Making cards stick to your fingers

Discuss your favorite close-up tricks and methods.
walkinoats

Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby walkinoats » March 27th, 2002, 6:23 pm

There is an effect on the Ray Kosby video called Pac Jacks.
He is able to make two cards stick to his first finger and thumb in order to catch another card.
I'm having difficulty making the cards stick to my first finger and thumb. I've tried licking my fingers as well as using hand lotion, but I have not been able to make the cards stick consistently. Does any one have some suggestions?
thanks,

Alpen
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Alpen » March 27th, 2002, 6:57 pm

This has brought me much frustration, and I finally surmised that its one of those things some people can do and others can't. There is an effect by Marlo in which a card transposes from one packet to the other, and the actual transfer is done while he's explaining to the spectator how to cover one of the packs with his hand. He presses his hand flat on a tabled half-deck, and the card just stuck to his hand.
Anyways, I hopew your post can lead to some insight and maybe a cool tip or solution.

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Pete Biro
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Pete Biro » March 27th, 2002, 7:14 pm

There is a product called "MAGICIAN'S MATE" from the Brit Pack. The label also says "Magical Wonders" and "Phoenix Magic"

This is great stuff, a bit on your fingers and the cards will stick... on your palm and you can lift coins off the table ala no card matrix...

It's from a friend in England, who's address I can't find... but if you email

terryseabrooke@aol.com

and ask, he can direct you to the maker/seller...

It is much like the old Gambler's Check Cop.

:rolleyes:
Stay tooned.

Terry
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Terry » March 28th, 2002, 7:31 am

walkinoats - There is an effect on the Ray Kosby video called Pac Jacks.
He is able to make two cards stick to his first finger and thumb in order to catch another card.


This sounds alot like Daryl's 'Snowshoe Sandwich' effect on his video from Steven's Magic.

Alpen
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Alpen » March 28th, 2002, 7:34 am

Terry,
I believe that Daryl's Snowshoe Sandwhich" effect was originally published in "Secrets of a Puerto Rican Gambler" (but there's a chance it might be in "For Your Entertainment Pleasure Only") just incase anyone wants to look the effect up.

Robert McDaniel
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Robert McDaniel » March 28th, 2002, 7:45 am

I have dry hands and need to lick my finger tips occasionally when working with cards, which is not exactly professional conduct. Isn't there something available at Hank Lee's, Steven's, or elsewhere for dry hands? I thought Gary Ouellet marketed something for this a while back. I purchased a mysterious liquid from Cards by Martin (Neil Lester) years ago that was supposedly used by Larry Jennings, but it stained the cards. Any other ideas? Thanks!

Robert McDaniel

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 28th, 2002, 8:10 am

While it makes some men squeemish, purchase a small bottle of "Vagisil". It only takes a couple of drops and your hands will be perfect for you. It does not make your hands greasy, lasts for the length of your performance and since you only need a couple of drops, a bottle will stretch for a very long time. I always explain this when I am lecturing and even let magicians in my audience try it and they all become converts at that point.

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat
http://www.mindguy.com

Robert McDaniel
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Robert McDaniel » March 28th, 2002, 8:54 am

What a wonderful tip!! Thanks a million, Paul! But can I put it in a different bottle?

Thanks again,
Robert M

Matt Sedlak
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Matt Sedlak » March 28th, 2002, 10:49 am

The effect is Daryl's Snowshoe Sandwich, which Kosby uses to lead into his PacJacks. As far as the hand thing, I naturally have moist hands so things stick. However, on occasion my hands do get dry. If I can do it without being seen I will lick my hands and rub them together. Also, if there is a drink around I will pick it up and get the moisture on my hand. Other then that, I know there are some things you can buy, but I am against putting something on my hands as I dont want them to become dependent on it.

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Matthew Field
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Matthew Field » March 28th, 2002, 12:03 pm

Originally posted by Paul Alberstat:
While it makes some men squeemish, purchase a small bottle of "Vagisil". It only takes a couple of drops and your hands will be perfect


This is one of those revelations which makes one wonder, "How did he discover this?"

Matt Field

Robert McDaniel
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Robert McDaniel » March 28th, 2002, 12:29 pm

Good one, Matt. This reminds of the Seinfeld episode when George tried to combine his favorite things: sex, food, and TV.

Robert

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 28th, 2002, 12:46 pm

Matt,
How did I discover it? I have no life but performing, lecturing, traveling and spending those lonely nights discovering weird little tips like that. Either that or I really am psychic. <g>
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul
http://www.mindguy.com

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 28th, 2002, 12:49 pm

And to Robert M,
You are more than welcome for the tip and yes you can out it in a different bottle although I just finished doing some stunt work for a television series where I did some cheating at cards and the crew later refered to me to another magician who was also doing some work for them as the guy that used vagisil on his hands because he said it was the "real secret" to card work. ;)

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat
http://www.mindguy.com

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 28th, 2002, 1:30 pm

If you have to lick your fingertips when doing certain things with cards, seconds, bottoms, etc. you can make a remark, such as - "If you're ever in a card game and the guy across the table licks his fingertips like this (demonstrate), you can bet you're gonna get cheated." Then, go ahead and "cheat"!

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 28th, 2002, 3:04 pm

I think it was Lee Asher on a different forum who suggested that to get a quick tac on a finger you should rub it against the front of your upper teeth.

Mike Powers
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Mike Powers » March 29th, 2002, 5:28 am

One of the most popular and effective moisterizers is Chamberlain's Golden Touch Oil. Marlo used to swear by it. Unfortunately it's difficult to get.

This thread comes up on every board! I'm going to try to buy a case of this stuff some time. The market is there!

Mike

Guest

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » March 29th, 2002, 8:29 pm

We Southerners have had a secret method for decades - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Eat two Krispy Kremes and you will soon have the whole deck stuck to your hands and fingers... :eek: Asrah

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 29th, 2002, 9:05 pm

Asrah, my wife is from the midwest, and she introduced me to Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which we can now get here in Washington DC at the Giant supermarket.
We happened to be there one night when the next day's shipment of Krispy Kreme's arrived. We bought a dozen--they were soft as butter. My wife ate one, I ate the other twelve in about 20 minutes.
We have NEVER bought another box.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Raj Madhok
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Raj Madhok » March 30th, 2002, 8:20 am

RE: Dry hands.

Solution: Cetaphil Cream at the earliest sign of dryness and after washing; also avoid antibacterial soap.

Rajneesh Madhok,MD
Skin Specialists, Ltd.
(Awaiting the arrival of Krispy Kremes to Minnesota)

Paul Cummins
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Paul Cummins » March 30th, 2002, 8:27 am

Keep a glass of ice water close by. Whenever you need to moisten your fingertips, take a sip of water and the condensation on the outside of the glass will wet your fingers. Another tip from Clayton Rawson is to put a small, moist sponge in a thumbtip in your pocket. Dip your finger into your pocket, and the tip, when necessary. I believe that one is in Expert Card Technique!

Paul

walkinoats

Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby walkinoats » March 30th, 2002, 11:40 am

thanks everyone, excellent suggestions

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Reinhard Mueller
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Reinhard Mueller » April 14th, 2002, 1:06 pm

>There is an effect on the Ray Kosby video called Pac Jacks.<
I don't know that effect.
Is it a variant of my Three Card Catch, a sandwich effect? In brief: top and bottom card of the deck are face up. You take the deck between your thumb and second finger of your right hand, and toss deck into your left hand. In your right hand there is left a sandwich, two face up cards with a face down in the center, the selection.

Reinhard M.

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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Guest » April 14th, 2002, 2:09 pm

Interesting and imformative thread. Can someone suggest an adhesive to stick a boon gimmick firmly on ? :(

Ed Oschmann
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Ed Oschmann » April 14th, 2002, 6:20 pm

Reinhard,

Pac Jacks is usually performed after another 'sandwich type' effect is used in order to set the audience up for what happens next. This time another card is selected and lost in the deck. The two jacks are peeled off the top of the deck into the left hand. Perversely, the deck ends up sandwiched between the two jacks. The deck (thought to be in the right hand) turns into the selection.
John Bannon has an effect called 'Fat City' in his book Smoke and Mirrors which is essentially the same effect albeit a very different handling.
Hope this helps! Ed

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Reinhard Mueller
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Reinhard Mueller » April 15th, 2002, 1:01 pm

Ed,
Thank you very much for your reference to Bannon's 'Fat City' which I looked up at once. It is a really unexpected climax, especially as a follow up to a sandwich type effect.
Reinhard

Jeff Haas
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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Jeff Haas » April 15th, 2002, 1:33 pm

Here's a solution that's a bit less obvious than licking your hand...rub your nose, as if scratching an itch. You can get just enough oil on your fingers to make cards stick to them for a few moments. It's handy if you forgot to have a glass of ice water.

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Re: Making cards stick to your fingers

Postby Curtis Kam » April 15th, 2002, 7:25 pm

This hasn't been mentioned yet, either because it's a Great Secret, or too darn obvious. But in the hope that it's the former, I'll mention that I have the same problem getting the cards to stick to my fingers. The source of the problem is not only dryness of the skin, but the suction formed between the cards when you squeeze them together (in the vain attempt to get them to stick to your fingers)

If the cards are perfectly squared when you do this, congratulations, you've just maximized the surface area available or suction. Coversely, if you spread the cards in a wide "V" pattern, or just shove one card so it's 1/2 outjogged, you'll find the task is considerably easier.

And if it still doesn't work, there's always coin magic!


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