New Chips, thinking about a set from Poker Chip Lounge (2 Viewers)

[tricitydown]

I’ve been looking into upgrading my poker chips from the cheap standard plastic ones I’ve had for years. Poker Chip Lounge seems to have some of the best prices, but also seems to not have a good reputation here. (I’ve been looking at the Bluff Canyon ones)

Any advice or recommendations?

Are chips (like Monte Carlo or Desert Heat) the same anywhere that sells them? Anybody have any vendors they especially like?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bacon Dad]

I got a coupe of samples from PCL. Not impressed. They did not look like any of their online images. They were dull and not clearly printed or crisp. Very disappointed. Decided that BR Pro is the way to go for ceramics.

 

[Phyffe]

Claysmith China clays are generally heavy (14g) due to the slug they have inside them. They will feel heavy compared to Casino Chips.

If you're going with Claysmiths then I strongly recommend the Milanos, as they have the *general* weight and feel of a casino chip.

I also own a set of Gold Rush chips (all the 14g chips are the same but for the aesthetics) and they started crumbling after about 12 years. My bad, really, I didn't store them all that well.

I have been using Milanos moderately for about 5 years and have had only one of my low-denomination chips fall apart on me.

 

[BGinGA]

Claysmith China clays are generally heavy (14g) due to the slug they have inside them. They will feel heavy compared to Casino Chips.

If you're going with Claysmiths then I strongly recommend the Milanos, as they have the *general* weight and feel of a casino chip.

I also own a set of Gold Rush chips (all the 14g chips are the same but for the aesthetics) and they started crumbling after about 12 years. My bad, really, I didn't store them all that well.

I have been using Milanos moderately for about 5 years and have had only one of my low-denomination chips fall apart on me.

14g chips are not china clays -- they are injection-molded plastic surrounding a metal slug. The only china clay chip sold by Claysmith is the 10g Milano line (and it's one of the worst available).

 

[tricitydown]

How do the chips compare to other vendors?

For example, poker chip lounge and chip cave have the same chips, with poker chip lounge being a bit cheaper… Are they actually the same?

 

[Phyffe]

14g chips are not china clays -- they are injection-molded plastic surrounding a metal slug. The only china clay chip sold by Claysmith is the 10g Milano line (and it's one of the worst available).

My point is that the Milanos are heck of a lot better than any of Claysmith's other offerings, and to be honest, is not a bad starter set at all.

Sure, my Royals & Majestics are significantly better but the price is higher as well.

 

[BGinGA]

My point is that 14g slugged chips are not china clays, which is how you referred to them.

 

[PlaidDragon]

Rather than look at plastic sluggers or smelly china clays, perhaps one of our suppliers right here at PCF could serve you better.

Huge number of pre-designed sets on this thread and other threads in his channel. https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/web-mold-greek-mold-pre-designed-sets.115859/

 

[Phyffe]

My point is that 14g slugged chips are not china clays, which is how you referred to them.

I see, I was referring to the 14g Claysmiths though. How would you describe them? I guess they aren't made of clay eh?

 

[Mojo1312]

In answer to the OP's question, the function of poker chips is the same regardless of quality, price or smell.

I found humor in the fact that players attending my MTT, NLHE home game liked the edge spots and large font of the Milano's and were not anywhere near as impressed with my mixed Paulson cash set.

Matter of fact, I retired the Paulson's in favor of the Dune chips from Apache. https://www.apachepokerchips.com/product/dunes-clay-poker-chips/

It is worth mentioning that we have only one casino in my state with a cardroom, so only a small handful of the players in my group had ever played poker with "real" casino chips. (BTW, when a $100 14 gram slugged poker chip is in your stack, it is as real as any $100 Paulson chip used in a home game or casino.)

But I digress. On to Monte Carlos.

I have played with Monte Carlos. They are heavy and somewhat slick, which makes them impratical as a travel set or for building tall stacks. However, they are still good chips. They have eye appeal, except for the ones. (I don't care for white chips), but like all things in life, that is a matter of personal preference - and budget. Which is what this thread should be about.

I have ordered poker gear through this company without any issues: https://www.discountcasinogear.com/Monte-Carlo-Poker-Chips-p/bb4027.htm?1=1&CartID=0

Best of luck. This post will likely get me banned for life.

 

[tricitydown]

Thank you @Mojo1312 for your thoughtful answer! I wasn’t prepared for such a poker chip rabbit hole, but have been enjoying learning about all the different ways to think about poker chips.

 

[Damo]

Did you go ahead and purchase from Pokerchiplounge? I’m in the UK and have been waiting 4 weeks on my delivery. That I can deal with but the numerous unanswered emails requesting updates I can’t. First and last purchase.

 

[sonofneeway]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cigar-snifter-ceramic-chip-sets.133629/

 

[allforcharity]

I had no idea PCL was still in operation.

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

To answer your original question, the same model chips are the same regardless of where you buy them and how much you pay.

In order if preference of the chips you mentioned, I would rank them from best to worst...
Milanos
Monte Carlos
Bluff canyon.

But as @mojo1213 said, what matters is what is good enough to serve your purposes.

If the heavy chips are good enough, I have a tournament set of Poker Knights that are essentially the same as the bluff canyons that I can let you have very cheaply.

Good luck no matter which way you go and welcome to the poker chip rabbit hole.

 

[alexandersly77]

To answer your original question, the same model chips are the same regardless of where you buy them and how much you pay.

In order if preference of the chips you mentioned, I would rank them from best to worst...
Milanos
Monte Carlos
Bluff canyon.

But as @mojo1213 said, what matters is what is good enough to serve your purposes.

If the heavy chips are good enough, I have a tournament set of Poker Knights that are essentially the same as the bluff canyons that I can let you have very cheaply.

Good luck no matter which way you go and welcome to the poker chip rabbit hole.

In regards to your tournament set how many chips would you say is a good amount to have for set like that, 1000 total chips?

I’ve been looking into upgrading my poker chips from the cheap standard plastic ones I’ve had for years. Poker Chip Lounge seems to have some of the best prices, but also seems to not have a good reputation here. (I’ve been looking at the Bluff Canyon ones)

Any advice or recommendations?

Are chips (like Monte Carlo or Desert Heat) the same anywhere that sells them? Anybody have any vendors they especially like?

Thanks in advance!

What did you end up deciding on your set?

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

It totally depends on the number of players and the tournament structure. It can take from a few hundred to a few thousand.

 

[alexandersly77]

It totally depends on the number of players and the tournament structure. It can take from a few hundred to a few thousand.

Okay thanks. Eventually id like to host around 30 people at my house. So im assuming id need maybe around 2000 chips to be safe?

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

Okay thanks. Eventually id like to host around 30 people at my house. So im assuming id need maybe around 2000 chips to be safe?

That sounds about right but you should use the Poker Chip Calculator tool to figure out exactly what you need. It is under the Links section of this site.

 

[allforcharity]

Okay thanks. Eventually id like to host around 30 people at my house. So im assuming id need maybe around 2000 chips to be safe?

For cash, yes.

For tournament, you can get away with 1100-1200 for 3 tables of 10.

 

[Tonysquander]

Now with 100% “casino grade clay”. No cotton in these babies!

WTF is that and is it real casino weight too?

 

[owlbee]

From the samples I ordered and my research here. The best bang for buck, in stock retail option are the Olympus chips from thepokerstore.com. If you can wait a few months, the BrokenArrow group buy for tina hybrid chips are the way to go. I've sampled 14g sluggos and would steer away from them. The Olympus set isn't much more expensive and the quality much better.

https://www.thepokerstore.com/collections/olympus-pure-clay-poker-chips

 

[ThinkingFold]

Now with 100% “casino grade clay”. No cotton in these babies!

WTF is that and is it real casino weight too?

View attachment 1621690

I still remember the day I bought Milano's to replace my dice chips and was amazed that there were "casino grade clay and weight".

Just wish I has stuck with them and had not decided to see what other "casino grade clay and weight" chips were out there and stumbled across PCF.