How often does a magician need new decks of playing cards?

Frequently used playing cards become soft and do not provide enough tension for certain maneuvers. Especially when you practice persistently with the cards, they begin to look dirty and swell at the edges. They also become slightly thicker, so a well-used deck of cards is usually 2-3 cards thicker than a new one. (see photo)

For simple card games, this does not matter at all, but for magicians, such a deck of cards is hardly usable anymore. Therefore, many aspiring magicians ask themselves how long they can use a deck of cards and when it is better to replace it.

Playing cards suitable for magic tricks are usually made of cardboard that is sealed with a thin layer of plastic. When you use these cards frequently to practice magic tricks and maneuvers, several things happen.

1. The playing cards are bent and mechanically stressed during practice. Tiny cellulose and lignin fibers inside the cardboard tear every time this happens. This is not a problem with individual repetitions, but if you practice regularly with the cards, eventually so many fibers tear that the cards feel flimsy.
2. Due to the mechanical stress, the edges of the cards are hit and deformed.
3. Our skin contains a natural acid mantle. This hydrolipid film consists of fat and water and protects our body from the penetration of pathogens. However, our beloved playing cards also absorb this mixture of fat and water over their edges like a sponge. This creates the yellowish tinge and swelling of the playing cards at the edges
4. Sweat! We sweat, especially on hot days or when we present new magic tricks to an audience. This is completely normal. This sweat is magically absorbed by the playing cards and also causes them to swell.

Here are the three best tricks to extend the lifespan of playing cards:

1. Wash your hands! Before long practice sessions, it’s worth washing your hands. This reduces the amount of dirt, grease, and moisture that the cards absorb the most effectively.
2. Use multiple decks. If you let the playing cards rest for a few days, they will release some of the absorbed moisture back into the air. This makes them usable again and does not require immediate replacement. It’s worth using multiple decks in rotation.
3. Card clips. Card clips are folded metal plates that completely enclose a deck of cards. This protects the card box from wear and tear in your pocket and also protects the cards inside. In addition, the clips apply constant light pressure to the cards, preventing them from bending easily and maintaining their shape for longer. They are available in many magic shops in all sorts of shapes and colors.

This depends entirely on your degree of professionalism and personal preference. You can divide this into “playing cards for practice” and “playing cards for public performances.”

Playing cards for practice: I always replace the decks of cards I practice with when they lose tension and become too flimsy to perform precise magic tricks. I don’t really care what the cards look like while practicing because it doesn’t bother me if they appear slightly yellowed, as long as I can practice effectively with them.

Playing cards for performances and demonstrations: I make sure to use brand new decks of cards for my performances. In this case, the external impression is important, and you certainly don’t want to be associated with dirty props.

Use your cards for practice until they fall apart or no longer work properly for your purposes, and use new playing cards in top condition for performances and demonstrations. Then you’re doing many things right!

Bonus-Tipp: It’s impossible to completely protect playing cards from wearing out during practice. That can get pretty expensive. Fortunately, there is an alternative to expensive card decks.

Some manufacturers sell card decks that do not meet their internal quality standards. Usually, these decks have ink stains or are not perfectly centered when printed. However, this doesn’t matter when practicing, as the quality of the cards for handling is exactly the same.

For example, I regularly buy “Bicycle seconds”. They feel exactly the same to me as normal Bicycle playing cards, but cost significantly less. For your performances, however, you should use the right playing cards. 😉

Definitely keep them and don’t throw them away!

If card magic is your passion, there will come a time when you want to practice card moves that destroy the cards. I’m thinking, for example, of “restoration effects” or the “Mercury fold”.

You will then be very happy if you have a large box of old decks of cards that you can use without hesitation. Then you don’t have to buy new decks of cards that you’ll just ruin immediately. That’s good for your wallet and the environment! 🙂