Other than on the fly crimps and nicks.. Do you tend to use and keep prepared cards at the ready? Do you keep Breathers, punched, and short cards at the ready in your everyday decks? Are you a proponent of using them? And would you suggest a novice card guy to have them incorporated in his deck at all times? What's your view on these little helpers?

Frankie5aces,

The only "work" that is in my decks regularly is a reverse breather crimp. This card cuts to the bottom of the deck. It's in just about every deck of cards in my house with the exception of decks that might be set up for specific effects where a breather either isn't necessary or might actually get in the way of other things.

I have experimented with punched cards on many occasions, but I don't use them regularly. I think if you want to get good at dealing the punch, having them in every deck you carry for a year or so is a great way to go about learning to feel them. I typically don't bother.

Jason