Question on cleaning Kem cards, lost the soft feel. (1 Viewer)

[Dispo96]

On this website here for Kem's it says if they are sticky use talcum powder in a bag.

http://www.kemcards.net/kem-cleaning

Are you shaking all the cards at once or one at a time? How much do you have to wipe off after? I have two decks of Kem's and they are starting to not be quite as "slick" anymore, they kind of stick together when trying to deal, wondering if I can get a good way to slick em up again.

Side note, they haven't started curling and they are well in to 5+ years old now so I'm happy. :happy:

 

[RocAFella1]

@Old State

 

[Old State]

On this website here for Kem's it says if they are sticky use talcum powder in a bag.

http://www.kemcards.net/kem-cleaning

Are you shaking all the cards at once or one at a time? How much do you have to wipe off after? I have two decks of Kem's and they are starting to not be quite as "slick" anymore, they kind of stick together when trying to deal, wondering if I can get a good way to slick em up again.

Side note, they haven't started curling and they are well in to 5+ years old now so I'm happy. :happy:

I had a heavily used deck from 2003 that I retired a long time ago but they never got sticky so I never tried the talcum powder. I just reordered a set of red and blue arrows to replace them for $20 off Amazon. If they lasted you 5 years I think you got your money’s worth and maybe a new setup would be easier.

 

[RichMahogany]

I’ve used a light amount of dish soap and a wet washcloth to clean about 20 decks of Kems with no issues.

 

[Dispo96]

@RichMahogany Like dawn dish soap? Warm or cold water? I'll try it tonight. I assumed it was the powder was gone or something.

@Old State One of the two is fine, the cards have no signs of wear, no chips, just not as slick... If they had any issues I would replace them, I have a few other decks but why not trry and pull them back to like new if there's a way?

 

[Old State]

@RichMahogany Like dawn dish soap? Warm or cold water? I'll try it tonight. I assumed it was the powder was gone or something.

@Old State One of the two is fine, the cards have no signs of wear, no chips, just not as slick... If they had any issues I would replace them, I have a few other decks but why not trry and pull them back to like new if there's a way?

The company recommends cleaning with a ph neutral soap and water. I would use a damp cloth and lay them flat on a towel. My biggest fear would be that they bow or even worse warp. After they are dry put them back in the box with a cut card and cheap white dealer button on top of each deck. Then close the lid tightly and store them like this. I store all my Kem cards like this and haven’t had bowing issues.

My other recommendation is that you need more setups (y) :thumbsup: I usually swap out 2-3 setups in a 6-8 hour session using both decks! I also have a lot of cards I like to get in play....

 

[Dispo96]

The company recommends cleaning with a ph neutral soap and water. I would use a damp cloth and lay them flat on a towel. My biggest fear would be that they bow or even worse warp. After they are dry put them back in the box with a cut card and cheap white dealer button on top of each deck. Then close the lid tightly and store them like this. I store all my Kem cards like this and haven’t had bowing issues.

My other recommendation is that you need more setups (y) :thumbsup: I usually swap out 2-3 setups in a 6-8 hour session using both decks! I also have a lot of cards I like to get in play....

Yeah, I don't charge anything for the guys to play here. I have a few other setups aswell but they love the kem's. I have 2000 Nevada Jack chips, looking for more of those here in Canada or a nice alternate chip for cash games in a good price range.

 

[Old State]

Yeah, I don't charge anything for the guys to play here. I have a few other setups aswell but they love the kem's. I have 2000 Nevada Jack chips, looking for more of those here in Canada or a nice alternate chip for cash games in a good price range.

Did you mean “change”?

 

[RichMahogany]

@RichMahogany Like dawn dish soap? Warm or cold water? I'll try it tonight. I assumed it was the powder was gone or something.

@Old State One of the two is fine, the cards have no signs of wear, no chips, just not as slick... If they had any issues I would replace them, I have a few other decks but why not trry and pull them back to like new if there's a way?

Yeah just a tiny amount of dish soap and lukewarm water. I wiped them dry with another cloth and they laid them out on a towel for a few minutes. Some of the cards were already slightly warped and I didn’t notice any extra warping from cleaning them this way

 

[DoubleEagle]

I saw a card room many years ago that had an extra dealer sitting at one of the tables cleaning Kem’s. He had two folded towels. One damp with cleaning solution and a second dry one to dry the cards. He would rub both sides of the cards on the damp towel and dry on the dry one. I don’t think he was having fun!

 

[BGinGA]

A quick alcohol wipe down is probably best, and quickest, since it would almost instantly air-dry.

And no, I don't mean bourbon, @detroitdad

 

[upNdown]

I've cleaned plastic cards, completely submerging them in warm, soapy water, giving them a wipe with an abrasive sponge, rinsing and drying, with perfect results. I've done this with desjgns and some obscure brand I forgot the name of, but I haven't done it with KEM's, so your results may vary. But KEM's are SO prone to warping, and I guess we generally assume that the warping has something to do with the humidity, so I really don't know if washing them is a good idea.
But I guess give it a shot? If they warp, buy a different brand that doesn't have warping problems - there are a few great brands out there.

 

[Old State]

The reason I’m hesitant on the washing is that I did this with Dal Negros I bought from Kardwell. They seem to be acetate similar to Kems and Cartamundi green box. They arrived with a stickiness brand new and you couldn’t even shuffle them. I was going to buy some card powder sold on Amazon but decided to wipe them down. The difference was amazing...accept they took a slight bow that I can get out.

 

[detroitdad]

A quick alcohol wipe down is probably best, and quickest, since it would almost instantly air-dry.

And no, I don't mean bourbon, @detroitdad

just poured me one. This might clean them

 

[DoubleEagle]

Do any cards other than Kems contain cellulose acetate? Interesting info in the Wiki.

 

[200 Motels]

Do any cards other than Kems contain cellulose acetate? Interesting info in the Wiki.

There are Cardamundi setups that are cellulose acetate. Green box.

 

[Old State]

Do any cards other than Kems contain cellulose acetate? Interesting info in the Wiki.

Yes, the Cartamundi “Acetate Casino” definitely do as they are labeled like that. I’m also 80% sure the Dal Negros I have are acetate. Reason being is that when you handle acetate cards long enough you notice them more flexible, softer and (for lack of a better term) rubbery feel.

PVC and other plastic cards feel...well like plastic. More of a brittle feel.

One thing about their marketing that I have found true is that acetate cards like Kem are much harder to mark and crease. Copags are the easiest to crease but I’ve seen DaVincis and the Geamcos Superflex Harrahs uses for tournaments (they use Kem for cash) pretty bent up and creased. The last tourney I played there I was able to guess the Ace of hearts the hand after I was dealt it by how it was bent. I mentioned it to the dealer and he said “I was about to change the deck anyway. I bet they kept them.

 

[Old State]

I’ve never used this stuff but I’ve seen it recommended

https://www.amazon.com/MilesMagic-F...qid=1533859816&sr=1-2&keywords=fanning+powder