Context on Paulson RHC dislike? (1 Viewer)

melocrit

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Hello everyone, still fairly new to the forum but I have managed to read through enough threads to notice that there seems to be a pretty outspoken dislike for the RHC mold. Is there any context/reason behind this? Is there some history or unspoken issue with the mold I am unaware of?
 
No outer ring, hat and cane very close to the edge of the chip so they are prone to flea bits, larger inlay which can affect the feel.
I like RHC. Better than nothing but the fact that THC exists and RHC is still used is likely the reason people are fired up. If the RHC mold was retired I cannot imagine people being upset about it.
 
RHC is indeed more sensitive, but I doubt this would come up as an issue in home use (assuming mint chips).
It sounds and feels "inferior", however to THC, which you can realise only after getting samples and, crucially, joining the lunacy here:)
In general, the larger the inlay area (as in RHC), the "worse" the shuffling sound. But judge for yourself.

It's an aesthete issue, similar to discussing Porsche 6 flat vs BMW 6 in line cylinder engines' sound, and how disheartening the latter can be if you 've been brought up listening to the former:LOL: :laugh:
 
Yeah, you should handle them and decide for yourself.
The first criticism I ever saw hasn’t really come up on my radar. There’s no protective outer ring (like the THC mold) and the hats and canes are very close to the edge - because of that, these chips are subject to flea bites. Personally, I haven’t seen it. I owned a set of casino used Cleveland Horseshoe chips, which had moderate casino use, and I don’t remember any flea bites.
My biggest complaint is just simply less exposed clay. To me, clay chips are all about feeling the actual clay, not the inlay. The RHC mold, with its wider recess just doesn’t give you a lot of clay to feel. And personally, I think this leads these chips to feel less like clay and more plasticky, as they age.
And I think a large part of the bias against the RHC mold is that it rose to popularity around the same time Paulson stopped putting lead in their clay and when they stopped offering textured inlays and shaped inlays. So, although these things aren’t the RHC mold’s fault, I think there’s an association there, or at least there is for me.
In my biased opinion, mint RHCs are fine. I don’t want them, because I focus on the older, leaded THCs. But they’re fine - I wouldn’t mind owning them. But it is also my opinion that worn, casino used RHCs suck. They don’t feel like clay chips to me and I don’t want them.
 
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I like RHC. Better than nothing but the fact that THC exists and RHC is still used is likely the reason people are fired up.
I own both, and I agree that I still like RHC. The Santa Ysabels are one of my favorite sets. but it is also true that because the hat and cane is so close to the edge that they are more prone to getting flea bites.

If given the choice of either RHC or THC, I would almost always lean toward THC. But that doesn't mean that there aren't good RHC chips out there too
 
To echo everyone else, you should get some samples of each and see how you feel about them in person before trying to form an opinion. Also, it's 100% okay to have an opinion that is completely orthagonal to 95% of the rest of PCF. Your chips, feel however the hell you want about them.

To provide some context these are two RHC top left, one hotstamped one with an inlay, two THC top right, one with hotstamp and one with an inlay, and then two CPC bottom right and two Matsui Emerald Bay bottom right(these are completely different chips than the rest of the ones in the pic as they are made from plastic and are not compression molded clay, just happened to be in the picture I had). A few things others noted as well is that the 'center' area of the RHC is much larger. You can do a larger hotstamp and put in a bigger inlay. You could use the same size inlay but you'd end up with something you see in the CPCs where you see the same size inlay in both but you have one where it's full and one where it has a ring around the inlay before the CSQ mold starts.

Some people want the chip to be more about the inlay, and RHC might make sense for that as you can get a bigger one. Some people it's more about showing off more of the chip color and the edge spots so THC makes more sense. Some people might not like the ring of space around a smaller inlay, some may not care. It's all about how you want your chips to look.

Wear and tear that others are noting doesn't bother me much, but again, all up to you.

Sign up for here: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/free-loan-of-paulson-clay-and-bud-jones-plastic-samples-especially-for-new-chippers-see-inside-for-rules.52550/ It'll help a lot to hold them, shuffle them, compare them.

Dave

Screen Shot 2020-08-23 at 12.46.53 PM.png
 
Awesome post @JustDave ! Let me add that if you do get samples, you should fondle them in a sensory deprivation room. I'm being serious... RHC and THC feel quite different. Go into a dark, quite room and feel both; shuffle both; stack both kinds...
 
To echo everyone else, you should get some samples of each and see how you feel about them in person before trying to form an opinion. Also, it's 100% okay to have an opinion that is completely orthagonal to 95% of the rest of PCF. Your chips, feel however the hell you want about them.

To provide some context these are two RHC top left, one hotstamped one with an inlay, two THC top right, one with hotstamp and one with an inlay, and then two CPC bottom right and two Matsui Emerald Bay bottom right(these are completely different chips than the rest of the ones in the pic as they are made from plastic and are not compression molded clay, just happened to be in the picture I had). A few things others noted as well is that the 'center' area of the RHC is much larger. You can do a larger hotstamp and put in a bigger inlay. You could use the same size inlay but you'd end up with something you see in the CPCs where you see the same size inlay in both but you have one where it's full and one where it has a ring around the inlay before the CSQ mold starts.

Some people want the chip to be more about the inlay, and RHC might make sense for that as you can get a bigger one. Some people it's more about showing off more of the chip color and the edge spots so THC makes more sense. Some people might not like the ring of space around a smaller inlay, some may not care. It's all about how you want your chips to look.

Wear and tear that others are noting doesn't bother me much, but again, all up to you.

Sign up for here: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/free-loan-of-paulson-clay-and-bud-jones-plastic-samples-especially-for-new-chippers-see-inside-for-rules.52550/ It'll help a lot to hold them, shuffle them, compare them.

Dave

View attachment 518330
Thanks so much! It's massively helpful to see the molds side-by-side on actual chips
 
Yeah, you should handle them and decide for yourself.
The first criticism I ever saw hasn’t really come up on my radar. There’s no protective outer ring (like the THC mold) and the hats and canes are so close to the edge because of that, these chips are subject to flea bites. Personally, I haven’t seen it. I owned a set of casino used Cleveland Horseshoe chips, which had moderate casino use, and I don’t remember any flea bites.
My biggest complaint is just simply less exposed clay. To me, clay chips are all about feeling the actual clay, not the inlay. The RHC mold, with its wider recess just doesn’t give you a lot of clay to feel. And personally, I think this leads these chips to feel less like clay and more plasticky, as they age.
And I think a large part of the bias against the RHC mold is that it rose to popularity around the same time Paulson stopped putting lead in their clay and when they stopped offering textured inlays and shaped inlays. So, although these things aren’t the RHC mold’s fault, I think there’s an association there, or at least there is for me.
In my biased opinion, mint RHCs are fine. I don’t want them, because I focus on the older, leaded THCs. But they’re fine - I wouldn’t mind owning them. But it is also my opinion that worn, casino used RHCs suck. They don’t feel like clay chips to me and I don’t want them.

I am with upNdown on this, I own plenty of RHC chips and yes I do like TCH much better, but the reason is the feel due to the exposed clay area. The RHC chip just has too much inlay exposed and not enough clay. The clay is the best part. Having said that, there are some very cool looking RHC chips that I would love to own. I am not an RHC hater, it's just not a fair fight between THC and RHC, it's THC all day every day. Having said that my non-chipping friends like my HS Cleveland tourney set the best out of all my clay options. The RHC vs THC means a lot to us but I'm not sure your average normo cares that much about it. They are usually like "cool chips man" no matter what I offer up.
 
Awesome post @JustDave ! Let me add that if you do get samples, you should fondle them in a sensory deprivation room. I'm being serious... RHC and THC feel quite different. Go into a dark, quite room and feel both; shuffle both; stack both kinds...

I came up with so many stupid little tests for each of them to compare. I put them on a book and turned the book to see how they'd slide off. I tried spinning the top chip in a stack to see which others would spin too. I picked them up and dropped them from an inch onto a stack of the rest of them. I have all of these notes I made for myself. Chips are so sensory to me not just in look and touch but in sound as well.
 
For me it comes down to aesthetics. THC, with its outer ring is just nicer looking. The drawback is their propensity to flea bites. On the other hand, the argument can be made that kinty RHC chips are great for labelling applications. But in their purest form, THC just loook nicer.
 
Like arguing the difference between an American muscle car and a Ferrari in my opinion. Both still better overall feel than other Clays as far as soft but durable. Plus hat and cane are classic.
 
I came up with so many stupid little tests for each of them to compare. I put them on a book and turned the book to see how they'd slide off. I tried spinning the top chip in a stack to see which others would spin too. I picked them up and dropped them from an inch onto a stack of the rest of them. I have all of these notes I made for myself. Chips are so sensory to me not just in look and touch but in sound as well.
Agreed! Yes, there's artwork and colors, too, but feel can play such a dominant role. For me, the most important tests are the stack shuffle, the splashed pot pull-in when you win, and the subsequent sorting of the chips from said splash pot.

Oh oh, 1 more big one: how do the stacks push into the middle. They have to slide, yet not come apart. And the coefficient of friction has to be juuuuuuust right
 
There is a lot of preference to THC chips on this forum. For relatively good reasons, but let's be honest also extremely nitpicky reasons. For new members reading this, just keep in mind that for normal people RHC chips are also great chips. They are after all authentic Paulson casino clay chips. However, given that the world's biggest chip nerds are gathered on this forum, only the best of the best will really get praised here. (and yes, I'm one of them.) But I just want new members to be aware that RHC are also a really great option for great quality poker chips.

But yeah, get a barrel of each RHC/THC and compare the feel and look yourself.
 
There is a lot of preference to THC chips on this forum. For relatively good reasons, but let's be honest also extremely nitpicky reasons. For new members reading this, just keep in mind that for normal people RHC chips are also great chips. They are after all authentic Paulson casino clay chips. However, given that the world's biggest chip nerds are gathered on this forum, only the best of the best will really get praised here. (and yes, I'm one of them.) But I just want new members to be aware that RHC are also a really great option for great quality poker chips.

But yeah, get a barrel of each RHC/THC and compare the feel and look yourself.

Yes, but @upNdown made a great point about casino used RHCs... They feel shitty, and don't hold up like used THCs. I think that's important. For home games, starting with minty chips doesn't cause problems, but not being able to tap into the used market because of feel limits the appeal of RHC.
 
I do however feel that the PCA Secondary $1 is an exception to the above. This chip stacks like a brick and it is the only textured inlay I’ve seen on an RHC mold.
 
I do however feel that the PCA Secondary $1 is an exception to the above. This chip stacks like a brick and it is the only textured inlay I’ve seen on an RHC mold.
Full of lead - that may contribute to their brickiness.
And there are actually more textured inlay RCH's out there than we realize. Go through a lot of RHC singles and you'll be surprised.
 
For me I can sum up the difference between both molds as good vs great.

RHCs are good but leaded, shaped and textured inlay THCs are great. Because my chipping funds are limited I try to focus on chips that I think are great.
 
As much as I don’t like that the thin sliver of clay above the hat on a RHC chip tends to break off (with heavy use)...I just cant resist chips with the giant inlay.
 
I probably echo some of the sentiments already expressed, but I would not say I 'dislike' RHC, but I certainly prefer THC. I somewhat dislike Paulson house mold, though.
 
There are a lot more RHC options these days which is nice. But I do prefer THC and card & pip (suits) mold over RHC.
 
Thread necromancy!

I just can't stand that a mint, never-played box of casino RHC has a fair chance of having flea bites because of the mold design. Just moving the box around might damage this questionably designed chip.

But as others have suggested...that could be Paulson's "accelerated wear and replacement plan" at work....
 

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