Hi to all in SMC!!!

As you can see i'm a new comer here. I've only started learning magic about a month ago, and I'm really glad to have stumbled upon this forum today. The past hour that i have spent reading the many interesting discussions here really fires up my interests in magic even more~!!!

Anyway, after much reading, I have a few questions which i have in mind at the moment.

1) I bought a pack of air cushioned Aladins around 4-5 days ago. My first ever pack of air-cushioned cards. The feeling was very nice. I tried fanning, and though not perfect (at my level), but the effect was very much better than when i fanned with the normal non air cushioned aladins. However, today i find it totally unfannable. The cards sticks to each other. I could fan better even with the normal decks. I understand from reading the threads here that decks do age and they soon lose its fanning ability. But, isn't 4 days a little too fast?

2) I have also read here that there are tools which can revive a deck. Like a card clip or fanning powder. Are there any other tools to revive or protect the deks? And how do these tools actually revive the decks?

3) I believe seasoned magicians and flourishers that have been in this hobby or trade for many years have used up many decks (hundreds... or maybe thousands) that have aged and lost the ability to fan. I was just wondering, other than giving them away to audiences or friends that you performed to, where else do these decks go? Do you keep them? Or throw? Or maybe there's some place we can place to recycle the cards or something?

4) What is the difference between air-flow finish and air-cushioned cards?

5) Finally, i know this last question is a rather stupid question. But i'm going to take the chance and ask it anyway. Are there any kind of decks out there which can totally take a beating and withstand wear and tear to their finishes and fan like a brand new deck even after years of usage? (haha... i sense flame for this question)

Well, thats all i have for now. Hope i didn't ask one too many questions for someone who is posting for the first time. Awaiting answers eagerly...

Have a good day everyone...~!!! ;)

Hi. Welcome to SMC.

You will have to look after your cards if you want them to last longer.

Some tips:


1 & 2
- Try not to place the cards on any surface that is dirty or rough. If you have a card mat, use it. If you don't already have one, consider getting one.

- When you drop your cards, do not slide them along the ground and pick them up. Instead, use the edge of one card as a lever to lift the other cards up so that the cards do not get pressed or scratched on the floor when you gather them.

- Replace the cards into the box after use. It helps to maintain the shape a little. If you can afford it, get a good card clip such as porper's that will "press" the cards together and correct the "warp-piness" in them. Do note that not all card clips "press" the cards. Others are more like card holders you can place your cards in. In the mean while, apply some even pressure by placing a pile of heavy books on the cards overnight. See if it helps.

- You might want to get some fanning powder, but don't just rely on that. I'm not good at flourishes so I might not be the person to advice you, but I understand that it is wise not to rely on fanning powder too much. Try to get use to the feel of fanning without fanninf powder as well.

3
- Use the worn out decks for effects that require the destruction of cards. E.g. signature effects, tearing effects, for effects that cards are given out as souvenirs, and for practising and experimenting on new effects.

4
- UV500 Air-flow finish is unique to ellusionist decks. E.g. Tiger, Viper and Ghost cards. They are rather similar to the air-cushioned cards in terms of quality of stock and smoothest. Though I tend to prefer the feel of the ellusionist ones slightly. Both should handle pretty similarly if you are used to air cushioned Alladins. Most of these cards are produced by the US playing card company so generally speaking, they all have high quality. Go for the special air-flow ones form ellusionist if you want something something special . They look great. Or just settle for air-cushioned bicycles (good if you are using other gimmick cards as most are bicycle-backed) or Aladdin(common in south-east asia). They are very good too. Personally, I do not really like the Split Spade(David Blaine) cards which has a Linoid Finish. The UV airflow finished cards from ellusionist have a slightly thicker card stock and thus last longer and are less susceptible to warping. (might be just me, but I feel they are smoother as well)

5
- The Tally Ho Vipers have a nice UV finish that is smooth and is thicker then a standard bicycle. Note that the porper card clips for this card is slightly bigger then the normal bicycle ones. Take note of that if you are planning to get a card clip for the cards. You can just take out the jokers and it should be able to fit with the normal card clips. They do last slightly longer, but like all cards, they will experience wear and tear.

Just to add on to what joel has said for Question 1, try not to touch your cards with oily or dirty hands. If possible, wash ur hands with soap before handling the deck. While practising, if u find ur hands are becoming sweaty, u can take a towel to dry ur hands. Sweat will make the cards warp which is badddd. ^_^

Let not ur friends handle the cards unless u personally see that they have washed and dried their hands. This is usually for more expensive decks.

2) Fanning powder is to help in fanning. It kinda makes the deck smooth yet retaining some friction for a nice fan, if i'm not wrong. Fanning powder will wear off and all u have to do is just powder ur deck again. A card clip just flattens the card so it has the same flat shape like a new deck out of a box.

3) For cards that accumulate after practising, u can use them to train ur card throwing.

5) Nopes, i don't think that there are cards that lasts for years with usage. All good things must come to an end. So yea.. :(

Aaron :D

Hi Red Deck,

How about an intro in the Intro Section first? Protocol... :P

Thanks alot!!! joel and aaron, for helping out with the replies. They have more or less cleared my doubts. Seems that i have found myself bounded to another relatively high maintainence hobby. hahaha. Anyway, are there any good dvds or books that teaches how to do flourishes? and if there are, where do i get them?

And to Muscleaxl: Thanks for reminding me~!!! :D It is there already. Cya around the forums dude...

To add on to what muscleaxl said remember to read the forum rule in case u get into trouble with the MOB here.DVD, I myself think that showoff1&2 are good DVD for Flourishes. If u get better try to get Dan&Dave buck system or even leathal. You can get it at any magic shop or you can book online another option is get it from the www.thelittlemagicshop.com ^_^ ^_^ cheers

5) I recommended bicycle ghost. they fan really well even aft using for very long. im sure some of you of used it will agree^^

My bet is on the good old regular Tally Hos :) While funky cards (BTD/ Ghost/ etc.) from Bicycle may be cool for flourishing, regular bikes are cheaper & usually good enough. If you're a consistent performer, you'll use cards alot and often... so a brick of regular bikes would be better than just a few decks of 'funkier' cards, factoring in costs... and lesser chances of people thinking you're using a trick deck because of its flashy appearance.

$0.02 worth ^_^
ning

thanks torn, and ning for the replies...

i'm sure the funky cards like ghosts, vipers or black tigers will be better and lasts longer. But their very costly leh. Maybe i'll get a pack or two to use for special occasions. But definitely not for everyday practice unless my dad prints money. :D

Anyway, i bought a regular card clip ($15) on saturday. There's one thing i'm not really sure about. I put the cards in the clip without the box. However, when i did a search for the proper clip online (cause i'm considering getting one) i found many pictures where the whole block of cards, together with the box are inserted into the clip. So am i doing it wrong?

im not very sure, but it seems like most people does it by putting the deck with the box into the card clip.
i suppose it makes no difference?

You have to put the cards into the box then into the card clip. Just in case your card clip get loose, your whole deck will just fall and you will have to spend a lot of your time picking them up. Its embarassing too. If you put your deck into the box, then into the card clip, you don't have to worry about this at all. And, I have seen people putting their deck into the box before putting on the card clip. The box itself have thickness too. So it provides some friction and grips the whole thing there. So I guess you must have your deck box on before putting it into the card clip ^_^

Eh.. I thought putting the cards in the cardclip with the box is a "standard" thing? You mean there are people who just put cards w/o the box?

Anyway, a cardguard is the same thing as card clip right? Or isn't?

hahaha~! Thanks everyone for the replies.

I didn't know at first and put the cards without the box in. Now i feel like a fool. Now i get alot of resistance from the clip when i try to push the box in. Very tight. But i guess it'll do just fine. Thanks alot~!!!

hi guys... thanks for the helpful replies the other time.

So far i have tried out the A/C aladdins, normal bikes, the ghost deck, the black tigers and the normal tallys. Two of which i really like the feel of are the tallys and the ghost. I've totally fallen in love with the ghost deck. BEAUTIFUL is an understatement.

Yet to try the vipers and the bees.

Right now I have another question again. Hope to find some answers here.

I've seen people saying that we have to get a new deck into "break in" condition. Even when I watched XB, the advice was to break in the deck.What does it mean to break in the cards? How do we do it? and how does it help the deck? I'm totally clueless.

Another thing is that i've heard about the golden landmark shop. But i have also heard the shop is no longer there anymore. Anyone could clue me in on this? Don't wanna make a wasted trip down. Thanks~! :)

Break in most of the time, happens for people playing flourishes. Seldom card magicians will think about card break in.

Reasons because as a card magician, it is much more genuine that you use a new deck, it breaks off all possible reasons that the deck is stacked, or gimmicked. (though it can happen also)

So what is breaking in a deck? It actually means making the deck more pleasant to you using it. New decks are much smoother, and also harder. So alot of execution, even if you did it very well, but because its a new deck, it might slip off easily, like doing a pass. Or you might get a cut because the edges are new and not abit of wear off. Or the card is hardly to bend because its harder.

Break in most of the time, people will do faros in and out, like 10 over times to the deck. Or spring the cards more,(Its very hard to spring a new deck of cards) Or using fanning powder to even out the texture and make it slightly rougher, but have the grip.

Last but not least, dun be taken back by the break in task that you need to do now and then. As a performer, don't be worried that the fact that you will use a new deck each time you perform. Practise with new deck and old deck is one thing, getting over the mindset that the deck makes a different is another thing.

In the end, the deck is just a deck, new or old, they shouldnt make a different in your performance. Yes we can argue that an old deck is sticky and crappy, but we will say a break in deck and a non break in deck. They shouldn't have the factor that makes you or breaks you. You should be the factor of yourself. :)

Err i disagree. i have tried performing with a new deck. And the quality of the sleights, i might as well not have performed. The DL will slip and the cards are too hard to palm or pass. It really is quite retarded. And the cards cannot be broken in within mins. So don't expect to open a new deck, shuffle it a couple of times, and think that you're all ready to perform.

Normally what i do is to open a new deck, shuffle or spring or do whatever you like to break the cards in. But remember to keep the cards flat and not have some weird bend caused by the shuffling. Also one thing to note, make sure you wash you hands before you touch the deck so the sides do not get stained or dirty. so when this deck is perfectly broken in, use it ONLY to perform. Bring it around and make it your perform deck. Don't let any random dude handle your deck. Then, at home use any other deck to practice.

When your performing deck gets too soft, use it to practice and break in another deck to perform. That's wad i normally do. Hope that helps.

Last i would like to add is that you are the performer. If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to perform. I used to be sooooo eager that i would pick up any deck and try to do something. Turns out, the quality of the sleights are so poor that u wish u could bury your head somewhere. So the best thing to do is to have one deck of cards that is in perfect condition for you to perform.


ZiAn

I also personally felt that the Aladdins were not as good as the Bikes and Tallys. Mine also became sticky and fan in clumps after a short period of time.

Stick to Bikes, Tallys or Aviators (they are plastic cards. One of the best plastic I felt)

Fanning powder only makes it better/easier to fan/handle the deck. In my opinon, its more for the flourishers.

Just as the others have said, avoid touching the deck with dirty, oily hands, and keep them in a card clip (no need for a Porper clip, those normal ones will do). The card clip tends to keep them last longer.

Card Manipulations, throw them, burn them, peel them for gaff cards. Or trash it and buy new ones.

Doesn't make a difference to me. Just stick to the traditional Bikes, or if you can afford, get Tallys (but gaffs for these are hard to find).

I don't think there is. Try those clear plastic Bikes maybe? They are good for double lifts. I used to look for these "long lasting" decks but they never exists. Just use and throw lor. No choice one. :lol:

Hope it helps.

Qn5,

Maybe Jerry's or Golden Nuggets. Though i would nv give them the treatment. I sprung them and the are still straight! Thin stock but very durable. :lol:

But if u mean their finishes are totally destroyed, no deck can fan properly. To those who can pressure fan, do you think its possible if the deck is chui but powdered?

I cant pressure fan for nuts... i'll probably spoil it the moment i try

Well personally i would not pressure fan when the cards are new. It kind of ruins the cards a little bit. But when the cards are more 'chui' and sticky and soft. It is actually in PERFECT condition to pressure fan.

If you think you go through many decks of cards, just buy them in bulk. Can ask ning or something. If not try ebay. I bought a box of 24decks for an average of $2++ dollars. That includes shipping. So just look around and you'll get some good deals. Good luck.

ZiAn

Whoa~!!! Thats cheap. Bikes or?

yup...bikes...12 red and 12 blue..

I think it will be good if u can store ur cards in a cool dark air tight box...put some silica gel in it too but not too much. For me i haf a free dry box given when i bought a new cam i put some sillca gel and keep the moisture away from the new decks.

Even the opened decks. Keeping it this way u can remove the moisture and keep the cards crispy sort of like "repair" the worn out decks. One lesson learnt from this kinda storage is that if the humidity is too low in the box...the cards will warp. So just a little silica gel will do.

Giant or Carrefour sells this plastic air tight box rather cheaply too. They come in different sizes. Its a good way to store small gimmicks or coins to prevent oxidation and also allow your decks to heal and also for proper storage.

Yes yes, thats the best solution man. Well, Thats if you are too good to your decks that you have to do that. LOL!!

Imagine when your friends or relatives enter your room and the box is filled with cards, not camera stuff. LOL!! :lol:

I actually think its a very good idea~!!! Never crossed my mind to use silica gel in an air tight box for storage. I would actually make a good dry box for the cards. Thanks for the idea~!!!

I got this idea from storing my photography equipements too
Anyway u all can buy silica gel from those photo developing shops...one big bottle cost around $2-$3
using half the bottle is enough and keep the rest of it properly