Help Fixing KEM Cards (1 Viewer)

BillyBear69

High Hand
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
62
Reaction score
51
Location
Los Angeles, California
Hi everyone I recently acquired a used KEM poker deck that was used at the Hawaiian Gardens Casino before the remodel. It has the old logo on it. It is super cool and really rare because old poker decks used in LA casinos are destroyed and thrown out and never made available to the public. I got this deck from someone who got it from a dealer at the Gardens. Unfortunately the deck is in bad shape. The guy who I got it from did not know anything about cards or how to store them. It is warped pretty bad and also feels "crispy." I looked around and didn't see anything about fixing warped KEM cards. I know it's a long shot but would love any methods or ideas to try to restore this deck. It's also perfect because my poker room has a tiki/hawaiian theme so these cards fit in perfectly. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2707.jpg
    IMG_2707.jpg
    145.6 KB · Views: 230
  • IMG_2708.jpg
    IMG_2708.jpg
    100 KB · Views: 212
Not much you can do. The "symptoms" are combination of wear off and higher then medium temperature.
Do you see signs like cracking ice or glass on the surface of cards? If yes it's result of temperature and sunlight. That is why you do not leave Kem cards in car during summer.
 
Ok the rubber band is off! Nope just inspected them oddly enough don't see anything like cracking ice or glass on the surface. Besides being warped and feeling crispy the deck looks good. Yeah could be that the guy I got them from left them in his attic. The only idea I have is to sandwich them between two pieces of glass and put them out in the sun
 
Seams that is pre USPPC KEMs. Good for you. All you can do is to try flat them. Put the deck between two smooth surfaces and add some weight on the top. May help but no guarantees
 
Ok I will try that. Should I put them out in the sun between pieces of glass? Or forget the sun and just put them inside between two smooth surfaces with weight on top?
 
No sun, no heat of any kind.
KEM cards are water resistant but sun and heat combination is their kryptonite.
 
Oh ok that makes sense will put them in the house then. Thanks for your help! Will let you know how it goes. I won't get my hopes up but would be so happy to be able to restore these
 
Do not expect to much from them. I belive they worth much more as collectable deck.
 
Yeah I'm not getting my hopes up. Yeah that's true it is pretty collectible. Not sure if any others even exist. The remodel of the Gardens was many years ago this deck is pretty old
 
I’ve tried everything with a couple of bent decks I have. No success. I now use them to play the memory game with my youngest child lol.
 
Thanks everyone! Yeah no matter what I try it seems like they are ruined forever. It doesn't seem like there is a way to fix warped KEM cards. Now I'm thinking maybe I can copy the design onto custom cards. I have other decks I love my 4 color faded spades deck I just really wanted to salvage this deck because of its design and history. Oh well thanks again everyone I really appreciate all the replies
 
Since these are not playable, maybe create a display with them. Something like a glass frame that you can hang on the wall.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom