My thoughts on Tina’s and forum perspective (3 Viewers)

[Gunnar]

I’ve been thinking about this for a few months now. The community feels like it’s shifting—changing, and maybe even a little divided. There’s this growing sense that some people look down on others who enjoy more affordable chips, which makes some hesitant to share their own sets. At the same time I really admire people collecting and chasing real clay sets, custom, fantasy and historic.

I own a CPC set, and I love it. For the longest time, I assumed my next set would be either another CPC or maybe a Matsui. ( I like customs more than real casino sets) But something changed for me. I had a hard time accepting that change—it left me with this hollow feeling. When you’ve dreamed for years about owning certain “grail” sets, what does it mean when those dreams suddenly don’t spark the same excitement? Am I not a true chip enthusiast anymore? Do I still belong here?

Then came the day I shuffled a sample of the Web mold chips. Here’s a screenshot from that day.

I still love my CPCs, and I still think Matsuis are great. But the Web mold hit a different chord. We all have our own formula: price, function, feel. For me, the Web mold tilted the scale. I realized I could get 90–95% of the feel I love, with more flexibility in custom colors, for a fraction of the price—thanks to Tina.

Since then, the spark I once had for designing a “high-end” set just… faded. I felt a little empty inside, chip-wise, for months. That lingering question kept bugging me: why chase a set that costs 5-8x more, when I know I’d be just as happy or maybe even happier with something else? It didn’t help seeing people in the forum refer to Tina chips as trash or beginner junk.

So yes, I ordered Web molds. And honestly, I probably spent just as much time designing and obsessing over them as anyone would for a premium clay set. But I know most here won’t see it that way. There’s still this stigma, this tendency to dismiss Tina chips and laugh at the idea of them ever being HOF-worthy. But here’s the thing—just because the paint is cheaper, doesn’t mean the art can’t be beautiful.


Don’t get me wrong—I still hate when people copy others’ artwork or steal designs. That kind of thing crosses a line. It’s in terrible taste, and honestly, I think it should be grounds for an outright ban on the forum if someone’s clearly doing it. Respecting creativity and originality should always be part of this hobby.

But that doesn’t change the fact that you can create incredible chips—beautiful, well-thought-out, high-quality sets—with original artwork, even when using more affordable materials. There’s no rule that says amazing design only comes from expensive molds or big price tags. Some of the best work I’ve seen lately is fresh, creative, and proudly built from the ground up on a budget. Like the Dunes

Maybe one day I’ll feel that spark again and find myself chasing a legendary clay set. Until then, I’ll love my hybrids and everything else in my collection just the same. Lower production cost doesn’t make them any less special to me.

So next time you’re commenting on someone’s post—before saying that “only junk comes in stacks of 25” or that Tina chips are “just for beginners”—remember this: these chips are damn good. And for the price? Nearly unbeatable.

 

[BKisback]

I haven't handled them but agree with you that customs are great. In short, I think people should buy what makes them happy.

 

[upNdown]

I'm with you, but.
I've tried really hard lately not to crap on other people's chips, yet when I saw that post this morning, I almost made a similar reply about junk coming in rolls of 25. You're right about the community shifting and changing. One change I've noticed is that PCF is becoming a signpost for tina chips. Seems like a huge proportion of the posts I see lately are new people either asking how to get tina chips or asking how to get china clays, because they think that's what tina chips are called. It can be frustrating because this community is so much more than an info booth for Tina. And this is coming from somebody who's spent a lot of time explaining to people how this hobby has a steep learning curve, but encouraging them to dive into PCF and read and learn. But it seems like these days, there's a huge influx of new people who just want to know how to get their cheap tina chips. It's gotten tiring.

The post from this morning was from a guy who joined yesterday, who wanted 4 x 25 racks "since most chips come in rolls of 25." There was a time on PCF when "only junk comes in stacks of 25" was pretty much the truth. Yeah, times have changed and that's why I didn't snap back at him. But I'll be honest with you, I miss the old times, when the majority of the traffic on PCF wasn't about people buying cheap Chinese chips, which are more often than not either knockoffs or straight up copies.

 

[Taghkanic]

I do think the advent of Tinas is a sea change in chipping.

Or really, it’s the way PCFers have pushed Tina’s company to produce what chippers want.

 

[ChipFinderSK]

Probably just the natural cycle of chipping, unless you have lots and lots of money to chase grails. I know several OG chippers who have sold off some of their nicer clay sets and bought Tinas.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I designed a custom CPC set over a year ago. Needed a few things to come together for the right time to order it. Then the hybrids started hitting, and I thought "do I really want to spend $8K on large a custom set that I can do for under $1500 in hybrids?" I'm hoping to have a dedicated poker space soon, and eventually want to be able to host two tables for cash games. I already have 3 clay sets, two single table cash sets and a two table Paulson tournament set. But for my personal poker room, I also want a custom house cash set. I suppose I could sell one or two of the clay sets. But I love them too.

I have Tina's too, a couple of old cards mold sets. Honestly, if they could figure out how to get rid of the injection pips, it would make this a no brainer. It's really the only thing I don't like about Tina's. Well, I also don't love the labels so I would probably get them without and put Gear labels on them. Almost doubling the cost!

 

[Taghkanic]

I do think the advent of Tinas is a sea change in chipping.

Or really, it’s the way PCFers have pushed Tina’s company to produce what chippers want.

The first time I handled some (relatively early) Tina’s I was like, Whoa, boy, this may be a game changer.

And that was before most of the cooler molds and textures were created.

If “Tina” could be cajoled into tinkering a little with their formula, it could spell a real end to chipping fixations on Paulson and CPC. Make them just a little more sandy- and buttery-feeling, then look out.

 

[Gunnar]

I'm with you, but.
I've tried really hard lately not to crap on other people's chips, yet when I saw that post this morning, I almost made a similar reply about junk coming in rolls of 25. You're right about the community shifting and changing. One change I've noticed is that PCF is becoming a signpost for tina chips. Seems like a huge proportion of the posts I see lately are new people either asking how to get tina chips or asking how to get china clays, because they think that's what tina chips are called. It can be frustrating because this community is so much more than an info booth for Tina. And this is coming from somebody who's spent a lot of time explaining to people how this hobby has a steep learning curve, but encouraging them to dive into PCF and read and learn. But it seems like these days, there's a huge influx of new people who just want to know how to get their cheap tina chips. It's gotten tiring.

The post from this morning was from a guy who joined yesterday, who wanted 4 x 25 racks "since most chips come in rolls of 25." There was a time on PCF when "only junk comes in stacks of 25" was pretty much the truth. Yeah, times have changed and that's why I didn't snap back at him. But I'll be honest with you, I miss the old times, when the majority of the traffic on PCF wasn't about people buying cheap Chinese chips, which are more often than not either knockoffs or straight up copies.

I think this is a very valid point. The forum is changing, and you’re right—it has so much more to offer than just Tina chips. But maybe it helps to look at it like a community of race car enthusiasts.

There are folks here who are all about the history—the vintage builds, the prestige models, the legendary brands. They love the Ferraris, the McLarens, the rare, iconic cars that shaped the sport. And then there’s the general public, who just love speed, engines, and the thrill of racing. Sometimes, that comes in the form of go-karting.

Now, someone who wants to go fast and experience the fun isn’t likely to buy a Ferrari. They can admire it, dream about it, maybe even work toward it. But in the meantime, they might build one hell of a go-kart—customized, tweaked, and tuned with passion, effort, and every spare dollar they’ve got. That go-kart becomes their way of racing, their way of living the dream on their own terms. And in spirit? It’s their Ferrari.

But—and this is important—I still hate when people copy other people’s work. A fake Ferrari wouldn’t be accepted in a serious racing community, and it shouldn’t be here either. Just because someone can make a knockoff doesn’t mean they should. It’s a slippery slope, and it disrespects the creativity and effort that goes into original designs—whether they’re made with clay or plastic.

That said, the growing love for Tina chips shouldn’t overshadow the beauty, prestige, or history of rare and expensive chips. They both have their place. They can and should coexist. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a Ferrari or a go-kart—what matters most is the passion behind the build.

 

[Baldeagle9]

Everyone's making great points here, all well said and are making total sense, I'm too new to comment on what I see here, but mostly good stuff, good people!!! I'm learning a lot everyday by reading different threads. No one has put me down, or yelled at me yet for not knowing something, so so far so good!!!

 

[BarrieJ3]

I only found/came to/utilized PCF because I love hosting and wanted something fantastic for a $20 home game tournament.

It’s still my primary function, and the crescendo of that journey was being a meetup host - which I hope to continue and grow/improve in that facet.

Personally, I don’t think anything here makes sense. People have literally 10s of thousands (hundred+ for some) of $s in chips, but shitty chairs and a racetrack table. Someone will buy $5k in chairs, but settle for chipco.

For me personally, I don’t get to play a ton. I generally travel pretty great distance to play. And sure maybe I’m spoiled, and I’ll get hate for this, but I kinda expect there to be at least water at the game. Even better (but never expected) if there’s things to imbibe, eat, etc.


Would I care if we used Tina chips? No not at all. But….why would we? I have rarely ever even felted my own chips because they aren’t graily enough compared to all my players/hosts. We have 24/7 access to literal millions of dollars in chips here on PCF. I guess if we played twice a week for a couple years, maybe I’d run out and be like hey let’s use some Tina’s or new mold.

Until then? Everyone’s buying a not so bad yet still bottom of the barrel product. It’s great to get 60/70/80% of the value for 1% of the cost. I’m all for it. But go ahead and table those when your kids ask for chips to play with or you’re hosting the local drunk pub game at a seedy place.

 

[Gunnar]

I do think the advent of Tinas is a sea change in chipping.

Or really, it’s the way PCFers have pushed Tina’s company to produce what chippers want.

This is also a very good point. Chips are evolving based on our demands. I wonder if a Chinese company would start producing real clay chips what we would think.

 

[TheOffalo]

I still consider myself a newbie in this hobby, having joined only ~3.5 years ago. My regular home game (that had been running for over a decade before I became a regular, and I've now been part of the group for over a decade myself) had always used dice chip and paper Bicycle decks. I had heard of PCF but never really looked into it. Then I bought some ~18¢/chip Monaco Casino denominated chips from DPS and a few Copag setups, and joined PCF in Fall 2021, and the rest is history!

Funny, but I think we used those Monaco Casino chips once or twice at most, and then I bought a set of China Club cards mold chips (Tina alert!) and was already on my way to building my custom Spirit mold chips (designing and making my own labels) and never looked back. Fast forward 3+ years, and I have a Chipco ceramics set, a Gemaco plastics set, two cheap Paulson sets (HS Cinci & Fun Nite hotstamps), and yes Tina chips include the Bellagio tributes.

And more setups of cards (Fourniers, Dal Negros, Broken Arrows, etc.) than I know what to do with!

I look at a few other home game groups that I'm a part of, and (not counting the PCF folks I've played with) pretty much the other groups of very good and enthusiastic poker players/hosts still use dice chips (but at least they're using Copags and not Bicycle paper decks...)! I want to yell at them, "You have a $1000+ poker table! There are way better options out there for chips than sluggos!"

I think the Tina chips have "raised the floor" for affordable chips; they allow people to upgrade significantly from dice chips without breaking the bank. People have a choice of casino tributes, original designs by talented PCF members, or their own fully customized sets for slightly more than the "higher end" slugged plastic sets in acrylic bird cages by DPS or Brybelly or TPS.

It does seem like some people feel that Tina chips have "lowered the ceiling" (to continue the analogy) on the hobby and somehow devalued the hobby for those who are more "serious" chippers. Of course, with more new members, the signal-to-noise ratio is reduced (meaning more noise), # of threads on less "serious" chipping topics increase. But it seems to me at least that it's pretty easy to just skip those posts/threads if they don't interest you or might annoy you. Let the semi-newbies like myself and others field those topics. There re still plenty of more "real chipper" posts (like hot dog rollers) to comment on.

And while some newcomers may hit-and-run after getting their affordable Tina sets, others will get into deeper into this hobby (like me) at their own "speed" (a.k.a. bank account balances). The ones who stick around, who get into the history of casinos and chips, who respect the hobby as it has been but bring their own fresh perspectives, those are the folks who will help keep the "serious" side of the hobby afloat (and growing).

 

[BarrieJ3]

Or how about this. I bought a design, used tina because it was a great fun colorful thing but I’m never submitting a CPC order ($$$$$$).

Suddenly, others had sets that had never asked to use the design.

i plan on buying a couple replicas for next watches. Nothing gaudy or extreme, but why pay $5k when I can get what is like 99.9% the same to me for $500.

The value of that replica to me? More than what it costs!
The value of that replica to aficionados? Trash.

The value of Tina’s to Tina owners is at least something.
The value of Tina’s (in their current existence) to me is trash. I don’t dog them, I’m glad people like them! But unfortunately, still trash.

 

[kbob]

Only reason I know about Tina’s is because of PCF but being a long time lurker short time joiner, I’ve come to learn and appreciate what this community came from. If someone offered me Tina RHC mold chips I would take them but I really wouldn’t show them off here. It’s not what this place is for. Members here remind me a little bit of car guys. It’s like if this was a Ferrari forum and I posted pictures of my Chevy Fiero kit car. Anyway, Kumbaya do what makes you happy. Most of our efforts are all for the beautiful bastards at our home games that make it all worth it.

 

[TheRealStephen12]

From what I understand about how the forum has developed in the last few years, the "grail" sets are just collectors' items which people choose to play. The reason many people come now is because they want something customizable, not something with a history. They learn about Tina chips somewhere along the line as the best budget-friendly chips. Sure, it's bad for people who tried to flip grail sets or produce high-quality customs (CPC), but most people don't have the money for 3 racks of luxury poker chips which have no value other than as a collectors' item which cost more than their face value of $5.

 

[KHarp1]

There is a need for a quality affordable (subjective) chip, and, Tina has hit a level on both of those that entices many lookers. I think it's great that there's a cost effective way to craft your own custom set of gaming tokens.

I can appreciate the desire for historical sets with the lore that surrounds some of these places, lots of colorful history. Some of these can are attainable by many, and, its a change to own piece of history. As those become rarer, fewer sets available on the market, those prices will likely only continue to climb. As someone mentioned, some of these sets are collectors items that they are willing to use and play with. At what point do you back off from using them so as not to lessen their value? That's a personal decision every collector will have to make.

I've taken advantage of a few well priced sets of Tina's off the classifieds over the past year, or two, to donate to others that host games, but, didn't really have usable chips. I'm ok with donating a 700 pc cash set to help a new game get going. I wouldn't do that with my Paulson, Chipco or ASM's.

Maybe those that came here looking for cheap Tina sets will expand their chipping horizons and venture down new paths as time goes on.

I'm just going to try and respect everyone's journey, look at as many pics of others chips as I can without having to join another 12 step group, and hope I can become a better poker player... which I'm not counting on.

 

[FestiveKnight]

I really appreciate where @Gunnar is coming from and completely agree that great designs can happen on any format of chip.

It can be frustrating because this community is so much more than an info booth for Tina.

I miss the old times, when the majority of the traffic on PCF wasn't about people buying cheap Chinese chips, which are more often than not either knockoffs or straight up copies.

But this ^^ is my biggest issue with it. I think more options is better but I feel like folks who come on, find Tinas, buy Tinas, and leave don’t contribute much of anything to the community and just generate noise. I’d like there to be a way to funnel that traffic elsewhere.

And to be precise, I don’t think Tina’s should be split off entirely into its own space. I think threads like @Cratty’s design work stands up to any other design journal thread. It’s mostly the repetitive and shallow content of folks basically just getting directed to the Broken Arrow vendor page and asking questions that show their inability to read said vendor section thoroughly.

 

[cpac54]

Unique molds and designs (like the new Jester mold, for example) should be celebrated, regardless of the manufacturer. Uniqueness with a low barrier to entry is the real power of Tina imo.

On the flip side, fake Paulson molds (or other existing, in-production molds) and exact copies of existing chips, including and especially of other people's customs, are trash. Get that shit out of here.

As someone else wrote with the car analogy... can't afford a Ferrari, but put time, love, and effort into a custom go-kart build? Yeah man, I can celebrate that all day long. Roll up with a fake LV bag, fake Rolex and knock-off Gucci clothes? Yeah, that's gonna be an "lol" from me.

 

[Eriks]

I think it has to do with exclusiveness of the set and amount of work required as well as money spent. I know some here are flushed and can buy whatever they want, but most have to use some restraint and choose carefully the sets we go after, maybe sell one loved set to make room for another etc.

When doing a custom CPC set one/most are limited by:

• the CPC color palette
• the CPC spot patterns
• keeping complexity and cost at a reasonable level

It does take effort to make it all work within those limitations and still end up with a set you love. And no matter how cost effective one is, it still represents a sizable investment for most.

When putting together a mixed set of Paulsons for customization one might spend months buying, trading, begging for that perfect $5-chip fit, only to discover it wasn’t quite right for the line-up. Maybe one starts over, or change direction on the $25-chip etc. Finally, one might also go through the painstaking task of chip murdering and relabeling before the finished set is ready for its maiden voyage.

Or one could be chasing the personal grail casino/fantasy set which by definition has a finite number of chips available. The more scarce, the more time, effort and money is likely required.

When doing a Tina set one is bound by absolutely nothing and cost is comparatively very low. There are also a couple of things about it that leaves a bad taste in the mouth:

You want a perfect replica of your favorite live casino chips? No worries, Tina says.
You saw a set of someone else’s design, old fantasy or casino set that you thought looked cool? I got you, she says.
”Could I get that on a faux scrown/THC mold?” Hold my beer, Tina says.

Of course one can also get a beautifully designed original custom set done and nothing wrong with that. I’ve seen some great original hybrid sets done. But I can do 10 or 15 sets for the price of a great CPC set. The fact that I can make precisely what I want when I want, just makes them feel less valuable, not just in terms of $.

 

[Colquhoun]

I think more options is better but I feel like folks who come on, find Tinas, buy Tinas, and leave don’t contribute much of anything to the community and just generate noise. I’d like there to be a way to funnel that traffic elsewhere.

I think that in the past, these folks may not have even joined…just been a bit turned off by the expense of the offerings and overwhelmed by it all. The sudden jump in new members interested in Tina chips shows that with more affordable options, these new chippers can also be a part of the community.
True, some may get their chips and never be seen again, but there will be those for which Tina chips are just the beginning.

 

[ekricket]

“it’s good enough” is a pretty low bar. Some of us just don’t settle for “good enough”.

I just can’t live my life simply clearing the threshold for acceptance.

I demand more quality from life.

 

[cpac54]

I think it has to do with exclusiveness of the set and amount of work required as well as money spent. I know some here are flushed and can buy whatever they want, but most have to use some restraint and choose carefully the sets we go after, maybe sell one loved set to make room for another etc.

When doing a custom CPC set one/most are limited by:

• the CPC color palette
• the CPC spot patterns
• keeping complexity and cost at a reasonable level

It does take effort to make it all work within those limitations and still end up with a set you love. And no matter how cost effective one is, it still represents a sizable investment for most.

Fantastic post. I think this nails it for me, and it's why CPC sets will continue to be the gold standard for custom chip sets imo. Ceramics like Tina offer endless creative possibilities though, even if most people choose to just mimic clay chip design options. The potential is there with ceramics to create something completely different; we just haven't seen it yet.

The financial outlay involved plays less of a role for me, personally. What's little money for one person can be a lot for another. The points re: design constraints are excellent ones.

When putting together a mixed set of Paulsons for customization one might spend months buying, trading, begging for that perfect $5-chip fit, only to discover it wasn’t quite right for the line-up. Maybe one starts over, or change direction on the $25-chip etc. Finally, one might also go through the painstaking task of chip murdering and relabeling before the finished set is ready for its maiden voyage.

Or one could be chasing the personal grail casino/fantasy set which by definition has a finite number of chips available. The more scarce, the more time, effort and money is likely required.

When doing a Tina set one is bound by absolutely nothing and cost is comparatively very low. There are also a couple of things about it that leaves a bad taste in the mouth:

You want a perfect replica of your favorite live casino chips? No worries, Tina says.
You saw a set of someone else’s design, old fantasy or casino set that you thought looked cool? I got you, she says.
”Could I get that on a faux scrown/THC mold?” Hold my beer, Tina says.

Of course one can also get a beautifully designed original custom set done and nothing wrong with that. I’ve seen some great original hybrid sets done. But I can do 10 or 15 sets for the price of a great CPC set. The fact that I can make precisely what I want when I want, just makes them feel less valuable, not just in terms of $.

This more or less sums up my personal feelings on Tinas too. Great possibilities and a great price. Heck, I even created a custom set many moons ago on the cards mold (before I knew it was a rip off of the Sunfly mold). The set sparked absolutely zero joy however and never saw play - I sold them shortly after. Not saying that's the case with everyone, but for me, there's just nothing special about them.

 

[ekricket]

but for me, there's just nothing special about them

They are “good enough”, that’s all

 

[LeGold]

Don’t get me wrong—I still hate when people copy others’ artwork or steal designs. That kind of thing crosses a line. It’s in terrible taste, and honestly, I think it should be grounds for an outright ban on the forum if someone’s clearly doing it. Respecting creativity and originality should always be part of this hobby.

Question - do you hold Tina to the same standard? Because if you do, boy do I have news for you about the design you submitted to her....

 

[TheOffalo]

They are “good enough”, that’s all

Yet they are the best some folks can afford.

 

[ekricket]

Yet they are the best some folks can afford.

Should they be spending their meager earnings on poker chips at all? Encourage them to have gambling games when they are barely eking by?

There is more to life than hope and flashy appearances. But it seems that it’s a god-given right to be able to buy cheap stuff from China Taiwan Japan India Mississippi Mexico or any of those places where slave labor and subsistence wages are paid and we can take advantage of it. Seems like America just can’t lose that grip on the s-word

 

[Eriks]

The potential is there with ceramics to create something completely different; we just haven't seen it yet.

This. Seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity to mimic a clay chip. I do like and understand the appeal of the hybrids though, they just don’t do anything special for me.

The very best ceramic chips I’ve seen are old designs on Chipcos that utilize the entire surface of the chip.

 

[Gunnar]

Question - do you hold Tina to the same standard? Because if you do, boy do I have news for you about the design you submitted to her....

I specifically asked them not to publish my designs or let anyone copy them. We will see how that goes. Im used to working with a Guy in China that does amazing Labels and I asked him if he could send me a design file of a design that I like just to test it.

He said No and I liked that. But I look at Tina more like a printer service. If I use the printing service to make great photos and someone else uses same printing service to create fake money. That does not make my photos any worse. Time will tell if they break their promise and my sticker designs starts showing up on other chips but to be fair every design can be stolen today and that sucks.

So that is not say that I don't understand the love and high regards people hold CPC and other premium chips, the limited palettes and the work needed to make a set is awesome. It is a challenge and a different class. I wish that I get that spark again someday to go into that route again my wallet might not agree...

 

[Gunnar]

This. Seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity to mimic a clay chip. I do like and understand the appeal of the hybrids though, they just don’t do anything special for me.

The very best ceramic chips I’ve seen are old designs on Chipcos that utilize the entire surface of the chip.

I agree here in some parts. You can do unique and different things on Ceramics. Some have done so with great success while others have made some sets that are blah but each to their own.

But when a person thinks of a poker chip they picture a chip with spots so the majority of people go that route, not because they are trying to mimic clay sets. Some are but many are just looking to design a poker chip that reminds them and their players of poker chips.

 

[LeGold]

I specifically asked them not to publish my designs or let anyone copy them. We will see how that goes. Im used to working with a Guy in China that does amazing Labels and I asked him if he could send me a design file of a design that I like just to test it.
View attachment 1495238

He said No and I liked that. But I look at Tina more like a printer service. If I use the printing service to make great photos and someone else uses same printing service to create fake money. That does not make my photos any worse. Time will tell if they break their promise and my sticker designs starts showing up on other chips but to be fair every design can be stolen today and that sucks.

So that is not say that I don't understand the love and high regards people hold CPC and other premium chips, the limited palettes and the work needed to make a set is awesome. It is a challenge and a different class. I wish that I get that spark again someday to go into that route again my wallet might not agree...

Your labels guy might adhere to these kinds of requests, but Tina does have a history of doing the opposite.