Flattening Warped KEMs (5 Viewers)

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I'm about to start experimenting. I see a number of ideas on the blue wall that involve heat, refrigeration, pressure, etc., but let's kick this off by hearing from anyone who already has a chosen method that works.
 
Haven’t found a way. The key is to not let them get warped in the first place. Store them upside down with a cut card and dealer button on top.

Also, for the record, Kems aren’t the only card that bows. I have Gemaco Superflex, Cartamundi Acetates, Gemaco 5 Star, and Dal Negros that all bowed. I have also play with bowed Modianos owned by another person.
 
I love my KEM's. I also love my COPAG's, so take my input with a grain of salt. I got the above tip about storing them with a dealer button in the case on top of each deck from Old State. I have done that and no issues of warping so far.
 
I have seen KEMs come in one of two different types of plastic boxes: The cheap quality, loose type (lid has a rough texture, flat) and the solid quality, super tight closing type (smooth texture all around, deep recess in lid).

If you happen to have the latter, what helps me unwarp my cards is to simply store them in this box whenever they aren't used. Tighten the lid as far as you can and the cards are getting pressed together nicely. The cheapo version box doesn't work for this. If your cards are warped really bad, this can probably be combined with using a hairdryer on the lowest possible setting to not damage the plastic.
 
longflop said:
I love my KEM's. I also love my COPAG's, so take my input with a grain of salt. I got the above tip about storing them with a dealer button in the case on top of each deck from Old State. I have done that and no issues of warping so far.
Click to expand...

I actually started doing this with almost all my cards (all brands) since I first heard of it myself (can’t remember where) I found five packs of dealer buttons cheap on Amazon.

Nex said:
I have seen KEMs come in one of two different types of plastic boxes: The cheap quality, loose type (lid has a rough texture, flat) and the solid quality, super tight closing type (smooth texture all around, deep recess in lid).

If you happen to have the latter, what helps me unwarp my cards is to simply store them in this box whenever they aren't used. Tighten the lid as far as you can and the cards are getting pressed together nicely. The cheapo version box doesn't work for this. If your cards are warped really bad, this can probably be combined with using a hairdryer on the lowest possible setting to not damage the plastic.
Click to expand...

I think you are reffering to the actual Kem (textured) marked boxes vs the USPC boxes. I don’t think they use the the USPC boxes anymore but the rough Kem boxes I have close tight. the single deck Kems do not so I use a rubber band.

I haven’t found that any amount of pressure with take the bow out once it’s set. You may luck out with light heating but it never worked for me. There is an article somewhere on the Internet of a guy making a contraption to hold the cards together to place in a toaster oven. I think he says it works

You may be thinking “Is this all worth it?” For me yes as I believe the feel of Kems is so far superior and unique than anything else on the market. But it is highly annoying.
 
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Re: Storing your cards upside down. I have a two pack of KEMs. Both decks are warped and bowed - but in opposite directions. One deck is concave and the other is convex. I'm currently trying this method:

It's been about 5 days. I'll check them when I get home from work and report back. I don't have high hopes.
 
ilovegravy said:
Re: Storing your cards upside down. I have a two pack of KEMs. Both decks are warped and bowed - but in opposite directions. One deck is concave and the other is convex. I'm currently trying this method:

It's been about 5 days. I'll check them when I get home from work and report back. I don't have high hopes.
Click to expand...

Very hard to hear what was being said in the video. Was the method to just shuffle the cards with one-half backwards and then put them in the box for five days?

Edit: I missed the part about the card clip.
 
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I had KEM's that were warped and it never really bothered us. They were getting sticky however so I washed them in warm water and soap.

I set them all out on a towel to dry and they warped like crazy! Curled up into semicircle shapes. Though I wrecked them for sure. Came back a little while later and as they dried they flattened out completely! I was left with a clean, un-warped KEM's that were good as new!

3oxxz2.jpg
 
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DoubleEagle said:
Very hard to hear what was being said in the video. Was the method to just shuffle the cards with one-half backwards and then put them in the box for five days?
Click to expand...

Yes. I have one of the crappy KEM boxes so I stacked a few of cut cards and old gift cards on top of each deck in the hopes of keeping them compressed.
 
I've found that most curved decks arise from the way players handle their cards. My fix has been to always shuffle the deck four or more times with the backs down, and then one final shuffle with the backs up, and they stay flat throughout the evening. Ymmv, of course...
 
I've been told that a mix of very low heat+humidity+pressure can work but I've never had any good results. Be careful if you are thinking about using the hair dryer method as it doesn't take much to melt/deform the cards (I have tried & done this) :(. Once they warp they pretty much stay that way. Prevention and proper storage is really the only way to try and prevent them from warping to begin with.

I still believe (and others laugh at me for the opinion) that the product marketed for casino use is much better than the retail product (cards) sold to the general public. I have some casino card room used circle back decks that don't seem to suffer from the warping issue but again I've been told that is just a myth & ymmv. Other than the prestige of the KEM name I can't see any reason to buy/use them now days as there are many other good options for cards that don't have such a high maintenance factor & percentage of warping.
 
TheBigTater said:
I still believe (and others laugh at me for the opinion) that the product marketed for casino use is much better than the retail product (cards) sold to the general public..
Click to expand...
I'm expecting a MRFB full of of lightly used casino KEMs, so we'll see. Hope you're right :)
 
I purchased used Kems for casinos before many years ago (15?). They came very bowed.

I do agree that the Kems used in casinos feel more substantial but Kem denied this in an inquiry I made to them years ago.
 
DoubleEagle said:
Very hard to hear what was being said in the video. Was the method to just shuffle the cards with one-half backwards and then put them in the box for five days?

Edit: I missed the part about the card clip.
Click to expand...
I think he said something about storing them in a cool room with low humidity for 4 days. I’m not sure why he recorded his video in the back room of the sawmiill.
 
ilovegravy said:
Re: Storing your cards upside down. I have a two pack of KEMs. Both decks are warped and bowed - but in opposite directions. One deck is concave and the other is convex. I'm currently trying this method:

It's been about 5 days. I'll check them when I get home from work and report back. I don't have high hopes.
Click to expand...

It didn't work worth a crap.
 
Nex said:
I have seen KEMs come in one of two different types of plastic boxes: The cheap quality, loose type (lid has a rough texture, flat) and the solid quality, super tight closing type (smooth texture all around, deep recess in lid).

If you happen to have the latter, what helps me unwarp my cards is to simply store them in this box whenever they aren't used. Tighten the lid as far as you can and the cards are getting pressed together nicely. The cheapo version box doesn't work for this. If your cards are warped really bad, this can probably be combined with using a hairdryer on the lowest possible setting to not damage the plastic.
Click to expand...
I too have the solid very tight closing KEM box (USPC?) with the deep recess in the lid. I store my decks in this box when not in use, making sure the lid really snaps closed, and I haven’t had a problem...
 
I love the classic look of the arrow backs of KEM's as well as their Ace of Spades. I would love to give them a whirl for I have heard they are the best feeling decks money can buy but all the horror stories of warping just completely turn me off to their product.
 
Quad Johnson said:
I love the classic look of the arrow backs of KEM's as well as their Ace of Spades. I would love to give them a whirl for I have heard they are the best feeling decks money can buy but all the horror stories of warping just completely turn me off to their product.
Click to expand...

Store them as mentioned above and I think you will be fine
 
I've had mine for 15 years and never had a problem. I even bought some vintage Kems from the 50s and they're still good. Always stored them in the boxes when not in play. They are a little sticky, but look so good. Be nice if someone made a card that looked like Kems and felt like Modianos.
 
Klobberer said:
I've had mine for 15 years and never had a problem. I even bought some vintage Kems from the 50s and they're still good. Always stored them in the boxes when not in play. They are a little sticky, but look so good. Be nice if someone made a card that looked like Kems and felt like Modianos.
Click to expand...

2012-2014 WSOP cards. KEM aesthetics, Fournier made.
 
Klobberer said:
Be nice if someone made a card that looked like Kems and felt like Modianos.
Click to expand...

Umm... These might fit the bill.
http://www.playingcards.net/GUILD-Plastic-Cards_c_49.html

Reviewed by @Irish in this thread here.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/playing-card-review-guild.12814/

I strongly considered them and still may pick up a setup in the future, but they only have 4 different color backings total and I prefer my lineups to offer at least 6 or more. However I must say, I'm really fond of their KEM Arrow inspired "Arc and Arrow" backing that I think looks fantastic.

Next for me is likely a multitude of color decks of the Desjgn cards as soon as SWMBO is over my buying extravaganza from the last 3 months. ;)
 

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