Oiling Chips Done Right (4 Viewers)

I was initially really excited to get my Dunes CC...then when they arrived they had a strong bad smell and the colors were a bit drab. I am planning to use your method this week to hopefully reduce the smell and brighten them up. I really like the Dunes design but they could be more vibrant IMO. Still great looking chips and I think the oiling will do the trick.

just make sure you do the washing with mild soap (like dawn) and water first. you don't need to scrub fiercely, but a toothbrush or the like to get to the corners helps. there's dust, and probably some kind of releasing agent, in those mold impressions. even after a good cleaning, you'll still see some of that color on the cloth or paper towel when you oil them.
 
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Stibnite,

Thanks for the great guide. I finished oiling my Dunes CC last night and wow they look stunning. These pics are after the last step of applying the second coat to the edges only. Obviously I am not expecting this high gloss look to last but it still looks pretty cool for now.

Even if the chips lose some of the oiled gloss I am fine with that. I just really disliked the smell and dusty appearance out of box. I have a hard time imagining they can ever go back to looking like they did out of box even after years of play.

Really pumped to use these.
 
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Stibnite,

Thanks for the great guide. I finished oiling my Dunes CC last night and wow they look stunning. These pics are after the last step of applying the second coat to the edges only. Obviously I am not expecting this high gloss look to last but it still looks pretty cool for now.

Even if the chips lose some of the oiled gloss I am fine with that. I just really disliked the smell and dusty appearance out of box. I have a hard time imagining they can ever go back to looking like they did out of box even after years of play.

Really pumped to use these.

You're most welcome. Nice pics and amazing results.
 
Is there ever a worry about the oil from the chips getting on the cards?
I always give my chips a light wipe with a dry cloth, there's not really extra oil that I would worry about being transferred to cards.
 
Is there ever a worry about the oil from the chips getting on the cards?

No, and for two reasons.

The surface oil evaporates after a few hours of having oiled them, and any other residue wipes into the hands and becomes as natural as the oils in your skin. This process doesnt make your chips slimy with oil, as one might assume. Just makes them clean and crisp.

Second, we use platinum acetate cards which arent affected by such things, and can even be washed with dish soap if required.

This oil isn't much different than what occurs naturally in your fingers. So if your cards can handle your skin oils, then they can definitely handle being touched by a dry, oiled chip.
 
@Stibnite

Thanks. I followed your process on some HS clevelands (1s and 5s) and they turned out nice. My pauslon racks look better now that they are oiled too.

Although, I have not found as much value in oiling my WTHC chips. They don't seem very absorbant. Perhaps this is because they have not seen nearly the use as casino used HS Clevelands.
 
I think minty chips show less of an improvement. If you have well worn casino chips then they seem dull and show a significant improvement by oiling.
 
Activating the @Stibnite compression Oiling technique while watching NFL championships!

1st group after step 1. Now waiting 24 hours.

Great thread, thanks for info.
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@Stibnite

Thanks. I followed your process on some HS clevelands (1s and 5s) and they turned out nice. My pauslon racks look better now that they are oiled too.

Although, I have not found as much value in oiling my WTHC chips. They don't seem very absorbant. Perhaps this is because they have not seen nearly the use as casino used HS Clevelands.


Welcome. Makes a big difference on the racks--that's for sure.
 
@Stibnite, any idea how effective this is on Paulson chips? Thanks for the research and write up.
 
@Stibnite, any idea how effective this is on Paulson chips? Thanks for the research and write up.

Yes, used on T&C Paulsons and turned out fantastic. Even better than the others. Highly recommended.

Only difference was the topside textures captured a little extra oil and took slightly longer to dry than normal. I remedied this by simply turning them over halfway through the drying process to let gravity do it's thing.
 
@Stibnite, thanks for the quick reply. Very much appreciated, and it sounds like I will have to give it a whirl. Thanks again!
 
@Stibnite, I used your method on some cheap Paulson's...it was amazing how much color it brought out. Totally made everything pop.
 
In many European countries and languages, including mine, the term "Mineral oil" translated will get you internal combustion engine lubricant (the old-fashioned petroleum-based engine oil) :LOL: :laugh:
Thank God I did some research instead of just translating :D
The close-up picture of the bottle helped a lot too, since it indicates its main intended use. :)
Thanks for the excellent information!
 
...to show you why compression is important during oiling, take a look at how much rough surface came off onto the microfiber rag during compression oiling AFTER these chips had been soap washed and dryed from the factory dust.

Great info. Here’s my (maybe dumb) question: The demonstration addresses mint chips out of the factory. I too have used microfiber cloths to oil and clean my Paulson and ASM chips in the past. But I rarely see much come off non-mint ones.

So do you think applying pressure is as important when refreshing older chips?
 
In many European countries and languages, including mine, the term "Mineral oil" translated will get you internal combustion engine lubricant (the old-fashioned petroleum-based engine oil) :LOL: :laugh:
Thank God I did some research instead of just translating :D
The close-up picture of the bottle helped a lot too, since it indicates its main intended use. :)
Thanks for the excellent information!
I can totally imagine someone lighting a cigarette and all your chips going up in flames :eek:
 
I can totally imagine someone lighting a cigarette and all your chips going up in flames :eek:
Engine lubricant isn't really very flammable, otherwise it would explode in the engine, together with fuel.
Certainly not good for your chips and skin, let alone for fighting constipation :)

Btw, I cleaned and oiled the CPC color sample I recently received, using the method suggested in this thread.
Congrats again to Stibnite.
 
Engine lubricant isn't really very flammable, otherwise it would explode in the engine, together with fuel.
Certainly not good for your chips and skin, let alone for fighting constipation :)

Btw, I cleaned and oiled the CPC color sample I recently received, using the method suggested in this thread.
Congrats again to Stibnite.
My crazy imagination... foiled by science :x

I do have a question related to this thread tho...

Just tested a couple CPC sample chips with the method described here. I used the same microfiber with oil for different colored chips and some of the color transfered from one chip to another... should I be using a different cloth per chip color? Is that just common sense and I am too slow for deductive reasoning? :cautious:
 
This towel used to be bright white...

Then mineral oil and about 2600 CPCs happened to it

DSC_0150-1.jpg


For the denominated chips I've used separate areas of the towel as you can see, but I used the same area for all the extras. I did not notice any color transferring from one chip to another. Not even on Bright White chips.

H mold requires really a lot of pressure to get that factory dust out of the ring recesses.
 
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Alright, time for the stupid question of the day. If you just busted your chips out and started playing with them, would the natural oils from peoples skin eventually accomplish the same thing? Granted, it would probably take way longer.
 
Any reports on how long the oil last on China clays? I saw at least two weeks in one post.
 

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