Cards that work well in Shuffletech (1 Viewer)

[TankingRowlet]

Looking for any impressions on cards being used in Shuffletech home games.

Been running FS 3.0s in there with some mixed success, sometimes will run well for an hour and then sometimes will jam a couple times in a row.

Has anyone gotten better results with other cards?

 

[mtnvalleylover]

I use Faded Spades with great success. Rarely jams. Kem work but jam a little more often. Also cleaning the rollers helps

 

[JackDeRke]

From all my trial and error any cards which are "harder" work better. Most important was for me to make sure the card retaining arms (which move out to the sides) do not get stuck as that screws heavily with the maschine.

Best cards this far were FS3.0s and the cheap Amazon "Bullets". So for right now FSs are used when it is a higher staked game and Bullets are used for standard and tourneys.
I suppose the FS2.0 could have been better as they are even harder. I only ever had them in hand as bridge size so I was not able to try.

There once was a thread trying card hardness. I think the FS2.0 were close to the hardest on there. If you find something that works better let me know.

Little Add on.
I have washed cards in the past, as people had gotten them dirty with food on fingers and stuff like that. After they had been washed with a degreasing soap they seemed to be even more slippery. The usually run really well for a few hours after that and then get worse over time.
Switching decks more often also seems to yield some benefit.

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

Just about every brand will work as long as they're not super slick or bent.
But to answer your post, Faded Spade.

The World Poker Tour version have by far worked the best for me. (Sample size around 10 sessions/no jams) Faded Spade 2.0>3.0 & the FSX I used last time had a few jams in a row. (Possible something got on them as they seem just like the WPT versions) I've also used Bridge sized FS with great success.

 

[BPTDirector]

Last night I used Broken arrow poker size jumbo with absolutely zero problems. Give them a try.

 

[RocAFella1]

I've also used Bridge sized

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

 

[Machine]

Q: Can I use Poker or Bridge sized cards?

A: While our shuffler accommodates both Poker and Bridge sized cards, we recommend using poker-sized cards for optimal performance. Bridge cards can also be used, but they may experience a higher frequency of jamming.

Q: Does the shuffler work with high-quality cards such as Copag, Kem, Del Negro, and Gemaco?

A: Yes, our Shuffle Tech shuffler is compatible with high-quality cards from reputable brands such as Copag, Kem, Del Negro, and Gemaco. You can enjoy the benefits of our shuffler with these premium cards.

 

[RocAFella1]

View attachment 1402496

I've also used Bridge sized

 

[jamesjkim]

I’ve had bad experiences with bridge in my ST including Faded Spades.

 

[RocAFella1]

I’ve had bad experiences with bridge in my ST including Faded Spades.

Seriously though Copag, Fournier, Da Vinci, Modiano and Justin cards work pretty well. Old KEM not at all.

 

[jamesjkim]

I wish

 

[Machine]

Every time I use Faded Spade they get stuck

 

[RocAFella1]

Every time I use Faded Spade they get stuck

View attachment 1402512

Is that their new v32.5 with flexi-memory and self-cleaning technology?

 

[tabletalker7]

Fournier 2818.

 

[TankingRowlet]

Thanks for insights, going to try some more "flat" cards.
Any brands out there with 4-color other than Faded Spade and Copag? I'm partial to these since my groups are all fans of 4 colors.

 

[demonnic]

Thanks for insights, going to try some more "flat" cards.
Any brands out there with 4-color other than Faded Spade and Copag? I'm partial to these since my groups are all fans of 4 colors.

You can get 4 color Desjgn setups from chanmanpokertables.com, and they're in Canada which should mean decent shipping. I had to pass since the shipping was more than the setup for me.

 

[TankingRowlet]

You can get 4 color Desjgn setups from chanmanpokertables.com, and they're in Canada which should mean decent shipping. I had to pass since the shipping was more than the setup for me.

Damn, doesn't look like they offer poker size.
Maybe it's time to try bridge cards...

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Definitely worth a try, I like both. All Desjgn cards are fantastic.

Damn, doesn't look like they offer poker size.
Maybe it's time to try bridge cards...

 

[demonnic]

Honestly, the index and art on the card make a bigger difference to me and most of my players than the slight difference in width.

 

[Baldeagle9]

I know this thread is older, but how's everyone who owns a shuffle tech feel about them now? I'm debating on buying one. From what I've read, different people have had success with poker size cards, and others have said same about bridge size cards. Also there's different opinions on which brand works best, some say this brand jams a lot, others say same brand works best for them. Definitely conflicting opinions. Maybe it is just how well you clean the rollers? I guess my point is has shuffle tech made any changes or improvements that anyone knows of? Everyone who own's one still think it's worth the price? It's improved your home games, and increased amount of hands player per hour dramatically i bet, i have a few lets say delayed reaction players, ha ha Thanks for any info/advice given!

 

[tabletalker7]

I know this thread is older, but how's everyone who owns a shuffle tech feel about them now? I'm debating on buying one. From what I've read, different people have had success with poker size cards, and others have said same about bridge size cards. Also there's different opinions on which brand works best, some say this brand jams a lot, others say same brand works best for them. Definitely conflicting opinions. Maybe it is just how well you clean the rollers? I guess my point is has shuffle tech made any changes or improvements that anyone knows of? Everyone who own's one still think it's worth the price? It's improved your home games, and increased amount of hands player per hour dramatically i bet, i have a few lets say delayed reaction players, ha ha Thanks for any info/advice given!

I enjoy mine, but in the same breath I can say the quality control is garbage. At that price it shouldn't be a crap shoot whether or not yours works, especially brand new. As much as I enjoy mine, I can not recommend this product to anyone.

 

[Baldeagle9]

Wow, interesting. So yours jams that much? which obviously aggravates you having to stop a game and fix a jam numerous times a night that you wouldn’t recommend it. So how longs a jam take to fix? Seconds, minutes? The card or cards jammed trash after they bent? I will say I don’t own one yet obviously but I 110% agree if your paying $800+ for anything brand new it should work 110% of the time for a long while, you would think!!!!!!

 

[JackDeRke]

Wow, interesting. So yours jams that much? which obviously aggravates you having to stop a game and fix a jam numerous times a night that you wouldn’t recommend it. So how longs a jam take to fix? Seconds, minutes? The card or cards jammed trash after they bent? I will say I don’t own one yet obviously but I 110% agree if your paying $800+ for anything brand new it should work 110% of the time for a long while, you would think!!!!!!

I can only talk about mine and while it did jam quite a lot in the past it has gotten better over time. Making sure it is in proper operating conditions meaning relatively clean, all moving parts properly moving (I had one of the little holder arms which flip down from the sides to hold the cards down get stuck), then it works well. Many people consider it too loud, but I honestly thing that with some background music you stop realizing it is there quite quickly.

 

[surfik]

Cartamundi Belgium stock but they are not obtinable currently, they were literary made for shuffle machines

 

[Tonystark137]

Mine seemed to work the best with faded spades

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

I know this thread is older

Nothing has changed in the last 6 years with Shuffletech let alone the last SIX MONTHS as far as technology goes.

Like posted several times before the machine does very well with stiff cards that don't bow. Faded Spade version 3.0 are prone to a little bowing so you will have better success with their latest offering called FSX. Yes, other brands work well...mostly all except for KEM, a renowned brand that bows.

Aa far as jamming goes it rarely takes longer than a few seconds. You will figure out the hiccups easily along the way.

CONS:

PRICE. Yes they're expensive but you really have 0* alternatives unless you want to spend a lot more for an old professional model used in casinos. (I'm not gonna lie they're awesome & can be found here on PCF from members like @minedelta)

DEDICATED DEALER. While not mandatory it works much faster and smoother with a dedicated dealer. (Don't worry you can still play) I look at this more as a PRO than a CON as some people are really bad at dealing plus paying attention more to what's going on is definitely not a bad thing.

NOISE. Although subjective it's not as bad as people make them out to be. Putting it in a cart helps along with a conversation and or music.

REPAIR/the only real problem IMO. This is a newer issue. I had my unit for about 5 years and it had to be sent back twice. 1st time was under warranty but the second time it wasn't & that set me back over $100 with shipping. Both times I had the unit back within 2 weeks which was fantastic BUT I bring this up because I believe now the wait times are much longer which would be a problem for my weekly game.

PROS:

It's really awesome not having to shuffle. ShuffIng isn't hard or conplicated but some people sober or drunk can certainly make it that way. I think the biggest reason I bought a Shuffletech was because I was tired of teaching people how to shuffle so they wouldn't consistently show the bottom cards.

Quality of life for the guest players is ultimately what it comes down for to me. Personally I would definitely rather play at a game that has one than doesn't...by a large margin.

*le shuffler will be coming out at some point so maybe wait for that?

 

[doublebooyah85]

Love my shuffletech and I collect faded spades 2.0 and 3.0 bridge. I have lots to trade for and cash. Please let me know! Also…I have poker size available via trade…again, looking for bridge.

 

[rjdev7]

My shuffletech did not play nicely with my dal negros. Ended up leaving a bunch of black marks all over them! I think it might be because Dal Negros have that gritty feel to them vs. something that's super smooth like kem or Copag.

 

[ekricket]

Has anyone ever turned a “problem deck” over and shuffled it face up on one of these? I worked for a few years in a print shop and we cut large amounts of paper and vinyl for publications. At the microlevel, the paper tends to “slide” as the blade cuts through. So you end up with bevels on a lot of your lower levels of cutting stock. The width of the blade starts to push the cutting stack as it goes through it.
They don’t cut anything one sheet at a time. It’s likely dozens of sheets at once, and the blade had to push through all of them.

Point is, there can be a bevel. Some manufacturers cut face side up, some face side down. Maybe it’s this that gives you problems when the shuffler is trying to move the next card. Maybe not.