talkmagic.co.uk

Just wondering...

I bought 6 decks of bikes when i first started learning card tricks (not long ago at all) and after having them for awhile they get bent even when i am not using them.

I haven't even opened all the decks yet but every time I open a new deck the cards are slightly bent. By bent i mean that if I flip over the top card so that its back is against the face down deck it curves up on each side slightly.

Does it have to do with the humidity or something?

Does anyone have any recommendations to help keep this from happening?

Thanks,
AcrylicAce

Humidity is a possability.......only a guess though! I couldn't say for sure other than that!

It depends. Sometimes I've had new packs of cards which have already got a natural bend in them (and thus that annoying 'click') but the temperature definitely has an impact. Leave them near a heat source for long enough, and they'll warp.

1. Keep the cards flat, in a dark cupboard away from excessive heat
2. Keep 'precious' decks in a card-guard (i.e. one-offs like Vintages, or your favourites)
3. To de-buckle, card spring both ways a couple of times
4. Keep them in the cellophane until you use them
5. DON'T put them in the freezer/fridge, no matter what you read, it's moist in there! Cards+moisture=bend
6. Use them!

I hate the click from concave cards. bent lengthwise or across I can deal with but clicky cards is a total mare! My current deck developed the dreaded click within 3 days of using. then again I did get caught in the rain with them in my bag

im sure there is SUPPOSED to be a natural break if you put two cards back to back.. all my cards have a natural break if put back to back and are ever so slightly bent.. dont worry about it

Get a good card clip and keep the cards away from heat sources but in general dont worry..

I have just opened a new deck and it does the same.. they are designed that way!! I think.. follow the advice given above but all card are SLIGHTLY concaved.. the ones that Ihave anyway.. from whenthey arrive!!

Thanks guys.... I will store them in a darker, more dry area.

I appreciate it!

Yeah, I'd say it has something to do with humidity, but it's easy enough to fix. Just bend/riffle the cards in the opposite direction to bend then back to normal.

Seige is bang on with his tips further up the page.

Just one further piece of advice though.

Corner springs do wonders for bent/warped cards. By this I mean spring the cards as you would usually, but instead of at the two short ends, at opposite corners.

Do this with both pairs of corners, with the deck face up and face down a few times for a quick way to remove the bend.

Can you plase explain what you mean by the click? I've not heard that term before.

If the cards are bent in the right way then if you press in the middle they will "click" into a different position then "click" back up again. Easy to tell if you've ever seen it!

I second corner springs by the way... I think the click comes from a bend like a breather crimp and corner springs are pretty much the only way to get something like that out. I've had some success with one of the heavy black Porper card guards though.

Kati

You sir have experienced card warping.
If you carry a deck on you, be sure not to leave it in a pocket where it is going to get (like a jeans pocket).
Try to put it in a jacket pocket, keeping it cooler.

If you leave them somewhere in your house, make sure sunlight can't get to them as again this can cause warping.

Basically leave them in a nice, cool, dry, place.