posts |
Andy the cardician "Wash your hands"
Mom taught me that one. (Actually a good reminder). I am also ordering "THE ART OF CARD SPLITTING. Kevin Viner, Buying new ones, that's what answer I was expecting. I was just checking on other options as I'm a bit new to all of this. Magikrn: Thanks for heads up on card splitting. I will look into this as there are some gaffed cards I would like to make.
An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
---- William Bernbach (1911 - 1982) ---- (After 25 years of PCs, everything switched to Macs, June 2008) |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Mr. Ree - take an old pack of card and smell them - they will smell of your body grease and transpiration . . .
Cards never lie
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Mr. Ree, If it is packet card tricks you are talking about, I would suggest buying new ones. They will wear out after many usage. In fact, some gaffed cards cannot be made from card splitting as you do not have those designs to work with.
I usually do this. I'll get the first packet and see whether I like it and whether the audience respond to the effect well. If they like it, then I'll order at least 6 packets of the same effect as spares. If you are talking about really old packet tricks that are no longer sold now and if you do not have spares for them, then you may have to look around auction sites to see if they are available. My answer to your question is - get more spares. |
Vir_Lucis_Ex_Deus Regular user 165 Posts |
Isn't there a website that makes custom cards? I remember seeing something like that that at least has a lot of the more common types available to purchase much cheaper than the tricks themselves because you aren't paying for the method as well...
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Magikrn Veteran user 333 Posts |
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Vir_Lucis_Ex_Deus Regular user 165 Posts |
Perfect, thanks! There you go
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Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
Another thing you could do is to buy some of the little card wallets that are available. Some packet tricks actually come with these.
They will keep the cards flat and clean. Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
James is of course right - cards are not meant to last forever. You can merely extend the life by some measures . . . in the end, if the set is your working horse, you need to have several ready
Cards never lie
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Mr. Ree Elite user Sedona AZ 414 Posts |
Andy the cardician:
Well, for now, I am new to this and my cards are still very “fresh”. But I am seeing signs of wear on my favorite sets of gaffed cards. So far no smell. James: Thanks, as always, for your advice. Yes I am talking about packet tricks. I am going to start using your rule. Test the trick and if I /audience really like it I will buy some spares. I haven’t been doing this long enough for anything that I am buying and using to be “old” and no longer available. But from reading the threads here at the “café” I have become concerned that down the road, after some time, some of my favorites may go off the market. Vir_Lucis_Ex_Deus Magikrn Thanks for the info and link for custom cards. I will look into this as well. If it is cheaper than a specific packet trick I don’t see any reason not to proceed with this method. Tom Fenton: Thanks for heads up on packet trick wallets. I started with “Packet Trick Wallet (Tri-fold) by Jerry O'Connell“. I really like the quality of this item but at a cost of around $30 is was more expensive than many of the packet tricks I was protecting. Switching the “packets” in and out of this wallet didn’t seem to work for me. So I bought like a dozen “Plastic Wallet for Cards” for around 90 cents each. This helps and seems OK for now.
An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
---- William Bernbach (1911 - 1982) ---- (After 25 years of PCs, everything switched to Macs, June 2008) |
Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
Use the plastic ones, they're much cheaper and do exactly the same job.
If you're worried about how they look to your audience, take the cards out just before you approach or use some line or other to introduce the wallet. "Most people keep money in their wallet but I'm a magician so I keep cards in mine 'cos I've no money" Something like that maybe? Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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zwong New user Australia 83 Posts |
Make them yourself.
There are ways of doing them. Just get creative! Heck, you might even come up with something new. I personally believe that there's nothing that cannot be made. It's just the matter of how far you're willing to go to get it done. Sometimes, it's cheaper and easier to just buy new ones. |
Larry Bean Inner circle I'm digging enough holes for 2016 Posts |
Haines House of Cards in Cincinnati, OH is a good source for some specialty cards. I ordered jumbo cards from them to make a pop-eyed-popper deck that I use with my Jumbo Sidekick. Fair prices and quick shipping.
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