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Hey Guys

(Hope this is the right section...)

I'm trying to set up "Measles" by Jay Sankey, but am having a problem getting my Sharpie to draw on the cards, it works for a couple of seconds and then stops working??? Any advice or do you think I bought a bum set of markers??

Thanx in advance
Dar_Kwan

sharpies shouldn't just stop working like that.

my advice would be to start with, are the official sharpie markers? I bought cheap pens in past that look identical to a sharpie except for logo and they were rubbish.
Secondly if they are real sharpies then I would buy another set and if they don't work all I can say is you must have some very unusual playing cards. sharpies are very reliable and can right on coins. Only thing that come to mind is are you using any of these chemicals and powders you can add to decks for various improvements in deck handling? if so maybe they are causing a problem with the ink!

Permanent pens contain a solvent, which keeps the ink fluid. The cards you are using might have a coating that the solvent is dissolving. This dissolved coating might then transfer to the pen's nib, interrupting the ink flow.

I agree with Anjorno about trying a different pen, but maybe you actually need to try different cards. I suggest you try the pen you have on some other types of card, like a cereal box, index card etc. If it writes on them fine, then you know it's the playing cards and you can save yourself some money.

Using Bikes... and yes, it does seem like it might be the coating interfering with the pen... I just scribble on a piece of cardboard any time the pen stops working....

Thanx for the help guys

Dar_Kwan wrote:Using Bikes... and yes, it does seem like it might be the coating interfering with the pen... I just scribble on a piece of cardboard any time the pen stops working....

Thanx for the help guys

Bikes shouldn't be a problem. I use sharpies all the time on them.

your cards are not the problem if your using genuine USPCC Bicycle playing cards. every magician uses these with no problem. like I said if your pens are actual sharpies and your cards are bicycle and you use none of these fluids or powders to help handling then I am flummoxed. You are mistaken about one or the other or you indeed have a faulty sharpie for which I cant understand why its basic technology not a lot can fault.

Perhaps the sharpie cartridge/ink filled foam tube thingy has come loose and is not inking the tip properly.

My full time job, I'm a graphic designer for a label manufacturer and I come across this kind of thing quite a lot. Mainly 'thermal' activated papers / cards / surfaces will cause Sharpies and pretty much all other permanent markers to become dry. The coating on the paper is absorbed by the ink tip which then seals it from distributing anymore ink. If you actually cut the tip the marker will carry on working. Have you tried another deck with the same marker??

Brand new pack of Bikes (can't remember where I bought them); brand new Sharpie (from Amazon)...

I finally got the pen to write on the cards by holding the Sharpie almost horizontal and using the whole surface of the tip to draw the dots on the card...

I think this is going to remain a mystery....
BUT great reactions to the trick, so it's all been worth it