I’ve done it. I have smallish old arthritic hands & a new deck can be difficult for me to shuffle - too stiff. Was it Dan Pellitier who posted how to do this long ago? To break down, loosen, the paper fibers, run each & every card over a table edge, top, bottom, each side, front & back, with one hand supporting the backside. It’s time consuming. I wouldn’t do this with an oop deck though. And some would *gasp* tea-stain them.

It was indeed Dan. I never saw the point, myself.

I remember reading about that technique. I'm too nervous to try something like that myself - the deck I have with the thickest cardstock is the Vandenborre Bacchus. I definitely wouldn't try it with an OOP deck.

 

Decks do feel lovely when the cardstock has softened a bit though.

 

 

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It was indeed Dan. I never saw the point, myself.

 

You would if your hands hurt from lupus & RA, especially with large cards, but a lot of people did it to make their decks look ‘older’, ie making them look more experienced. Regardless, I still like a well-used deck. I’ve trimmed so many decks to make it less painful to shuffle...some I was sorry for later because of resale value. So now I only do ones I won’t ever part with.

I remember reading about that technique. I'm too nervous to try something like that myself - the deck I have with the thickest cardstock is the Vandenborre Bacchus. I definitely wouldn't try it with an OOP deck.

 

Decks do feel lovely when the cardstock has softened a bit though.

 

 

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They do. I remember Griz’s Victorian Romantic was so well-used the cards were nearly falling apart.

I'd love to "soften" my Mary El deck, but I wouldn't dare try for fear of ruining the card stock.

I have such tiny man hands, it's quite difficult for me to handle or shuffle my larger decks. Embarrassing!