I don't have manipulator cards and I thought about buying some. I know Lance Burton has some and Peter Marvey. I've only used bikes. Are manipulator cards easier to use? Is it going to be easier to produce fans? Or should I just buy Bee's or Steam Boats?

I only use bikes. Always used bikes. It's whatever you want to use. Everyone has diferent tastes. I would say try them and see how you like them. There are thin and extra thin which I hear are easy to backpalm. My bikes are easy though... oh well, you decide.

Thanks. I guess I'll have to try it then. I also use bikes. How long can you use them if you use them every day?

I use cards that I am comfortable with. I use regulaer Bikes, Poker Size. I can handle them with ease and perform smoothly with them. I have never used trick manipulation cards but I find these do a good enough job.

I use Bees because they are hard to spot and I get them for like 2 for a dollar at the dollar store.

Bikes are my main choice but I also like Bees, although I like the cards with a border more than without.

What about magic lotion. Will that do me any good? And how?

I use them EVERY day! They get all bent out of shape but now I have a homemade card press to straighten them out again. I usually get 2 decks every few months.

Bikes all the way. I can do most of the manipulation without something showing so I don't need manipulation cards

I just love the dancing bananas

Jeff McBride discusses and demonstrates how he prepares his cards (he uses bees in his performances). Very useful information!!! You can find it on The Art of Card Manipulation volume 2.

- Attilio

I have it. Im thinking about buying vol 3. Is there more advanced stuff there?

Volume 3 is advanced if you can't do the majority of the sleights in volume 2.

hi Tor,
I agree with the Scot. The stuff in volume 3 is advanced, but if you were able to learn the material in volumes 1 and 2, then you can also learn volume 3.

I use the murry manipulation cards and sometimes the Nielsen manipulation cards. You may want to treat them with fanning powder but I treat them with a fangrip stick insted. When it comes to lotion I think U.F. Grants manipulation lotion is great and realy helps when manipulating cards. You can get both faning powder and the murry cards from Jan Crosby's magic in Oslo but not the fan grip stick.

Jonas Karlsson
Vibono Magic
Sweden

Bikes?? Bikes aren´t good cards for manipulation.

I've been using Lance Burton cards for 4 years.
The best. Some say that Lance deck is like Norm Nielsen, but when you use both, you see why Lance´s deck is a lot better.
They fan better and are better to backpalm than Norm's in my personal opinion.

Yet, I have founded that both decks need "fanning powder" otherwise they won´t fan as you want.

Regards

A manipulator must experiment with what is availble to them and then make a decision based on what they feel more comfortable with. One manipulator may like bees while another may only use bikes. It really becomes a preference type of thing.

I would reccomend getting different cards, prepping them and experimenting with them. Find out which fit your hands better, which have a better feel for you.

Kyle is right (yet again )

These are Duncan's cards which I referred to earlier on in this discussion...

http://www.manipulationcards.com/

You might like them,

Kevin

I agree with Kyle. You have to experiment with what works well for you. I have purchased and used Bees, Steamboats, Norm Nielson, Peter Marvey, Julianna Chens, and Murphys. For Split fans I use Bees because I am pretty agressive in doing the splits. I have settled on Nielson's when doing single card productions although I practice with Bees and have used them in the past on stage. The Murphys are great for singles, but are more expensive. They are so thin you can b*** p*** the entire deck. I do like to use Bicycles that are not too broken in for perfect productions and scaling. Just my two cents.

You all have to admit, however, that some cards are just awful. I do amdire people who can backpalm bikes without showing the borders; true skill. However, the Julianna Chen cards have ALL WHITE BACKS! This is obviously hideous for backpalming unless, as Jeff McBride said, you are an albino in a snowstorm. The point I'm making is: all cards are not created equal. Try different ones, but make sure that they are practical.

Zombieboy- when I saw Juliana Chen's performance, she never did any backpalm productions... just the same production about 200 odd times.