Best way to compile my first set of 500 Paulson chips? (2 Viewers)

Squakmix

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I have been looking at different options for compiling an initial set of 500 low denomination Paulson chips for my occasional home games, and I could use some advice on the best way to approach it. From browsing this website and looking around, I can tell it's way more common to come across racks or individual barrels of chips than fully compiled sets from a particular casino. Since I am hoping to put together a cohesive/consistent set, that seems to imply that if I want the chips to have a single casino name on the inlays, my options are to hunt down chips of particular denominations from a particular casino/batch and put it together piecemeal, murder and relabel chips from different casinos to make a Frankenstein set, or get very lucky and find chips from a particular casino being sold as a set at a reasonable price (I'm hoping <$1000 but that's looking unlikely). What do you all think is the best way to get my set started?
 
When/if/likely the next chiproom sale occurs would likely be the best entry point or shopping online here for the set that catches your eye. yes you can get a playable sets for under 1k. It all depends on what you are looking for.

If you are set on your stakes and you are intending to play 1/2 cash then you will have a much easier time assembling a casino paulson set than if you want to play .25/50 or tournaments in most cases. There are exceptions but most playable tourney specific sets for ~1-2 tables will also be within your budgets.

Other options are custom CPC's which, if you are going for a .25/50cent paulson set then will be in the same ballpark (depending on design). Or you could go down the rabbit hole of ordering Custom ceramics for btw .30-approx 1/chip depending on where you order from (with expected quality/$).
 
It sounds like you're looking exclusively for casino Paulsons? Are you looking for new or used?

Jim (the Chip Room) is currently on vacation. But when he returns at the end of the month, you could buy used cash denoms (except fracs) from this thread:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/jack-cincinnati-sale.70695/

I think $1s, $5s, and $25s were still available.
 
yep, used $1s, $5s, $25s, and $100s we’re definitely still available. And I think maybe the used $100s as well.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone! I've had my eye on the chip room sale and I'm definitely interested in checking out the next one. I have noticed that I can't get a set of all one style through the current sale (I'd have to get a mix of RHC, THC, and IHC chips), and the high cost of the higher denomination chips is a bit off putting (although I guess it's not too uncommon to see the high denomination chips going for dozens of dollars per chip). I would be happy with a decent used set, the only issue seems to be that "used" can mean anything from "these were only used with friends at home and they have some flea bites but otherwise great condition" to "they were used for years at a casino and they're completely warped and round edged now". I want to actually play with these, so a little use/wear isn't bad, I just don't want to find myself needing to press them in the oven or purchase new chips because the condition is so bad.
 
Completely hear you on mixing THC and RHCs. It depends on the casino/TCR sale - the last sale was all RHCs and then the larger denoms in 43mm IHC.

I bought a completely used set and I love it. Used condition feels more similar to what you’d feel in a casino, and there’s less worry about chipping or dinging one up. You can also clean them if you want them to look a little newer.

Unfortunately, most used casino chips will be more expensive in both the lower end fracs and $2.50s and then the higher denoms as well. Supply and demand. It’s usually cheapest to buy direct from the sale and then sell what you don’t need. Lots of people also buy cheaper chips and then relabel them into the the denominations they want.
 
There's a set of sweet Big Easy cash chips up in the classifieds, $750 for 1,000 chips. That could handle everything you could throw at it ... and be readily sellable when/if you decide to move on.
 
Thanks for the recommendation, those look like some great chips. I haven't tried any Bud Jones stuff yet but I hear they feel good. Since I've got a sample of Paulson RHC chips that I like, and clay is where my heart's at, I feel like I would end up selling it again anyway to fund a clay set. I appreciate it though!
 
If you don't have right now the $10K you 'll anyway end up spending, to wave it under the nose of the right people, you 'll have to wait.
Or, you can settle for RHCs, or solid leaded THCs, for example.
 
I'm thinking RHCs are fine for my purposes. My only worry is that I'd end up disappointed with the flea bites/weathering on used chips because of how close the hat and cane mold comes to the edge of the chip. All of this has me seriously considering a CPC stock set of Atlantic Club chips again.
 
Thanks for the recommendation, those look like some great chips. I haven't tried any Bud Jones stuff yet but I hear they feel good. Since I've got a sample of Paulson RHC chips that I like, and clay is where my heart's at, I feel like I would end up selling it again anyway to fund a clay set. I appreciate it though!

Always go with what keeps your heart thumping -- in women *and* chips.
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(Just in case you aren't aware of this: GPI owns both Paulson and Bud Jones, and Bud Jones chips cost more. :cool )
 
Thanks for the info @mnebesny, I didn't realize people lent out samples for people to try without purchasing them. I appreciate the help everyone
 
I have 2 Paulson sets and just got a set of the CPC Rounders. LOVE how they feel!
You may be set on Paulsons, but you cant go wrong with CPCs either. Get samples! :)
 
I have been looking at different options for compiling an initial set of 500 low denomination Paulson chips for my occasional home games, and I could use some advice on the best way to approach it. From browsing this website and looking around, I can tell it's way more common to come across racks or individual barrels of chips than fully compiled sets from a particular casino. Since I am hoping to put together a cohesive/consistent set, that seems to imply that if I want the chips to have a single casino name on the inlays, my options are to hunt down chips of particular denominations from a particular casino/batch and put it together piecemeal, murder and relabel chips from different casinos to make a Frankenstein set, or get very lucky and find chips from a particular casino being sold as a set at a reasonable price (I'm hoping <$1000 but that's looking unlikely). What do you all think is the best way to get my set started?
Are you looking for new chips? I just got 900 chips from The Chip Room here for under $800. They are used but $1-$500 denoms. I've been browsing around for solids to use for fracs, I've got 200 midnight blue .25 THC from another member here that I love. For 500 chips if you don't mind used, the current Jacks sale is fantastic.
 
Awesome set! I also still need to track down some 50 cent chips, I'm using dice chips for 5 cents (I know I know, but it let's me play the rest of the set when everyone wants to play cheap until I can track down better)
 
Haha thanks @mnebesny, hopefully not too many. Is it a bad sign that I'm already hunting for more chips to round out my set? ;P it looks like racks and carriers are a deep topic too, and I hope the Chipco racks + carrier I bought do the job well. Something about the idea of stacking racks directly on the edges of chips irks me and I'm tempted to try out the Apache racks that have a top shell as well.
 
That's an amazing deal! I just pulled the trigger on this set minus the fracs: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...-set-with-blue-chip-fracs.75470/#post-1532025 I think with another rack or two of different denominations (thinking I'd like some 100s and 0.50c chips) I'll have a solid functional set for my home games. I'm super excited to be starting my set!

Now you are falling down the rabbit hole...... the "eat me" cake and "drink me" potions at the bottom of the hole are even more expensive than the plunge you have just started.....

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Haha thanks @mnebesny, hopefully not too many. Is it a bad sign that I'm already hunting for more chips to round out my set? ;P it looks like racks and carriers are a deep topic too, and I hope the Chipco racks + carrier I bought do the job well. Something about the idea of stacking racks directly on the edges of chips irks me and I'm tempted to try out the Apache racks that have a top shell as well.
Chipco racks work well for Paulsons. Just make sure the little spots on the inside of the rack (where the plastic was injected) has no extra to cause a sharp bump that could damage the chip. All the Chipco racks I own came with these bumps. Removed with an xacto blade.
The issue of stacking racks has been discussed at length here, and the vast majority of PCF members do it and have never had an issue, even storing 3, 4, 5 or more high. A few have had issues, but it’s rare. If you’re using the chips every so often, storing in racks should be fine. If you’re doing long-term storage, you could ease your mind and store in Warneke-style paper boxes.
 
Haha thanks @mnebesny, hopefully not too many. Is it a bad sign that I'm already hunting for more chips to round out my set? ;P it looks like racks and carriers are a deep topic too, and I hope the Chipco racks + carrier I bought do the job well. Something about the idea of stacking racks directly on the edges of chips irks me and I'm tempted to try out the Apache racks that have a top shell as well.
The Apache racks are incredible. Can’t recommend them enough. It’s very unlikely stacking racks would do any real damage to your chips provided you aren’t actively stacking a ridiculous amount of them but the Apache racks took away all that anxiety.

Also allows you the ability to store 43mm chips next to 39mm instead of having to get separate racks for those.
 
Thanks for the tip about the injection molding issue @Colquhoun, I'll definitely watch out for that.

Yeah I know that structurally, a tightly fitting rack of chips should actually be strongest on the edge of the chips and people have shown that there's no issue long term, I just can't help but wince at the thought of those pristine edges bearing any force. I'll probably grab an Apache rack to try out at least, but I'll wait to see how the Chipco racks feel before buying a bunch.
 
Thanks for the tip about the injection molding issue @Colquhoun, I'll definitely watch out for that.

Yeah I know that structurally, a tightly fitting rack of chips should actually be strongest on the edge of the chips and people have shown that there's no issue long term, I just can't help but wince at the thought of those pristine edges bearing any force. I'll probably grab an Apache rack to try out at least, but I'll wait to see how the Chipco racks feel before buying a bunch.
honestly don't overthink it. they are currently not avail but when they return the 68mm racks avail on amazon that are made in china are actually really good and so affordable plus 100% covered if any are broken with a return. I have about ~60ish of them and i'd like more as they are the best I have found locally in Canada....were I in the USA those apache racks look pretty nice. They wouldn't fit in my big red tool boxes though so regular 68mm racks (the standard is 70mm unless marked). The only issue I could see is having chips stored in a 70mm rack that has them irregularly placed so loads are unevenly distributed. If really concerned the cheap aluminum cases are always an option...
 

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