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AsL Special user 680 Posts |
I've been doing (in the hands) faro work for about 13 years using Bicycle playing cards. Doing a perfect faro (with Bicycles) comes rather easy for me.
Though I hate to admit it, I recently decided to purchase my first pack of Bee playing cards (to perform with). I was surprised to learn that no matter what I seem to try, how I adjust my finger placements, how I shift the pressure while interweaving the two packets - I can NOT seem to do a consistent in the hands faro with Bee playing cards. One moment the two packets will weave together like butter, the next ten attempts it'll feel like I'm trying to manipulate two bricks of cement together with no hope at all. What am I missing?!? (A few notes which may be of relevance- I've always did top down faro shuffles. In regards to buffing the deck for faro shuffles, I usually begin my performances with opening a brand new deck and I've never had to do such with Bicycles. Perhaps I got too comfortable after initially learning the faro and I've picked up some bad habits...habits that are now hindering my efforts with a Bee deck? Any help is TREMENDOUSLY appreciated...) |
RS1963 Inner circle 2734 Posts |
I haven't used a Bee Deck in Ages. I'm not sure that you need to go as far as buffing the deck. But doing as Mike Close suggested running you thumb along the ends and sides of the deck a few times to remove any burrs that maybe getting in the way. I have seen some such as Bob Kohler run a new deck over their shirt or jeans a few times to accomplish the same thing. Try either of those things it may help.
Once in awhile I have to do one of those things with a new Bycycle Deck. |
ftlum Special user Roseville, CA 730 Posts |
Some decks just won't faro well, with variability even within the brand.
If all else fails, using an emery board will help-- bevel the pack and file the ends, then bevel it in the opposite direction and repeat. I think the technique is mentioned in Elmsely's books. |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
If they are traditional cut then you may need to turn the deck over and see if that works any better for you. That's always the first thing I try with a new deck when I run into problems. If not, it could be a paper issue. Like you, I've never had problems faroing bikes right out of the box. My last several bricks of bikes don't faro well at all. There's another thread here on the Café suggesting that USPCC received substandard paper from their supplier which is why the latest bikes aren't performing as per usual. Maybe the same thing is happening with the Bees.
In regards to buffing the deck, I've really worked that angle but in every case I've found cards harder to faro after buffing than before. It sounds like such an intuitive idea but my results are far different. Do any faro workers really get better results after buffing? I'd love to find out.
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
Kabbalah Inner circle 1621 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 14, 2014, Steven Keyl wrote: What buffing method are you using?
"Long may magicians fascinate and continue to be fascinated by the mystery potential in a pack of cards."
~Cliff Green "The greatest tricks ever performed are not done at all. The audience simply think they see them." ~ John Northern Hilliard |
MuscleMagic Special user 794 Posts |
Had same problem a long time ago, my guess is you got your bees either from some bad seller online or some local small store, they are fakes if they don't faro
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Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 14, 2014, MuscleMagic wrote: Not true, bad batches get by quality control all the time. They also apply much more stringent QC testing for "Actual Casino Cards" as opposed to Bees which are "Casino Quality" meaning (as far as I can tell after 20 + years of handling cards) the only difference I can see is slightly thicker card stock. Which is why I like the Richard Turner Gold Seal Bikes because they are "Traditionally Cut and made from Bee Stock". I would imagine wherever the OP bought them, it was a bad batch. Buy them somewhere else and see if there is a difference. (although the possibility exists that a playing card vendor supplies several stores in your area unless it is a big chain like Walmart or Kmart who order directly and in bulk. Good luck and don't give up on Bees, they have always been one of my favorites.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 14, 2014, Steven Keyl wrote: I have slanted the deck and buffed with a 4way nail buffer (the way someone pm'd me when I was looking at an old link with the vids removed from another thread long ago. I too have had ZERO luck making any difference by buffing. But the sides feel smoother (almost plastic). I was primarily trying to make it possible to faro the cards in one hand (sideways, as in a waterfall type shuffle and drop) but just buffing has not made my foro any better or worse for that matter.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Am I the only one who thinks it might have something to do with the lack of borders? I can faro pretty consistantly with a good deck like Aristocrats, Turner Bikes, Wynns, Tallys, Stingers etc. But if I grab an off the shelf deck of Bees or Steamboats, I struggle quite a bit.
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Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
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On Aug 14, 2014, Kabbalah wrote: Similar to Poof-Daddy's description, my technique is largely the same. I've got a 4-way buffer where I start gently with the roughest side and move on toward the smoothest. I've tried beveling the deck and other times keep the deck straight while buffing. The end result is that the sides are smooth as glass but when attempting a faro for some reason the cards are more difficult to weave smoothly. I've tried different brands of cards, 2 different buffers, and many variations on the techniques above but the result always ends up the same. If you have have some insight on how to achieve a satisfactory result, don't hold back, man! Out with it!
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 15, 2014, Poof-Daddy wrote: Looks like you and I have watched the same videos
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 15, 2014, Steven Keyl wrote: Actually, I never saw a video. I believe the thread was a Youell thread? the vids were all removed but someone PM'd me the basics of it. Made sense to me so I tried. Smooth as glass, but no help. I still buff them from time to time just because the cards feel nicer in my hands but that is simply aesthetics. And YES... If someone knows a better was. Please share.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
splice Inner circle Canada 1246 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 14, 2014, AsL wrote: This is why. A good number of Bee decks you'll find are cut the opposite way from Bicycle decks. This doesn't really make a visible difference in the end product, but you feel it when you try to faro. To confirm this, turn the Bee deck face up and try to faro it. If you can faro it fine, you've confirmed that this is what's holding you up. The solution would be to learn to faro bottom-up, or buff the deck so that the edges of the cards aren't as sharp any more. Of course, you could also just faro them face up, if that's something that fits what you want to do with it. |
Kabbalah Inner circle 1621 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 15, 2014, Steven Keyl wrote: The method that works for me is the Wesley James technique Breaking In The Cards that can be found in his volume Enchantments. It involves Downy fabric softener!
"Long may magicians fascinate and continue to be fascinated by the mystery potential in a pack of cards."
~Cliff Green "The greatest tricks ever performed are not done at all. The audience simply think they see them." ~ John Northern Hilliard |
Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 15, 2014, Kabbalah wrote: Which explains why your cards always smell springtime fresh!
Cheers,
Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
That's a book that been sitting in my "I really need to get this book" list for a long time. That may have sealed the deal. So, just to clarify, you're saying that you definitely can faro more easily after using this technique, yes?
If so, I'll take the plunge and get the book.
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
darksage New user 72 Posts |
I never realized that turning the cards over could make a difference in how the cards faro. It did make a difference with one of my decks. Thanks!!!
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workers » » I can NOT faro Bee playing cards - What am I missing? (1 Likes) |
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