talkmagic.co.uk

Hello, magical persons!

These days I seem to have two sets:

* a stand up/walk around set, with Ambitious Card, some card in pocket stuff etc
* a table set, with Out of this World, memorized deck mentalism etc

I've recently noticed two things:

1 Although I sometimes do flourishes, false riffle shuffles etc when doing my stand up stuff, I don't when doing the table stuff.
2 I get through a lot of decks of cards, particularly when doing the table stuff, probably due to beer puddles on tables mainly, but for other reasons too.

So, I've decided that although I need to use regular cards for the stand up stuff, there's no reason why I can't use long-lasting plastic cards for the table set. I mean, I only need to be able to do a false overhand shuffle and some palming, nothing difficult. One deck will last months or years rather than, um, about an hour!

The only thing is, I need to mark the cards on the back (just a tiny scratch or blob on every red card; I don't need the marks to be detailed as they just differentiate red and black), AND I need to shorten several cards, narrow several cards, and corner one of the cards (for reasons I won't go into here).

Please note that I like the shortening to be perfect and the corners to be re-rounded (I'm kind of a perfectionist), so I'll be taking the cards to my local printers rather than doing it at home.

Can anyone tell me if they've had any experience of trying to shorten, narrow or corner shorten plastic cards?

If so, which brands should I use or avoid? I've heard KEM mentioned a lot. But does anyone have any specific experience of marking (either with scalpal or pen) or trimming these cards?

Thanks!

PS, it might be good if anyone posting on this thread differentiates between plastic cards and plastic-coated cards, if there's a difference. Which I think there is...?

There is a huge difference between plastic and plastic coated. As for the rest I have no experience. I'm a pack an hour sort of person.

Plastic cards are made entirely of plastic, plastic coated are paper but coated with plastic (I think).

I'd give Cards 4 Magic a call http://www.cards4magic.co.uk/ Jamie or Clive a call. They're always helpful and know their stuff when it comes to cards. If not they might be able to let you know who can help.

Hope this helps.

HJ