talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there!
My name is Frederico and I come from Portugal and I recently started to learn magic (mostly cards) and I became "addicted" to this world...all my money now goes to magic videos, decks, and gimmicks...however I have sort of a problem...my hands are very dry, and in some tricks my hands just "slide" through the cards instead of sticking a bit...for example, in the Erdnase color change, I have to lick my hand before doing the sleight, which is not very convenient...can you point me some tips to make my hands a little stickier?

I have exactly the same problem. I like Sort Kwik which is available here as well as lots of alternatives. The Card Collection give good service but I don't know how expensive their postal charges to Portugal will be.

wash your hands or rinse them in water for about a min befor practice

Bom dia Frederico and welcome to TM.

Omniblank wrote:my hands are very dry, and in some tricks my hands just "slide" through the cards instead of sticking a bit...

This is exactly my big problem too. I have to keep on licking my palm, sometimes I'm like a dog, licking and licking between moves. Brrrrrrr... it's terrible.

Charles Calthrop wrote:I like Sort Kwik which is available here as well as lots of alternatives.

What was the link you were refering us to Charles? I never got to that page.

I have tried washing my hands with soap, rinsing them with water, even grabbing a damp cloth every once in a while, but it simply isn't enough when you have dry fingertips and palms.

"Glycerin and Rosewater" can usually be obtained easily from chemists.

It's very similar to "Chamberlain's Golden Touch" which is what Vernon and Marlo used.

Sortkwik is excellent too.

saxmad wrote:"Sortkwik is excellent too.

Excellent! This sounds great! Thanks a million, Saxmad!
I googled it and found it all over, mainly in USA.
http://www.ellusionist.com/order/Sortkwik.htm?cat=%7BCATEGORY%20ID%7D $1.86
http://www.stepup.com/product-locations/Sparco-Sort-Kwik-Finder-Tip-Moistener-38-Oz-49611 $1.49
http://www.greenlightoffice.com/office/stationery/746664182-SPR01569-Sort-Kwik-Finder-Tip-Moistener-38-Oz.html $0.90
http://www.buyonlinenow.com/viewproduct.asp?SKU=SPR01569 $0.86
http://www.business-supply.com/office_supplies_product_SPR01569_sparco-3-8-ounce-fingertip-moistener-sort-kwik-finder-tip-moistener-3-8-oz-.html $0.56

Ergo: If you use it for magic, you pay over 3 times more than if you use it for office use only

gunnarkr wrote:Ergo: If you use it for magic, you pay over 3 times more than if you use it for office use only

3 TIMES!!!
IF ONLY!!!!!!!!

In the UK we pay £5 (about $9) for the 1 - 3/4oz size.

I'm basically the oposite of the problem, my hands are too sweaty.

I think its when I grip things like a computer mouse, bike handlebar etc. maybe try and tighten your grip on the deck and the heat of your hand can get them moist and sticky.

Sorry the link was broken. I didn't realise.
Try this and look for the card accessories page where there's a whole load of products like this. (Searching for 'kwik' might help).

I find washing hands only makes things worse. Soap and water just tend to dry out my hands more. Also, not drying your hands thoroughly won't help.

Most hand preparations with glycerin will work but each pair of hands are different.Experiment. For over 40 years I have used Nivea Creme. just rub a bit( again experiment) over both hands and work in. It just provides enough 'stickiness'. Often it has to be used once more during AN EVENING.although i have oten only used it once in my 2 hour lectures. It's a good moisteriser after shaving as well.Inexpensive. Look for the Blue Nivea container sold in small, medium & large. I always buy the large & scrape some into a small pocket container.
Allen Tipton.

Allen Tipton wrote:I have used Nivea Creme...

I have to try this, great tip!
But, that creates another question: How many decks of cards do you go through a week? With clean hands I was amased how quickly you go through a deck of cards, but with Nivea or Sort Kwik, I could imagine the cards get dirty and worn out in a flash, or what?

I have never had any trouble with stained cards using Nivea. BUT surely you change your decks fairly frequently if you're working.
It's better than what Robert Harbin advised in the 1930's (NO, I was not doing magic then) using sugar disolved in hot water. Now that is sticky.
In the 50's in one of the first 'Gens' Harry Stanley recommended 'Pomade Hongroise' This was a tube of mouthstache pomade. It felt a little sticky but my Nivea is far better.
Allen Tipton

Try breathing on your hands before you start. This can be passed quite easily or you could even pattter about blowing the breath of magic onto your very fingers! But trust me. One breath will moisten your hands perfectly! Plus it is free.

dont put your hands in water it will make them even dryer, your hands need oil on them not water if you pour water on them youll be washing away the oil from your skin.

You could just get a bottles of moisteriser, its very portable

Ross Bertram had a tip on this in his book. I can't remember what the tip is since I don't have this problem. I do remember that no preparation of any kind was required in that you had to put nothing on.

It was simply a matter of closing the hands into fists and doing some exercise or other to make a little moisture.

Better get the book. I cannot remember the full details. You will all no doubt be mortified to find out that Mark Lewis does not know everything after all.