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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
I just purchased Entourage by Gordon Bean. After one practice session I noticed that the cards lost their "slickness". At the beginning of the session I could do the monte move easily and at the end of the session the cards tended not to slide over each other making this move difficult instead of pleasent to perfrom.
I noticed this same effect on another packet trick I purchased a while ago. Are specailly made cards not made as well as standard Bicylce Brand? Does any one know how to restore this smooth quality to a card? I don'twant it to look shiny. (The monte move is optional in Entourage. I still hate to lose this option just because the cards lose their coating easily) |
mlippo Inner circle Trieste (Italy) 1227 Posts |
In the past I wrote here on the Café saying I found the same problem with the cards from the Ellusionist Ultra Gaff Deck and also with a few packet tricks printed on Bike stock (Bannon's Royal Scam for example). They soon became 'sticky'.
Apparently I was the only one: not anymore No one ever gave me an explanation and/or a solution. Hope you'll have more luck than I had. mlippo |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Shot in the dark - but a dash of fanning powder may solve the problem. Can be found at many magic shops or online.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
I faced the same problem with my first run of Phoenix Decks. The decks come out of their box and fan beautifully, after a very short while they tend to stick and spread in blocks, very bad.
I immediately stopped the sales back in 2009 and ordered a reprint at USPC. USPC did not believe my experiences back then and "lost" samples I sent them. There were tons of emails back and forth, but in the end I did not only lose customers, I also had to throw away the remaining decks AND had to place a new order. So what happened?! The following is NOT the official version of USPC, they still deny that anything happened, but this is my own experience: Back in 2009, when USPC moved from their old facility in Cincinatti to Erlanger, KY, they printed my decks. First of all, you have to understand that USPC has two different kind of printers, one that is used for smaller runs, starting at 5000 decks, and another one that is used for the big runs above 15000 decks. They both use different kind of paper as well as a different kind of finishing process, as the smaller one uses sheets and prints one side at a time, while the bigger one prints on paper from a role and both sides simultaneously. Only the small printer for the shorter runs was affected and had the problems, the big printer worked nice as always. One of my customers put his bad deck under a microscope to find out what happened: Seemingly the glue between the two sheets of paper was not staying there, but emerged slightly on the edges, leaving the borders kind of sticky and adhered dust and dirt. The edges of the cards should get dirty quickly, do you see that phenomenon on your cards too? All decks printed on the small printer about the same time, somewhere between second half of 2009 to first half of 2010, should face the same problems that I had. USPC seemingly solved the problem, without ever committing they had one. All newer decks do not have this problem anymore. When I started my business with Phoenix cards in 2009, I put all my money in and seemingly did a run of decks less than 15000. As you now can conclude, USPC nearly ruined me as I immediately had to reprint both colour version with 15000 decks, just to get the quality Card-Shark and Phoenix was standing for. That brought me nearly to the edge of possibilities, but I believed in what I do. The results since then are outstanding and for years I had to fight against the experiences of magicians who tried the first run of Phoenix Decks. As long as they complained, I could explain what happened, but to all the others: please try them again, they are the Greatest Magician's Deck available since 2010.
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
mlippo Inner circle Trieste (Italy) 1227 Posts |
Christian,
thanks for your reply! My Ultra Gaff Deck may have been printed in that period. Christian lectured in Trieste, Italy two weeks ago and told us lots of interesting things about how his cards are printed. I didn't think of asking him about my 'sticky' gaffs, though. Anyway, I don't know about the early runs, but I can confirm that Phoenix decks are great quality now!!! mlippo |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
This is my post from another thread. Seems applicable:
The refrigerator option works well if the cards are sticky from humidity in the air that seeps into the cards. In most cases, packet tricks that get "sticky" are covered in oil and dirt transfer from your hands. Adding fanning powder to cards in this condition can make things worse. I've had success by dampening the corner of a washcloth and LIGHTLY applying some soap and gently rubbing both sides of the card. Move from center to edge so as not to damage the edges of the card. Repeat with a damp unsoaped washcloth to wipe up any leftover soap and dry with a paper towel. Use very little water and even less soap. Let the card(s) sit to dry completely and try using them again. If they still don't work as well the fanning powder option should take care of things at that point.
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
Steven,
Refrigerator option? Does this mean just putting the cards in the refrigerator? How long? |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
That was a recommendation from someone in the other thread. The idea is that if humid air is causing cards to cling together you can put them in the refrigerator to act as a de-humidifier of sorts. I've also heard of the refrigerator option being used if a deck is buckling badly.
I've not personally had success with a refrigerator but that's because my problem has always been related to cards having a surface coat of dirt and/or oil. Even if you can't see the surface dirt it might still be enough to cause friction in the cards. Of course, being in Florida, humidity could be part of your issue.
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Maybe, if the card was "soaped", it would become slick again. The soap to use is Cashmere Bouquet and I've been using it on the right sides of R/S decks for many years. I cut a little off the bar's corner and rub the bar on the card.
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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts |
Use of a vice/clamp, plus minimal use of fine sandpaper on the edges may help, re: Christian's experience.
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Derfomiundz Ivy New user 13 Posts |
I bought some decks some weeks ago, and those decks (Bicycle brand from uspcc), from that run from Kentucky are still in the wild, just a few shuffles, they fan with blocks, no faro shuffle because it's impossible. But there's a good part, I broke them in, put in card press and then powdered and now works beautifully and faro shuffles are easy. This is just a solution, but for those who prefer new cards without powder etc be aware and careful of what you're buying. Check when decks are made and for performing avoid the cheap ones like dollar offers. Try to get the same look but a little more expensive of custom decks like bike gold seal and bicycle masters or other premium decks. Hope uspcc can improve this for once and all in the future.
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