Just wondering what do you guys do to protect card quality as in extending the lifespan of a deck of cards?
I find that my decks usually become incredibly sticky after handling it for 4-5 times. In fact, my new ghost deck had become so sticky, it would stand up as a whole block.
Not that I'm saying the ghost deck is bad quality (it is really darn good) but what can be done to keep these cards in tip top condition?

wow.. just 4-5 times?

i just bought a ghost deck today.. hmm.. i'll tell you if it gets sticky
:lol:

nah, seriously, maybe you have sweaty palms? it will cause the decks you handle to get all puffed up..

if the problem here is really about sweaty palms, den you should get a rambler's deck.. its a deck which feels really rough at 1st.. but will get smoother later on. plus, its water proof...

... (okay, fine. sweaty-palm proof)

I don't know, I grade my palms moderately sweaty.
I mean how can it remain dry after all those handling.
I'll try to upload a picture of my ghost block :lol:

try drying your palms before you use your cards and in between your routines, if you feel that your palms are sweaty, just pause for a moment and dry them, sould work :)



This is your last resort...

Yeah. Sweaty palms makes your deck like a block. Go get fanning powder. It kinda sticks the deck together but it makes it easier to fan and also for some other flourishes. A bottle of it can be bought from Golden Landmark( cheapest in Singapore if I'm not wrong) It lasts long man... I shook ALOT out of it and theres still more than 3/4 of it inside. Yeah, go get some fanning powder, Its only 6.50 per bottle if bought from GL.

Just my 2cents Worth :D

another way is to spread the deck out before u sleep. let it dry. Before i got my fanning powder, i used to do that. Also, u can use a card clip, or card guard to press them back into shape. I heard that if u have extreme sweaty hands, the powder may not be good for u. I forgot who told me but if someone can explain it pls do.

Nope. Sweaty palms will work with fanning powder, just that it will go off faster, thus you will need to apply the powder again after it wears off... Interesting... Spreading out the deck before you sleep. Lemme try it tonight :g:

Card clips was hot cake early last year. I do use them except that they are too costly if you refer to a whole bunch of more than 4 decks.

Use the clips. It will keep new to moderately seasoned cards in good condition. As for the really bad conditioned ones, put it in a box and buy a new deck. Take it out when you remember about it (prob 4-5 mths down) and you realise that it has great fanning capabilities.

As for how to keep it hard.. i think there isnt a perfect efficent way ;)

Hope i have been of help,
Chris

i wash my hand with soap everytime before i handle the cards. At least, when there are soap available i'll definitely do it.

My deck has been long lasting, or you can say i don't play with them so much. ^_^

4-5 times?! :blink:

is it a bit too fast for the cards to get sticky?

i personally prefer sticky cards..felt that it's easier to use. (maybe it's because i have dry hands :huh: )

Yeah I was like fidling with it and it just felt stickier and stickier

powder will make the deck slightly sticky which is good for fanning. unevenly sticky cards are wat gives headache. you wouldnt be able to fan properly as some will clump together.

I figured how to temporarily solve the stickiness problem.
I riffled the deck a few times and it returned back to it's non sticky state. But I'm still trying to see how many times this works :)

Hm... I read about the Golden Touch Skin Spray and if I didn't read it wrongly, it's a solution for DRY hands right?
But blueheaven here has sweaty palms...
Dont think that's the right thing for him :D

It said to dry hands "forever".

Are you sure about that?
I read it again just now and I'm sure that its for dry hands as it acts as a moisturizer.

Quote from one of the reviews:
"My hands were so dry at times that I couldn't even perform simple moves like ShapeShifter or false counts. I tried all sorts of lotions and even a few things that you normally wouldn't consider putting on your hands, and nothing worked."

Why would he use lotions for moist hands? Think about it :D

Ok, it is my mistake...

I just speak to a magician that have serious sweaty palm today, he told me he use a kind of spray that is able to make the sweaty feeling goes off for uptill 3 to 4 days.

So maybe you want to try asking around for such stuff, it might help. :g:

Could you ask that magician where he gets that stuff... Since you already know him, it can save us the trouble of searching high and low for it. Yeah. Thanks in advance. I have a bit of sweaty palm too... But not that bad. :g:

KK, i go ask for the details for you,

For me i got very very dry hands, i am trying to find application that provides moisture and will not damage the cards. wonder anyone know about it? :g:

Lotion Moisturizers for you? ^_^

Apply it every night before you sleep so that your hands wouldn't feel so dry. It's a long term effect. And not something like, applying it when you want to touch your cards.

Unlike sweaty hands, its hard to cure it. (Unless you cut off the sweat glands or something.)

Erm. Maybe i'm not expressing what i'm trying to express correctly. LOL.

Well, maybe the Golden Touch Skin Spray might be the solution for you Lefty? :D

Golden Touch Skin Spray

Anyways, I have sweaty palms too! <_<

Uh my non-magician friend with sweaty palms uses a sort of solution that makes the hand drier. Available in Guardian. It's called driclor arh. Available in powder form too. Maybe could ask around for it and ask bout its side effects and stuff. Havent used it myself before so am not able to testify to its usefulness. Might have some side effects :o My friend experienced some stinging sensations in the morning. Not sure if it's damaging though :unsure: Maybe the Guardian people will know more bout it.

uhh.. Don't try stuff that will harm your body.. I will go check it out decide whether to get it. Thanks. :D

Uh haha. It's not supposed to be harmful to the body. Recommended by her family doctor eh. So should be ok arh. Haha but to be on the safe side. Better check it out haha.

Normally when they are on the shelves, MOSTLY they are safe.

Well, accidents do occur though. -_-

Dry your hands for up to 3 days?
Yeah help us check that product out please Lefty :lol:

Hmmz. Still on the topic of protecting card quality. Is there any way to duplicate the effect of a card clip? Haha was wondering if putting heavy stuffs on the deck will help. Could save on card clips this way ^_^

Put your deck of cards on the table, take out that old set of encyclopedia which your parents bought for you years ago and leave the whole pile on top of the deck. For extra security get a friend who is heavy and invite him over for a game of chess while emphasizing that sitting on the encyclopedias make him think better.

Alternatively just save a dollar a day and get a card clip 2 weeks later.

haha..even though its safe..you are still using chemicals to control the sweating and that's not really good...in the long run.. :off: haha but anyway use it when performing should be okay...oh have you told of using white gloves?

haha using gloves wont help, unless you are a pro, although it will protech the deck, but it will be hard to feel the card when you are performing, say if you want to do a DL you will have a hard time.... :) get it?


cheers


shawn