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I’ll admit, when I got these cards, I was fairly shocked.

It might have been because of how “poorly advertised” they were. But with that aside, let’s talk in full about the Arcane Deck from Ellusionist.

The design of this deck, like most “exotic” cards on the market, have a one way back design built into them.

The feel:

This is something I had some “peeves” with. When I first opened them up and played with them for a few days, the edges felt sandy. It was almost like a low grain sandpaper. I should tell you that these are a little thicker than regular Bicycle cards. Moving on to overall feel of the cards. These don’t feel like normal Bikes. They feel a lot softer. Normal Bicycle playing cards have a very light oily touch. When you slide your finger across the surface of these babys, it just goes.

Handling:

These merit a very small window for opportunity in handling. Due to the edges and sides sticking together, you are left with nice clumps. These aren’t bad in normal card handling though. What I mean is for all my flourishing friends, if you do an elaborate 40 packet display cut, you will have an easier time doing it because they stick together where you cut. However, Sometimes when you are doing more “in the hands” flourishing where speed and fluidity is key, they tend to get a little choppy and blocky. So keep that in mind.
Design:

I generally don’t feel these types of cards look great in performance. I can’t really complain about the card faces. They look nice. Faded indexes and pips. Blood red hearts and diamonds. Silver spades and clubs. It adds a ghostly feel to them. Also, the court cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks). These are really faded and simplified. To add further design, smoke is going behind them. This looks INCREDIBLE. And lastly, the Ace of Spades….looked decent. So in wrapping up my design rant, these cards fit the role.

Other designs:

What does that mean? This means the Jokers and Case design pretty much. However, the design of this deck, like most “exotic” cards on the market, have a “one way” back design built into them. The 2 Jokers provided in this deck look really eerie. Each one had a Ghoulish creature creeping through the card in smoke. One Joker is actually a subtle card revelation. In fact, too subtle for practical use. Unless you are reading it up close, it might not be noticed in a real revelation effect. And finally, the case design. I wasn’t a fan. Too much unused space. You get the back design which is reasonable, and then the front is the design of the Ace of Spades. What I don’t like, is how prosthetic it looks. It just has a lot of wasted space all filled in with black.

For the overall review, I would say that these are worth your money if you are planning to use them for flourishing, or even just display. Sure they handle like butter (I STILL can’t believe they aren’t butter!), but they are hard to “understand”. On an overall rating, I would say a 3.5 out of 5.

Pros:
-Handle like butter
-Nice flourishing
-Stay together for ease
-Look catchy
-Thicker stock

Cons:
-Too complicated
-Hard to see in many places
-Sandy edges
-Smell bad (YUCK!)

So, what do you think about the Arcane Playing Cards? Leave a comment below.

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One of the major advantages that plastic cards have over paper cards is durability. Whilst a single deck of good quality plastic cards can cost a similar amount to the price of a brick of Bicycles, they will outlast all of the cards in the brick many times over.

Plastic cards are not suitable as a generic playing card choice for all magicians. Their suitability for you really depends on the tricks that you regularly perform.

I personally have been using a single deck of Copag branded cards as my only deck of playing cards for well over a year and they are still in great condition despite being used daily.

Don’t expect to be able to fan or spread them evenly, tear them or perform tricks involving crimps or bends, but for a wide variety of tricks, the cards are still more than adequate.

Whilst using plastic cards as your main weapon of choice may not be for you, if you were to save your paper cards for performance situations only, you can save a lot of money by practicing with plastic cards because you won’t have to spend your hard-earned cash on new packs of playing cards anywhere near as frequently.

I have tried a few brands out and “Copag” seems to be one of the best of all the brands of plastic cards that I have used so far. They handle reasonably well, they retain their shape even after continued use and don’t have a strange smell or suffer from the ink coming off like some of the other cards that I have tried.

I used to perform in a bar and one of the great advantages of plastic cards is that if they get covered in beer they can simply be wiped dry and you are good to go!

Another cool thing I noticed is that if you draw on the cards with a dry erase marker, you can simply erase the drawing after your performance by wiping it off with a damp cloth. Lastly, if they cards start to look grubby – just wash them and they are as good as new!

In summary the plastic cards:

• Are waterproof
• Are washable.
• Can last for years of continued use.
• Are not stained easily. (Most stains can simply be be wiped off.)
• Retain their shape even if bent.
• Can save you money if used as your main deck or as a practice deck.

I’d be interested to know of anyone else’s views on plastic playing cards and their experiences with other brands. Just drop a comment below!

- John Harrower

Before beginning, let me say that I’ve been friends with Titanas for a few years, with that said, that gives nothing to my thoughts on this effect – Assuming it was made by someone completely different, the review would remain the same!

So, that’s outta the way…

TITAN’S FINGER What’s the effect?

Well, quite simply, you are to POP your finger out of the joint and twist it 180 degrees, letting the screams and shock die down, you then proceed to reverse the action!

The method itself is a GENIUS application of an older concept, there is NOTHING on your fingers, the gimmick it’s self is hardwearing and will last a long time, no refills, no pipe dreams, just pure workable magic. You can’t go wrong with a “Paul Harris Presents” product, and this is no exception.

“Simple, direct, and impossible – Just the way I like it!”

I gigged this the first day I got it through the post and it’s lived in my pocket since.

Fantastic effect, it’s a killer trick that has people squirming in their seats!

-Dee Christopher

How many magic books do you read a month?

I do read a lot and always carry a copy of the Expert at the Card Table in my suitcase but I am also a geek and love gadgets of any kind, specially those that don’t run out of batteries.

I’ve been checking out all those new ebook readers out there like the Kindle, the nook and the sony ones but they are still a bit expensive and with all the great magic books already in my library I think I will have to let them go, for now…

I saw this thing the other day and though it would be an awesome addition to the “stupid-things-you-end-up-dumping-or-losing-anyway” box that I keep under my bed so I decided to buy a bunch of them to give them away as holiday gifts to my friends and family to encourge them to pick up reading again. Not the kind of books like the Twilight saga but more like, at least, Stieg Larsson’s novels.

Here is the “Thumb Thing” a book holder that makes your reading experience more fun. And I found it for a dollar at Dealextreme, shipping includded of course: Convenient Thumb Thing Book Holder (21mm Diameter)

The Thumb Thing

Thumbthing

A brilliant new invention for
reading books – it makes
reading more comfortable.

Also use it as a bookmark.

Ideal for reading in bed, or in
the bath or on the beach.
Great for commuters.

Everybody will want one,
everyone should have it.

‘look mom, one hand only!’

You might find it a bit stupid at first but I have to tell you that everyone that I’ve shown it loved it and asked for one. I’ve ordered another dozen… Damn, I should start to consider reselling them for 2 bucks.

Hehe.

This is the way to transport your playing cards. Used by professionals all over the world and the best-selling and most heralded accessory of its kind, the Pro Carrier is a case for all your close-up items.

Not only does it have a pocket for your deck (with deck clamp if you like), but it has an exterior window for business cards and an interior window for your favorite packet trick. It has two additional storage pockets for extra cards or predictions, and a zippered coin purse that will store up to four half-dollars. It has loops for your belt or will fit comfortably in your pocket, and it is made of soft, fine leather.

This is the classiest way we know of to transport your cards and coins, and it’s available at an attractive price.

Get it with the Cardfolio bundle for just $40 and save $10, that’s an awesome

20% Discount

This is an hilarious review by ReviewXCM on the cards, if you don’t get some after watching this video then you have some serious problems

Here is a nice 20% off deal on the most famous Ellusionist custom playing cards, the Black Tiger, Tally-Ho Viper and Ghost.

12 decks would normally go for $80 at Ellusionist, use this link and get them for only $63,90. Ellusionist Deck Bundle

20% Discount