Where to buy china clay/faux clay now? (1 Viewer)

[Rakrul]

A friend of mine wants some (dirt) cheap chips with denominations and friends don't let friends use dice chips. I've spoiled him with Paulsons and CPCs at my game but that's way out of the price range so I figured china clays would do they job.

I know Apache sells them, anyone else? (aliexpress, etc is also out. Too much of a risk of what you're ending up with). Someone in the EU would be awesome but I don't know of many EU vendors.

 

[EpicAS]

If not Apache, then I think classifieds is the best value? Or put out a Wanted advert?

 

[Rakrul]

Yeah I'm noticing that Apache is sold out on a lot of denoms too.
All I've learned for classifieds is that usually people sell things there more expensive than the stores. I've seen people selling e.g. HSI $1 for more than what chip room sold them for - while chip room still had them in stock(!). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I suspect I'll unravel completely if I put a wanted ad up.

 

[EpicAS]

Yeah I'm noticing that Apache is sold out on a lot of denoms too.
All I've learned for classifieds is that usually people sell things there more expensive than the stores. I've seen people selling e.g. HSI $1 for more than what chip room sold them for - while chip room still had them in stock(!). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I suspect I'll unravel completely if I put a wanted ad up.

I think that's true on a lot of the more premium stuff (especially if people's thinking is that they are harder to acquire), but for China Clays or Ceramics or Ceramic Hybrids you can find very reasonable pricing. Did you have a budget in mind?

Also on a side note... I think there's a european vendor that may have some options... Pokershop.de or something?

 

[Rakrul]

I think that's true on a lot of the more premium stuff (especially if people's thinking is that they are harder to acquire), but for China Clays or Ceramics or Ceramic Hybrids you can find very reasonable pricing. Did you have a budget in mind?

Also on a side note... I think there's a european vendor that may have some options... Pokershop.de or something?

Thanks for both the input and the link. I don't have a budget, but I sent him to both Apache and the german shop so he can decide for himself. Asked him to get samples so lets see if he avoids the mistake many of us has already committed.

 

[Rakrul]

Btw, I guess I should clarify, are injection mold considered china clay or is it exclusively for compression molded? Either way both are fine.

 

[val316]

Are you interested in ceramics? Cash or tourney?

 

[Rakrul]

Probably not ceramics. Both cash and tourney, so denoms would be from 1 - 500.

 

[allforcharity]

Wanted ad here. Maybe somebody is ready to move on up the ladder?

 

[CrazyEddie]

Btw, I guess I should clarify, are injection mold considered china clay or is it exclusively for compression molded? Either way both are fine.

Clays are compression-molded, and all other chips (including china clays) are injection-molded.

 

[Rakrul]

Clays are compression-molded, and all other chips (including china clays) are injection-molded.

I thought these china clays where some sort of other manufacturing process than injection molding? I got these a while back to use for 2 table tourneys in company events, and it doesn't have the "nipple" that some samples has.

 

[BGinGA]

I thought these china clays where some sort of other manufacturing process than injection molding? I got these a while back to use for 2 table tourneys in company events, and it doesn't have the "nipple" that some samples has.
View attachment 797594

The injection point is underneath the label on one side, sanded smooth. Visibly noticeable on unlabeled chips.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Faux clays aren't made any more; they're a specific line of chips that were made quite some time ago and attracted a good bit of enthusiasm but have long since been sold out of any retail stores. If they were made today they'd probably be considered "china clays". If you want faux clays, you'll have to turn to the third party market, i.e. the PCF classifieds. You probably don't want them, though - they feel pretty nice, but they're very plain in appearance.

China clays are, basically, any injection-molded chip that is made to resemble a real clay chip in appearance, weight, and feel. They're definitely not the same as clays, but they're kind-of similar; some look and feel more like clays than others do. They're injection-molded but they don't have a metal insert.

There's been several different lines of china clay chips; many of them are no longer made and have sold out of retail stores, so to get any of those you'll have to turn to the classifieds. Examples include Spirit Molds, Championship Poker Series, and Progen 80.

Newer china clays are still being produced, or at least are still available in quantity in retail stores. Examples include Milanos, Majestics, and Royals. Apache is your best bet to find these; if they're sold out of something you want, you can maybe find them still in stock with a vendor on eBay or Amazon. If not, then once again you can try the PCF classifieds. They don't get listed for sale as often as clays, but if you put up a want ad someone may decide it's time to get rid of their china clay set and contact you.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Several members in the EU have recommended pokershop.de so you might try them. Check out this page: https://pokershop.de/CLAY-CHIPS - but note that of the chips listed there, only Majestics, Joker Casinos, and Milanos are "china clays". The others are plastic chips with metal inserts for weight. For metal-slugged plastic chips they're pretty nice, and you might like them anyway - get samples - but most people think they're too heavy and prefer china clays.

 

[Rakrul]

Faux clays aren't made any more; they're a specific line of chips that were made quite some time ago and attracted a good bit of enthusiasm but have long since been sold out of any retail stores. If they were made today they'd probably be considered "china clays". If you want faux clays, you'll have to turn to the third party market, i.e. the PCF classifieds. You probably don't want them, though - they feel pretty nice, but they're very plain in appearance. [...]

Yeah I had those. Bought a bunch of whites one and died them in different colors. Hard to get several racks with the same color though.

I just noticed someone calling china clays for faux clay so I figured the faux clay definition had faded out. Glad to hear it's still the same though. And thanks for the clarification!

 

[BGinGA]

Several members in the EU have recommended pokershop.de so you might try them. Check out this page: https://pokershop.de/CLAY-CHIPS - but note that of the chips listed there, only Majestics, Joker Casinos, and Milanos are "china clays". The others are plastic chips with metal inserts for weight. For metal-slugged plastic chips they're pretty nice, and you might like them anyway - get samples - but most people think they're too heavy and prefer china clays.

The Joker Casino chips are 9g injection-molded plastics with no metal insert, similar to Dunes, Desert Palms, Nexgen Pro, etc. -- and not china clays.

 

[Rakrul]

The Joker Casino chips are 9g injection-molded plastics with no metal insert, similar to Dunes, Desert Palms, Nexgen Pro, etc. -- and not china clays.

Injection molded but not china clays? So made somewhere else?
I remember the dunes chips from China and they felt overly plastic compared to the other china clays, but I'm guessing most of them have very similar (plastic) formula(?).

 

[val316]

This thread is another example of how great this site is...

 

[grindstone]

Yeah I'm noticing that Apache is sold out on a lot of denoms too.
All I've learned for classifieds is that usually people sell things there more expensive than the stores. I've seen people selling e.g. HSI $1 for more than what chip room sold them for - while chip room still had them in stock(!). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I suspect I'll unravel completely if I put a wanted ad up.

FWIW: I emailed Apache about their majestic line and whether they were/are going to get the sold out colors back in anytime soon. He responded (quite quickly I may add) that they are expected to arrive in the next month. Though I take that with a grain of salt, what with the global shipping delays and all.

 

[TheBigSteve]

Does Apache generally restock within what they say? I.e if a set is out of stock until November will it usually restock in November or does it usually take longer?

 

[superchromix]

Injection molded but not china clays? So made somewhere else?
I remember the dunes chips from China and they felt overly plastic compared to the other china clays, but I'm guessing most of them have very similar (plastic) formula(?).

There were multiple types of “Dunes” china clay chips. One was very light injection molded plastic (I think with “Dunes” molded into the rim). Another were china clays sold by the Chip Room, those were a bit heavier.

 

[BGinGA]

Injection molded but not china clays? So made somewhere else?
I remember the dunes chips from China and they felt overly plastic compared to the other china clays, but I'm guessing most of them have very similar (plastic) formula(?).

Most injection-molded plastic chips are made in China, and can be molded over a metal insert, or molded with no insert, or less often, using additional materials that render them 'china clays' due to composition.

"China clay" chips contain extra material components (chalk, silicates, etc.) that give the chips a 'less plastic' and 'more clay-like' feel, usually at the expense of duller colors and more fragile durability than non-cc injection-molded plastic.

 

[superchromix]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/looking-for-good-quality-clay-chips.15911/post-282331

 

[BGinGA]

There were multiple types of “Dunes” china clay chips. One was very light injection molded plastic (I think with “Dunes” molded into the rim). Another were china clays sold by the Chip Room, those were a bit heavier.

There have been 5 types of the Dunes Hotel/Casino golf course chips produced:

- 39mm Paulson clays, actual casino chips
- 43mm Baccarat Paulson clays, actual casino
- 10g Dunes 'Commemorative' china clay chips (imported by TheChipRoom), various edge spot patterns and round labels
- 9g Dunes 'Commemorative' plastic chips (imported by TheChipRoom), all with identical spot patterns and faux-shaped labels
- 10g Dunes china clay v2 (imported by ApachePokerChips), new colors and spot patterns on some chips

 

[Rakrul]

Thanks for all your input guys!
Seems like he needs the chips in 2 weeks time which leaves us with the pokershop.de.

When I check the clay chips, most of them have the metal insert. Majestic (expensive at €0.70), Milanos (only sold as sets with weird denoms) and Joker are left. They seem like the plastic dunes and they weigh 8.5g.
Then we have some of the cash chip sets, which are either ceramics or B6G copies I guess. The latter clocks in at 14g(!) so I'm not sure if they metal inserts as well.

I mean, it's great with options but none of them really knocks it out of the park. Or past the pitcher, really.

I think I'll loan him some for his upcoming game to buy him some time.

 

[BGinGA]

Any 39mm or 40mm plastic chips weighing more than 10g have a metal slug insert.

 

[Marius L]

Har du vurdert cards mold ceramics fra kina? Vet jo du sa at ceramics ikke var på toppen av lista, men jeg liker disse veldig godt. (bedre enn china clays imo)
Muligheter for eget design, men finnes også mange muligheter nå med ferdiglagde designs.
Her er mine. Veldig fornøyd med de. Eneste problemet er at frakten er ganske dyr, men chipsa kosta bare ca 24c/each eller litt mer. Bra verdi for pengene. Jeg betalte $295 for 1230 chips og $200 i frakt. Så litt over 4000,- norske for 1200 chips inkl frakt. Uansett hvor man kjøper chips fra i Norge, så blir det jo dyrt med frakt. (Shipping took just two days with DHL though, so that was nice)

 

[khp]

Har du vurdert cards mold ceramics fra kina? Vet jo du sa at ceramics ikke var på toppen av lista, men jeg liker disse veldig godt. (bedre enn china clays imo)
Muligheter for eget design, men finnes også mange muligheter nå med ferdiglagde designs.
Her er mine. Veldig fornøyd med de. Eneste problemet er at frakten er ganske dyr, men chipsa kosta bare ca 24c/each eller litt mer. Bra verdi for pengene. Jeg betalte $295 for 1230 chips og $200 i frakt. Så litt over 4000,- norske for 1200 chips inkl frakt. Uansett hvor man kjøper chips fra i Norge, så blir det jo dyrt med frakt. (Shipping took just two days with DHL though, so that was nice)
View attachment 797719View attachment 797720View attachment 797721View attachment 797722

I put your text through a translator. Can I please inquire when you placed your order? Your 24c per chip (before shipping) for an individual order might be a record on this site!

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

The Joker Casino chips are 9g injection-molded plastics with no metal insert, similar to Dunes, Desert Palms, Nexgen Pro, etc. -- and not china clays.

Also, these Casino Joker have a very low Quality Control compared to the Dunes Commemorative. I ordered a set of these Casino Joker for my god-daughter a couple of years ago.

 

[Marius L]

I put your text through a translator. Can I please inquire when you placed your order? Your 24c per chip (before shipping) for an individual order might be a record on this site!

I ordered way back on the first GB. Must have been sometime last year. Instead of ordering directly through @SeanGecko I sent the vendor a message and asked if I could get the GB pricing and using some of the GB artwork (except some minor changes), but have the chips shipped individually since I'm in Norway. They agreed and that's how it went.

I also asked them to hold on to my order after completion (many months), and hoping that shipping cost would go down, but that didn't happen and at a certain point I just asked to have them shipped through DHL.