2 Problems with the Invisible Deck
I have two problems:
1. The roughing on my cards has worn out, and I'm not sure if I can make a homemade version because roughing fluid is really expensive.
2. What do I do if a spectator notices that when I put the cards away and then pull them back out, they're oriented differently in the case?
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Hey there.
Regarding problem 1:
You can check out this thread where roughing fluid was discussed:
https://magigram.com/es/club/beginners/la-alacena-del-mago-antiderrapantes-ceras-blu-tack-puntos-de-pegamento-y-cinta-de-doble-cara-1185/
I once made an Invisible Deck (just as an experiment) using hair wax, and honestly, it didn't turn out too bad. At first, it's a little hard to separate the cards, but they eventually break in... until, over time, the effect wears off, and you have to reapply the roughing. (I actually learned that last bit here in the club, haha.) Oh, and watch out, some waxes have a scent and leave the decks "smelly" (that happened to me too, haha).
Regarding problem 2:
I think this would be a problem if you plan on repeating the effect for the same audience. I wouldn't do it; I mean, I only perform an effect once. But if you want to repeat it, I think you should avoid that happening. What comes to mind is "misdirection" – directing the audience's attention elsewhere, so no one notices how you put the deck away or if you left a card reversed (because later it will be a different card that's reversed... that's a detail someone might also notice).
That's what I can offer from my limited experience; I hope it helps.
Cheers,
For grip, I use wax or spray from Asian stores. Matte varnish is another option.
Hey there! For Case 1, as @ricardorg2283 already mentioned, it really comes down to how much you think you'll use it—it might be worth the investment. For Case 2, I'm not sure if you mean repeating the Invisible Deck or using it as a deck switch. I wouldn't repeat the Invisible Deck for the same group of people. If it's for a deck switch, what I always do is know what card I have on the bottom of the deck I'm about to bring in, and then you set up the Invisible Deck to match. If you're unlucky enough that that card is face down, then I'd just bring out the second deck face down and go straight into a shuffle.
Hope that helps, all the best!
Thanks a lot for your replies!