Are Majestic Stars leaded? (1 Viewer)

[UncleMarlin]

Hi y'all, I'm not new to poker but am new to the world of higher end poker chips. Been wanting to purchase a small set of something nice without spending a ton and have found the Majestic Star RHC chips to be a great option. However I'm a little worried about any potential lead content. Did some research and found this post:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...n-chips-still-had-lead-in-them-after-98.8291/

Which goes over some of the colors and the pertaining dates, but I'm having a hard time judging the colors of the 1s, 5s, and 25s I'd be purchasing. If anyone happens to own these chips or have any experience with them, I'd really appreciate any advice, or anyway to know for sure that a Paulson doesn't contain lead.

Thanks!

 

[CrazyEddie]

I would not be even slightly concerned about possible lead content in poker chips. I think the risk that you would ingest any quantity of lead whatsoever simply from handling chips is negligible.

I'm also extremely skeptical that the lead content in Paulsons was actually anywhere near what it was at one point reported to be. I outline my case here: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...os-random-fun-stuff.66713/page-7#post-1616714 - but in short, the whole thing smells like B.S. to me.

However, if it's a concern to you, hopefully some of our other members can speak more definitively about whether the Majestic Stars use the older leaded formulations. I haven't looked into them very closely myself.

 

[philhut]

Hi y'all, I'm not new to poker but am new to the world of higher end poker chips. Been wanting to purchase a small set of something nice without spending a ton and have found the Majestic Star RHC chips to be a great option. However I'm a little worried about any potential lead content. Did some research and found this post:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...n-chips-still-had-lead-in-them-after-98.8291/

Which goes over some of the colors and the pertaining dates, but I'm having a hard time judging the colors of the 1s, 5s, and 25s I'd be purchasing. If anyone happens to own these chips or have any experience with them, I'd really appreciate any advice, or anyway to know for sure that a Paulson doesn't contain lead.

Thanks!

I have a set of the 36mm NVC 1-1000 denom set. compared to 36mm Cincinnati chips they are heavier and or a slightly smoother/softer feeling material. This is similar to an old set of hotstamp gaming school chips that I have which are most definitely "leaded". So without having proof I would say they very likely are leaded chips.

 

[raynmanas]

they are almost certainly not

 

[satisfyingbutton]

I could be wrong, but the original chips (and therefore most of the chips sold recently) were issued in 1996 (the year the casino opened). This seems to put them squarely in the "leaded" era for Paulson chips. My understanding is that most of the original label, red denomination chips likely contain lead while the newer label variants and black denomination chips are likely the reduced lead/lead-free type.

 

[UncleMarlin]

My understanding is that most of the original label, red denomination chips likely contain lead while the newer label variants and black denomination chips are likely the reduced lead/lead-free type.

That’s definitely what I’m thinking. I forget where but I saw the two weighed in comparison and the black denoms were fairly lighter. Appreciate the detective work on this

 

[satisfyingbutton]

I'm definitely interested in more evidence, but that's the best I've found so far. I've been assembling a red denomination small-stakes set out of simply wanting the labels to match, but they seem to also be from the same "era". I can't find a specific issue date for any of the chips, so going off of the casino opening date and the order of the chips released (first iteration and grand opening vs. anniversary chips and revised labels) seems to be the best concrete information we have to go from.

 

[raynmanas]

I could be wrong, but the original chips (and therefore most of the chips sold recently) were issued in 1996 (the year the casino opened). This seems to put them squarely in the "leaded" era for Paulson chips. My understanding is that most of the original label, red denomination chips likely contain lead while the newer label variants and black denomination chips are likely the reduced lead/lead-free type.

you are right, my bad. i jumped in without realizing just how old those chips are.

on a side note, i've played at the majestic star, and i still smell like cigarette smoke because of that.

 

[satisfyingbutton]

you are right, my bad. i jumped in without realizing just how old those chips are.

on a side note, i've played at the majestic star, and i still smell like cigarette smoke because of that.

I've been cleaning them for a while and I might smell like cigarette smoke from that alone!

In fact, I've been using Simple Green as my detergent in my ultrasonic bath, so I've got a real institutional cleaner/stale smoke vibe going on that reminds me of, I don't know, public elevators?

 

[raynmanas]

Simple Green

i got a summer job in the sheet metal/machine shop at my dad's company after my freshman year of college, but i broke my hand a month before i was supposed to start. they didn't want to screw me over, so until my cast was off, my job consisted of washing the floors and cleaning the machines - with simple green. that fucking smell, i just can't handle it to this day, 26(?) years later.

 

[philhut]

I've been cleaning them for a while and I might smell like cigarette smoke from that alone!

In fact, I've been using Simple Green as my detergent in my ultrasonic bath, so I've got a real institutional cleaner/stale smoke vibe going on that reminds me of, I don't know, public elevators?

these agents can bleach out the colors on chips, but assuming you are careful. I just use tap water at 42 celcius with dish soap and ~3-5% course salt mix to ensure the solution is hypertonic this is effective in cleaning chips in 20-30 cycles with a brush run over the chip followed by another 20-30 second cycle. With a strong spraying kitchen tap with hot water to rinse btw each step. Simple green may remove the need to brush the chip but saves the need to go to the hardware store for simple green.

 

[satisfyingbutton]

these agents can bleach out the colors on chips, but assuming you are careful. I just use tap water at 42 celcius with dish soap and ~3-5% course salt mix to ensure the solution is hypertonic this is effective in cleaning chips in 20-30 cycles with a brush run over the chip followed by another 20-30 second cycle. With a strong spraying kitchen tap with hot water to rinse btw each step. Simple green may remove the need to brush the chip but saves the need to go to the hardware store for simple green.

Luckily I haven't had any issues with the Simple Green, other than perhaps the Majestic Star $500s (of which I actually have a theory that needs to be tested). I actually chose the Simple Green route because it was recommended as a gentler cleaning agent - it certainly doesn't save me any scrubbing, but then again, some of these chips are DIRTY beyond normal conditions.

I can never tell if it's my methodology or the condition of the chips, but a good stiff brushing is required regardless of cycle time, temperature, etc.

 

[philhut]

It isn't the lead you have to worry about with the Majestics.....its the "unknown" topical agents lurking on the chips that had me concerned....They stuck like old chewing tobacco.

Soap, course salt or really any regular salt should do and dish soap....30 seconds at 42celcium and 1x1 toothbrush both sides and the edges then back in for 30 seconds more. Spray with hot tap water and dry.
(Before)

(After)

 

[Marius L]

It isn't the lead you have to worry about with the Majestics.....its the "unknown" topical agents lurking on the chips that had me concerned....They stuck like old chewing tobacco.

Soap, course salt or really any regular salt should do and dish soap....30 seconds at 42celcium and 1x1 toothbrush both sides and the edges then back in for 30 seconds more. Spray with hot tap water and dry.
(Before)

(After)

How is/ was the smell of these 36mm chips before and after the ultrasonic bath?

 

[philhut]

How is/ was the smell of these 36mm chips before and after the ultrasonic bath?

If you have ever opened a can of com-bloc surplus ammo the chips when opened out of the outer packaging of the postal box smelled exactly like that.......or for others last years hockey bag would be the next closest. After letting them sit out and putting the discolored boxes they came in away I began cleaning. The 25's were actually the dirtiest but I only remembered to take pictures of the 1000's.

Smelling them now and they don't smell like anything at all....literally just did a smell test.

 

[Marius L]

If you have ever opened a can of com-bloc surplus ammo the chips when opened out of the outer packaging of the postal box smelled exactly like that.......or for others last years hockey bag would be the next closest. After letting them sit out and putting the discolored boxes they came in away I began cleaning. The 25's were actually the dirtiest but I only remembered to take pictures of the 1000's.

Smelling them now and they don't smell like anything at all....literally just did a smell test.

Haha, that sounds really bad, lol, but good to know that the smell goes away. I bought a big set which I'll have shipped my way soon ish, and when reading your post earlier today I suddenly remembered that I hate smelly chips. Luckily I have also just purchased an ultrasonic cleaner, so cleaning them all should be relatively quick.