Marking or Security for Dice Chips (2 Viewers)

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I will be unable to upgrade my home game set for a while, I have 1000x dice chips.

How can I mark or secure my dice chips to make sure that outside chips cannot be snuck into my home games.

The more cost and time effective, the better.
 
Offhand, I’d say maybe invisible ink and tell no one, but am sure others here can do better.
 
Drill a hole in the middle of them. Fast and easy. And if you use an odd sized bit it’s extra security as counterfeiters will have to work harder to find the correct size.
Standard drill would work? Do I need any special materials/prep?
 

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If security is your concern, I wouldn't play with an unsecure chip.

There is no easy way to make dice chips secure. Drilling a hole? Seems like a lot of work for 1000 chips, easily replicated, and it makes your chips look like shit. Don't forget to avoid the metal insert.

You can't add a label, because there is no recess.

You could stamp, but unless you're using a custom stamp, it can be replicated. And using invisible ink? Not secure because you can't spot a fake until you look at it under a UV light. Assuming you are not going to do that when every chip is put into play every time, it'll be too late by the time you find the fake.

Dice chips are not a good choice for a secure game. They are only good for use with people you trust not to rip you off. And even then, they are a shitty choice from a playability perspective.
 
I think this is the least expensive way to get semi-custom chips

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...d-perils-of-cheap-chipping.29479/#post-546125

But to be honest it was way more work than it was worth and I still went for custom sunfly hybrids within two years.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...edition-2020-custom-43mm-sunfly-hybrid.50781/

You could just get cheap labels for your current chips, but without a recess, the added thickness of the label compromises the stack-ability of the chips (which is already limited with the dice chips).

I think permanent ink is your best bet for now (maybe there is some sort of custom stamp option too) if you are really worried about it , but I think if you are playing for money you are worried about, you should be willing to invest at least a couple hundred into semi-custom chips.
 
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I did search and there were a few threads on various stamping options that might merit consideration.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/ink-stamped-chips.23621/

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/what-should-i-do-with-them.53842/

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/stamp-chips-with-paint.43038/

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/stamping-chips.21482/

However, from a security standpoint, all of these methods are fairly easy to replicate.

A custom stamp is probably your best bet to ensure a unique mark that's secure, but at some point, you should just get custom printed chips, or get blanks with custom labels.
 
It's not very much money, but better secure than sorry. Looking to upgrade in the near future

I know this question may be personal, but think we need to ask what are the stakes of your game? Dice chips are worth about 0.10 ea. Is making every chip worth a dime and using single dollar bills an option? That's about as secure as anything else.
 
I wouldn't even bother. You're obviously not playing for enough money to make it worth your while if you can't afford to upgrade your set.
 
I know this question may be personal, but think we need to ask what are the stakes of your game? Dice chips are worth about 0.10 ea. Is making every chip worth a dime and using single dollar bills an option? That's about as secure as anything else.
I wouldn't even bother. You're obviously not playing for enough money to make it worth your while if you can't afford to upgrade your set.
There's around $2,500 max on the table for cash games, usually between $900 and $2,000 for $100 minimum buyin $0.25/$0.50 games with 9 players + dealer. Haven't had any trouble because it's always trusted long-time friends but can never be too safe.

For me, it's very much worth protecting ASAP but the cost of a new upgraded set is prohibitive and I can't splurge right now because I'm furloughed. It'll be around the Holidays where I'd feel financially comfortable spending non-insignificant money on chips but we'll definitely be trying to get in a few games before that happens (circumstances permitting).

I'm looking into custom permanent ink stamps in the interim and very much appreciate all of your valuable feedback
 
A permanent ink stamp is probably your best bet, although printing a unique design on cheap paper labels would also be a good choice. It's true that dice chips have no recess, but with slippery dice chips, having a paper-to-paper interface will actually improve their stackability and performance, not hinder it.

Excessive wear on the labels will eventually become an issue, but you'll have a new set by then.
 
I misread the OP, edited.

A cheap sticker with a basic design should work well. If you're thinking of not upgrading until December, best to bide your time, and yes, save up!
 
For me, it's very much worth protecting ASAP but the cost of a new upgraded set is prohibitive and I can't splurge right now because I'm furloughed. It'll be around the Holidays where I'd feel financially comfortable spending non-insignificant money on chips

Good, because the truth is you shouldn't rush into this purchase either.

Between now and December, do you homework, get samples, look at other custom designs.

I didn't go this way because I had my heart set on hybrids, but semi-custom ceramics at @ABC Gifts and Awards (also runs brpropoker) are the easiest way to get secure chips and a good deal at 70/rack. (Also he's in northern California himself, I believe.)

There are other options too. You are right to figure you need to do something for the amount of money you have in play. Hopefully you find an ink solution that will work short term.

Good luck.
 
There's around $2,500 max on the table for cash games, usually between $900 and $2,000 for $100 minimum buyin $0.25/$0.50 games with 9 players + dealer. Haven't had any trouble because it's always trusted long-time friends but can never be too safe.

For me, it's very much worth protecting ASAP but the cost of a new upgraded set is prohibitive and I can't splurge right now because I'm furloughed. It'll be around the Holidays where I'd feel financially comfortable spending non-insignificant money on chips but we'll definitely be trying to get in a few games before that happens (circumstances permitting).

I'm looking into custom permanent ink stamps in the interim and very much appreciate all of your valuable feedback

Just play with cash then. Make all chips worth $1 or some standard amount. Don't use any $25 chips or $100 chips and people won't have incentive to steal. Use cash for $20s and $100s. Problem solved. But you can get a nice playable set of customs for just a few hundred dollars.

I hope you're not playing right now though. Your hospital bills are likely to exceed your chip budget if so. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
 
I have not thrown away my dice chips, but rather had labels successfully applied to them. Honestly.:LOL: :laugh:
I intend them as rural travel set (beach bars, mountain huts etc).
It could have been more expensive and extravagant getting a better, dedicated rural set.
 
You could try and get some letter punches and stamp them into your chip. Find an odd font that someone would really have to look for. Use a hammer and ta-da.
Nice idea, but guaranteed to create spinners without subsequent work.
 

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