• PCF is an eBay Partner. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

How to make acetate cards flat. (1 Viewer)

maxim_666666 said:
I didn’t notice anything like that. I was worried about it too, but it seems that the paint hasn’t been affected in any way. The cards just get small white dots on the face during play, but that’s normal and to be expected. It’s regular wear and tear from use. The same thing happened with any plastic cards I’ve had before.
Click to expand...
Actually, no! I did have Chinese cards (a copy of Japanese Angels), and the paint would smudge right before your eyes! Just like the color transfer on Paulson chips. :-)
 
NotRealNameNoSir said:
I'm very interested, thanks for your knowledge.
Click to expand...
I used 1.5mm (.06“) plates, wich is more than enough and easier to bend when larger.
1mm (.04“) would be perfect to keep all a bit smaller.

They don‘t ‚click flip’ anymore when you bend them.
Extremly nice to shuffle.
If you are a dealer, you will appreciate shuffle such cards a couple hours!
 
DoubleEagle said:
How did you bend the aluminum plates?
Click to expand...
If they are thin (about 0.5 mm), you can simply do it by hand. I once had plates 1 mm thick (I bought them by mistake), and it was very difficult. I tried using the edge of a table, but that was a mistake. The plates bent at too sharp an angle. I made a second set of plates and used a thick rolled towel instead. I rolled up a towel, placed it on the floor, put the plates on top, and pressed down on the edges. I try to work out occasionally, and my weight is 95 kg.
 
DoubleEagle said:
How did you bend the aluminum plates?
Click to expand...
maxim_666666 said:
If they are thin (about 0.5 mm), you can simply do it by hand. I once had plates 1 mm thick (I bought them by mistake), and it was very difficult. I tried using the edge of a table, but that was a mistake. The plates bent at too sharp an angle. I made a second set of plates and used a thick rolled towel instead. I rolled up a towel, placed it on the floor, put the plates on top, and pressed down on the edges. I try to work out occasionally, and my weight is 95 kg.
Click to expand...
The reverse should also work:
Exert pressure on the plate positioned between two thin objects.
 
maxim_666666 said:
I don't understand...
Click to expand...
A picture worth a thousand words.

You proposed this:
Screenshot_20241221_233316_Gallery.jpg


I was thinking about this:
Screenshot_20241221_233917_Gallery.jpg
 
Last edited:
maxim_666666 said:
If they are thin (about 0.5 mm), you can simply do it by hand. I once had plates 1 mm thick (I bought them by mistake), and it was very difficult. I tried using the edge of a table, but that was a mistake. The plates bent at too sharp an angle. I made a second set of plates and used a thick rolled towel instead. I rolled up a towel, placed it on the floor, put the plates on top, and pressed down on the edges. I try to work out occasionally, and my weight is 95 kg.
Click to expand...
It‘s easier to bend even when the piece is longer.
My plate was 12cm x 100cm
Bend before, then cut.
 
So, OP, if you're interested, I've got numerous setups of used bridge casino kem setups (from the late 80's), with varying degrees and directions of bend. Here's pics of one setup, each deck bowing different directions. I'll send you a setup free of charge, and pay the shipping, if you post your results here.
IMG_20241223_200959__01.jpg
IMG_20241223_200911__01.jpg
IMG_20241223_200919.jpg
 
While this technique works perfectly fine for Modiano acetates, you can not applicate 100% to KEM…

They are way more ‚delicate‘ and it seems they bend in the palm of your hand…
Fragile is not the right term, they seem super durable, but they behave a bit like hair.
It curls in humid environment…

Would like to hear @maxim_666666 opinion!

Maybe press them for a couple days(?) after the treatment do the trick…
 
I thik its time for card refurbishment services to step in....Love the hack tho!
 
GeeOhVee said:
So, OP, if you're interested, I've got numerous setups of used bridge casino kem setups (from the late 80's), with varying degrees and directions of bend. Here's pics of one setup, each deck bowing different directions. I'll send you a setup free of charge, and pay the shipping, if you post your results here.
View attachment 1438162View attachment 1438163View attachment 1438165
Click to expand...
I live in Germany, and it would be unreasonably expensive in terms of shipping...
Why don't you want to try making it yourself?
 
Trying this with an old deck of Kems. First shot didn’t work. They warped in various ways but I’m trying again.

The theory of using heat to fix heat induced warpage is slightly flawed in that most cards warp due to humidity and shuffling. You see this with Kems at casinos. Most of the time the Kem cards are flat when I play at a casino but every once in a while, you’ll see a deck that’s warped. Thsts usually when they throw them away or sell them online..

I’m experimenting with the heat as a way of resetting the acetate rather than fighting fire with fire so to speak. I’m not sure water heat is the way to affect Kems. It might be dry heat
 
Old State said:
Trying this with an old deck of Kems. First shot didn’t work. They warped in various ways but I’m trying again.

The theory of using heat to fix heat induced warpage is slightly flawed in that most cards warp due to humidity and shuffling. You see this with Kems at casinos. Most of the time the Kem cards are flat when I play at a casino but every once in a while, you’ll see a deck that’s warped. Thsts usually when they throw them away or sell them online..

I’m experimenting with the heat as a way of resetting the acetate rather than fighting fire with fire so to speak. I’m not sure water heat is the way to affect Kems. It might be dry heat
Click to expand...
lol, I ironed a couple of kems once to try and flatten them. I used very low heat and a paper towel in between the iron and the card. It worked, flat cards. They also shrunk about an 1/8 inch. Very noticeable in a different way in the deck.
 
I imagine the method for the Modianos Platinums dont work with the Kems because they use different materials? Kem has been around longer and uses an older process?
 
Phyffe said:
I imagine the method for the Modianos Platinums dont work with the Kems because they use different materials? Kem has been around longer and uses an older process?
Click to expand...
The cellulose acetate they both use are likely slightly different. I have to assume the material Kem has chosen leads to more to bowing. That said, Kems stock probably remains unchanged for other properties it possesses. I have to imagine casinos feel it’s extremely durable and doesn’t crease or mark as it’s the card of choice in every major casino in AC and Vegas…and many other places. I would guess they have 90+ percent of the market for casinos. I play mostly in Atlantic City, have played in Vegas at several casinos over the years, I play in Boston at the Encore when I travel there, and a few other casinos in PA other places. The only time I ever saw Kem‘s NOT being used was at a small tournament at Harrahs in AC around 2016. And that was only once. They were using Gemaco Superflex, but it was only for the tournament tables. All the cash tables had Kem cards.

I once asked a dealer at the Borgata how often they throw away a set up of cards as there are notes on their boxes. He said about once every week or so…..but they are being used and shuffled 24 hours a day 7 days a week. That’s likely several years for of use for most people.

Also, I have a setup of a Kems from 2003 that were used once a week for about 4 years. They are completely flat and stayed that way before I found out how to best store them. I hypothesized that the constant play and the oils from peoples hands kept the humidity out of the decks. There are a bit faded, but anre absolutely still playable. I retired them for sentimental reasons as they were my deck from the poker boom era. I also have 30+ set ups now! The deck I’m playing with now bowed and is from the year before the poker boom. I didn’t play with them as much as they were poker sized and I also took them down to a beach house a few times
 
Someone should try the method with 45 or 50 degrees water temp.
55 is perfect for Platinums and Guild cards.
But too hot for KEM apparently.
 
Just out of curiosity, can you use a heating pad instead of heated water to heat the cards?
 
Old State said:
The cellulose acetate they both use are likely slightly different. I have to assume the material Kem has chosen leads to more to bowing. That said, Kems stock probably remains unchanged for other properties it possesses. I have to imagine casinos feel it’s extremely durable and doesn’t crease or mark as it’s the card of choice in every major casino in AC and Vegas…and many other places. I would guess they have 90+ percent of the market for casinos. I play mostly in Atlantic City, have played in Vegas at several casinos over the years, I play in Boston at the Encore when I travel there, and a few other casinos in PA other places. The only time I ever saw Kem‘s NOT being used was at a small tournament at Harrahs in AC around 2016. And that was only once. They were using Gemaco Superflex, but it was only for the tournament tables. All the cash tables had Kem cards.

I once asked a dealer at the Borgata how often they throw away a set up of cards as there are notes on their boxes. He said about once every week or so…..but they are being used and shuffled 24 hours a day 7 days a week. That’s likely several years for of use for most people.

Also, I have a setup of a Kems from 2003 that were used once a week for about 4 years. They are completely flat and stayed that way before I found out how to best store them. I hypothesized that the constant play and the oils from peoples hands kept the humidity out of the decks. There are a bit faded, but anre absolutely still playable. I retired them for sentimental reasons as they were my deck from the poker boom era. I also have 30+ set ups now! The deck I’m playing with now bowed and is from the year before the poker boom. I didn’t play with them as much as they were poker sized and I also took them down to a beach house a few times
Click to expand...

That's a great point. The Platinums don't really crease much. Nowhere near Copags. I imagine Kems are even softer and less uhh creasy?
 
I don’t get why the plates need to be bent. Aren’t the clamps intended to bring everything to square?
 
Taghkanic said:
I don’t get why the plates need to be bent. Aren’t the clamps intended to bring everything to square?
Click to expand...
I doubt it has any real impact. I think it’s more about the heat resetting the memory of the acetate. I also think that the acetate is different from manufacture to manufacture. Kem definitely seems to be impacted by moisture the most and this will not work on them…I tried.

I also have to assume Kem keeps its formula the same for a reason…and I bet that reason is that Kem cards are very resilient to marking or creasing. Probably why they still overwhelmingly dominate the casino industry
 

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!

Register

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Similar threads

J
Are Cartamundi 100% Acetate No Longer Made?
Replies
4
Views
383
Jerome100
J
C
Cellulose acetate recommendations
Replies
12
Views
2K
Phyffe
P
MatB
Marked Cards - concerned ?
2
Replies
56
Views
2K
dizzyChipper
dizzyChipper
MinneMassive
Searching for a new deck setup for my games! Any suggestions??
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Old State
Old State
B
Gemaco Playing Cards (paper)
Replies
0
Views
256
b58
B
Back
Top Bottom