As a magician, your playing cards are the tools of your trade. As a card collector, you invest in beautiful decks that are true works of art. Either way… Keeping your playing cards safe and in good condition is a top priority.
The good news is that it’s pretty easy to look after your playing cards so they are ready to go when you need them. Here are some easy tips on how to store your decks like a pro.
Keep them in their box
Playing cards come with their own card case called a Tuck Case. Although these cases are often as decorative as the deck themselves, they have a valuable job to do.
Whatever you do… Resist the temptation to simply wrap a rubber band around your deck of playing cards and think that’s a job done right. The rubber band will not protect your deck from bumps and scuffs, and can also apply uneven pressure to the middle of the deck causing it to bow or warp.
Playing cards that are left out of their box and also take on moisture like a sponge. They are paper.. so need to be kept dry to prevent them from warping. If you lose their tuck box. Keep them in an airtight container to ensure they stay at their best.
Storing your playing cards in a card clip or card guard
The next level of card storage, and a must if you intend to carry your cards in your pocket through the day, is a good playing card clip or guard. There is a wide range of card clips and guards to choose from. From the basic plastic or metal clip, through to beautifully decorated and covered clips. They all do the same thing: Protect your cards from being dented from a drop, and keeping them pressed and in shape as you store them.
Playing card display cases
There’s a wide range of excellent playing card display cases and protective boxes on the market. These are often made from acrylic, perspex, or wood. As well as showing off your decks to the world, they are a great way to reduce dust, UV and humidity from going to work on your collection whilst on display.
Heat & humidity are your enemies
Keeping your cards away from excess heat or cold is fairly easy to do. Direct sunlight is never a good idea, as it can heat up the deck and also fade the colours over time.
The hard part is humidity. Store your playing cards in the driest and coolest part of your house.
Keep your card collection away from the bathroom and kitchen and make sure the area is well ventilated. If you have a large collection, you could even research using a humidifier in the same room as your collection. Whatever you do… Don’t store your card collection in a box in the shed or garage. You may have a nasty surprise when you open the box after a few years of storage in a damp area…
Have fun with your cards
Collecting cards is a fun hobby and can become very profitable if you manage to collect and store some rare and limited edition decks. However, it’s important to remember that they have a purpose… A reason for being. They’re designed to be used, spread shuffled, and played with. Rather than just buying decks and storing them away, play with them! Learn some card magic tricks to perform to show off your cards and entertain people at the same time! It’s their reason for being and it really is a great feeling to crack open a new deck…
Magic is an awesome hobby—and for a lot of us, the enjoyment we get out of it is more than enough to keep us satisfied!