You read that right. After all these years I now cannot separate the cards. I have tried three or four different lotions, but no luck. Does anyone have any surefire remedies they can kindly offer up fo this old geezer? It would be greatly appreciated.

You may just need to break the deck in a bit. Separate the cards and rub off some of the r****ing spray. Brand new IDs tend to need some TLC before taking them out on the street.

Make your own so you can rough the middle strip horizontally but leave the top and bottom strips intact. (Technically you could just rough the top 2/3 but then you'd have to make absolutely sure you're holding the deck in the proper orientation)

That way, you can spread by pinching the middle of the cards, and then easily outjog the named card by pushing it free with your non-dominant hand at the bottom and then keep spreading from the middle of the cards.

Yes, make your own. Get "Roughing Sticks by Harry Robson' from Penguin Magic. You get the roughing stick and a great tutorial on how to make an invisible deck in about two minutes. You rough the middle of each card as Leo suggested above.

This is Don Wand

When we get older are fingers are like ices skating very slippery they don't have the grip we use to have when we were younger.
Some magician's will use O'Keeffe's working hands.
It's a cream that helps you grip a little more.

I sometimes use Bard's Tacky wax just a very little dab on the finger tips will give you the grip we use to have. And I do mean a
(VERY LITTLE dab) and rub your tips of your fingers together.
If you fill your dab was to much take a dry rag and wipe off the excess all you want is just a little grip on the tips of your fingers.
Hope that helps I believe that's what you was referring too.

Best Wishes
Don Wand

Robson sticks are sold out. You might want to give Tracy a try:

https://www.houseofchuckles.com/#!/House......tegory=0

He also sells pre-made decks.

And much on resolving the "dry hands" problem can be found here.

I agree with the advice above about applying the "grip" in specific areas of the cards.
I have also found Science Friction to be much more manageable (for me) than R&S.

I had the same problem.

Bill Hegbli suggested wiping both sides the cards off on a towel one at a time through the whole deck. It helped a lot.

Using Quick sort $ counting tack helped too. A little bit behind your ear allows application to your finger tip a bit before the I. D. and you won't have to have stuff all over your hands for the rest of the show. A little mouse in your hair allows you to run your fingers through your hair to pick up a little traction when needed.

I felt like an idiot because everyone else did it so easily. Sometimes it isn't you, it's the equipment.

Best of luck.

- Mary Mowder

I should have said a gentle wipe of the cards, just to remove the excess.

Also I meant mousse for traction. A little mouse in your hair is better as misdirection.

-Mary

Just wanted to say that this remains one of the greatest trick deck tricks ever devised.

If you don't know it already, you can check out "science friction" from card shark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9o7MM9eMY

I don't use it, but maybe it makes the difference for you. I like to do the invisible deck with regular cards (always an alternative).