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I'm new to card magic, and bought a bycicle card deck. Now after about 3 weeks of handing it I notice the red back is comming off and my fingers turn red (after doing fans) then that transfers to the sides.

I don't think my hands sweat. Anyway, are there any better more durable decks? I thought bycicle was a well know quality brand...

Thanks.

I have never had this problem with my Bicycle cards. Maybe you are handling them too roughly. I would suggest a softer handling of the cards, buying some more cards (maybe you have a dodgy deck?), or making sure you have really dry hands. The ink should not come off at all though seeing as there is a plastic coating on the cards i.e. the ink is under the plastic.

or uh, you bought fake ones?
i never had ANY problems with the ink coming off of the card in my WHOLE life time (15 years)

the only way for me to get the ink off is to rub it agaisnt somthing really rough for a long long long time

I've also not had this problem but I doubt that anyone would really bother to make up fake decks given that they are cheap anyway. Seems far too much trouble when you can pick a deck up for less than a pound.

I would certainly try out what Mahoney has said and in particular if the ink is wearing off the card (not staining your fingers) then it is more likely to be a pressure issue.

I have a deck that I use for fanning practice and it's ages old and the ink has work off on the fronts and backs where the thumb goes. Althought these are old, what has taken the ink off is the moisture in your hand, the natural oils can be acidic which cards won't like over time.

However, if the cards are relatively new then I would say it's pressure.

If you handle your cards all the time, I think you should wash your hands before using them. I think Tally Ho's are more durable than Bikes. They don't hold crimps as easily as Bikes because of the different finishes.

The most durable cards made are Kems, which you can buy off eBay or cards4magic.

@dat: If you use one deck for fanning and its old and worn in, don't... The fans won't look pretty with old decks. You need relatively new (best powdered) deck for nice fans. My deck is pretty worn in now and I can't do thumbs fans with it well now. I can only use a pressure fan.

StEvEbO!

Budric wrote:I'm new to card magic, and bought a bycicle card deck. Now after about 3 weeks of handing it I notice the red back is comming off and my fingers turn red (after doing fans) then that transfers to the sides.

I don't think my hands sweat. Anyway, are there any better more durable decks? I thought bycicle was a well know quality brand...

Thanks.

I've handled a lot of bikes over the past 6 months (about a pack a week - I shuffle when I'm thinking) and none of the ink has ever come off or the backs peeled. If you're really handling them roughly, then what about plastic ones? I know most people hate them, but it's a hard-wearing option, and there ae some really nice back designs.

dat8962 wrote:Seems far too much trouble when you can pick a deck up for less than a pound.

Sorry to go a bit oof topic, but the cheapest I can find them for is £3!

(Not on the net, BTW)

Never heard of the ink coming off before. Are they deffinetly bicycle cards?

Opening a new pack every three weeks however, thats not really a big deal I like a new pack about every 7 days.

I guess pressure could have been an issue. I was doing one handed fan for an hour or so. I find it really helps to put some pressure with my left thumb.

Stevebo wrote:

@dat: If you use one deck for fanning and its old and worn in, don't... The fans won't look pretty with old decks. You need relatively new (best powdered) deck for nice fans. My deck is pretty worn in now and I can't do thumbs fans with it well now. I can only use a pressure fan.

I know this the deck that I use it's a Tally Ho Viper deck and is the oldest deck that I own and still use. I just use it for cuts, flurishes etc. whilst I sit and watch TV, a sort of stress ball substitute.

I do also practice using a new deck and I do treat it with fanning powder and tend to go through a new deck each week to ten days unless I'm working. After it's a week or so old I will either use to make some gimmick cards or use it for practicing torn and restored or signed card effects and then open a new deck up.

After I've done between 30 and 60 minutes practice I tend to put down the Bikes and pick up the old Vipers again.

In reply to Ace, the cheapest that I can find them for not on the net is also £3.00 but I don't buy at this price. I buy a brick from Magic Box for about £18

I've never, ever had this happen to me or have heard of anyone having this problem. The only explanation I can think of is if the heat and humidity in the enviroment is so strong that the ink will simply give out.

dat8962 wrote:In reply to Ace, the cheapest that I can find them for not on the net is also £3.00 but I don't buy at this price. I buy a brick from Magic Box for about £18

How many packs do you get in a brick?

12

For those of us who don't wish to buy 12 packs at a time they can be bought individually for £1.75 from magictricks.co.uk

Anywhere cheaper than that you know of?

Firstly, three weeks is quite a length of time to keep a deck if you are practicing and fanning lots......I find 7 days is about the most I could get out of a deck.

Sedondly, be sure to wash your hands before picking up the deck

Lastly, if the ink is coming off, it is likely that you may have gotten a deck that the finish was defective or something.....with the type of coating/finish put on bikes, the ink should be quite set in, and should be tough to remove......so I am guessing that you got a bad deck. I have never seen that happen personally