Building house set - CPC/Key West vs Sun-Fly/Ravenor Classic? (1 Viewer)

[pokachups]

Hi! I'm considering building a house set of chips and have been doing a lot of reading. I've narrowed down my preferred style selection to Key West chips or Ravenor Classic chips. I'd love input from the community here on which you'd recommend and why.

I'm looking to start with around 300 pcs for up to six people. As much as I'd love a set of Paulsons, the lead risk is a no-go for me. I also considered some of the China clays from Apache, but reading about the "toxic smell" has me avoiding these also. I'm also not into full face ceramic styles like tiki kings which seem to be universally loved.

Any input is highly appreciated! What other sets should I consider? What's your experience with Key West and/or Ravenor Classic? Many thanks!

 

[LeGold]

Key Wests are produced by Classic Poker Chips, clay. Ravenors are ceramics made by Sun-Fly. Also full-face prints made to mimic clay chips (if I understand correctly).
Two very different types of chips with regards to look and feel, as well as price. You just need to try both before deciding, as noone can (or should) make that decision for you.
Tina ceramics, fully customizable, and with stickers (not fully printed) could also be a good choice - check the Broken Arrow vendor in this forum (justincarothers) for some ideas and options.

 

[LeGold]

Also, no fear of lead in any Paulsons made the last 20(?) years as far as I know.

 

[LowerBama1714]

It is extremely unlikely for lead silicate to be absorbed through the skin…the risk is more on the manufacturing end via ingestion or inhalation of lead silicate dust.

 

[CarlosStorm]

I understand that you are asking for personal opinions. So, my opinion is that any CPC set, including Key West is better than any hybrid ceramic.

 

[pokachups]

Thanks all for the input, I really appreciate it!

On the leaded Paulsons - how do you usually tell if they're pre or post leaded chips?

 

[Eriks]

Thanks all for the input, I really appreciate it!

On the leaded Paulsons - how do you usually tell if they're pre or post leaded chips?

By their weight and price tag. 10 grams and up will probably be leaded and expensive. You typically wanna know so you can buy them though, not stay away from them.

I’m no doctor but I don’t think you need to worry about that tiny lead exposure. You don’t play every day, right? And don’t plan to taste them?

 

[Baxit]

Also tempted by Ravenor classic, owner feedback welcome! Buying from Europe as OP does, I appreciate that apollonchips site (= sun-fly retail) has straight price policy (0.99€ per chip, shipping included). Can't say the same for US-based (re)sellers, eg BRpropoker adds ~ $150 shipping to a 500 set (but free shipping to US, so just non-US issue). As for the set itself, I played it a few times like 3yr ago at friend's place. They sound well, stack well, have a clear/elegant design and classic colors on all denominations, quite easy to handle. Being all-printed ceramics (= fake clay inserts & fake labels), they may not interest collectors, but feel sturdy and reliable, hence my interest. Most useful youtube review imho by Fred's Poker.

 

[allforcharity]

Thanks all for the input, I really appreciate it!

On the leaded Paulsons - how do you usually tell if they're pre or post leaded chips?

Difficult to tell without chemical analysis.

Best to go by likely manufacturing date.
Pre-1998 likely leaded
1998-2005 reduced lead era
After 2005 no lead

Can't go by weight alone. But anything 11g or more undoubtedly leaded.

 

[SteveEH]

If you have the budget, Key West.

Also if your budget is tight, you should look at Tina hybrids and the broken Arrow vendor group buys - the majority of people here like them better than cards mold ceramics.

 

[Coyote]

By their weight and price tag. 10 grams and up will probably be leaded and expensive. You typically wanna know so you can buy them though, not stay away from them.

I’m no doctor but I don’t think you need to worry about that tiny lead exposure. You don’t play every day, right? And don’t plan to taste them?

If you don't bite them or lick them, you 're into the hell of emptying you wallet for leaded Paulsons.

 

[suchj0sh]

Key West is a no-brainer

 

[KHarp1]

The Key West chips are a very classic design, clay as opposed to ceramic, will hold value better than ceramics. Key West all day, for me. I own many sets of both types of chips, but prefer clays. The Key West chips will look as stylishly classic 30 years from now, when you hand them down to your offspring, as they do today. Printed ceramics? Probably not as much.

 

[LeGold]

Also, I would be more worried of whatever materials Sun-Fly and Tina might be using for printing than lead in older Paulsons, with regards to transfer onto hands...

 

[LeGold]

I have a few Key Wests, Sun-Fly and Tina samples which you can borrow (shipped from Norway) if you want, to try and feel. Let me know.

 

[Budha]

What's your experience with Key West

I can share my experience with Key West. I love them, great chips, love the H mold, look and feel is fantastic.

I also have several leaded THC sets and still very much appreciate and enjoy the key west’s.

I recommend them with no reservation, especially for a new chipper. You’re likely to graduate to real clays anyway. If they are in your budget, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

 

[Thomacetti]

^^ same here

 

[w00zie]

Yes! Key Wests are also very nice for micro stakes.

 

[Budha]

^^ same here

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I love the $20’s. I tried to work them into my line up, but had to make some trade offs - lol.

Not sure the color, what is that key lime pie or something? It’s got such a 50’s OG vibe.

 

[pokachups]

Thank you all so much for your comments and pictures! This really helps. I've taken LeGold up on the gracious offer to lend me some samples, so I'm really looking forward to getting a feel for the different types of chips.

Is this site a good place to get in touch with the Key West folks?

On the Key West design - part of me would perhaps want different numbers of spots / split spots on different denoms, but part of me also likes the uniformity and simplicity of the design. I guess it comes down to taste, I'll have to see what they're like in person.

 

[Eriks]

Thank you all so much for your comments and pictures! This really helps. I've taken LeGold up on the gracious offer to lend me some samples, so I'm really looking forward to getting a feel for the different types of chips.

Is this site a good place to get in touch with the Key West folks?

On the Key West design - part of me would perhaps want different numbers of spots / split spots on different denoms, but part of me also likes the uniformity and simplicity of the design. I guess it comes down to taste, I'll have to see what they're like in person.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/forums/key-west-resort-and-casino.22/

 

[pokachups]

Thanks!

How about chips counts? I'm looking for a smaller set that can accommodate up to six ppl, and I was thinking 300 chips. Do you think that's sufficient or have you had issues with "minimalistic" sets?

 

[Eriks]

Thanks!

How about chips counts? I'm looking for a smaller set that can accommodate up to six ppl, and I was thinking 300 chips. Do you think that's sufficient or have you had issues with "minimalistic" sets?

I assume you are doing tournaments then? 300 chips would be sufficient for 6 players and more. It’s probably a good idea to plan for more than just your current game though and buy enough for at least one full table.

400 chips will get you:

T25 x 120
T100 x 120
T500 x 70
T1000 x 90

Using starting stacks of 10k:

12/12/7/5

The extra 1ks are for color-ups.
You could even do:

8/8/4/7 and get by with even less chips.

These are rough breakdowns off the top of my head, there’s probably room to optimize

 

[Thomacetti]

I love the $20’s. I tried to work them into my line up, but had to make some trade offs - lol.

Not sure the color, what is that key lime pie or something? It’s got such a 50’s OG vibe.

Thanks, color is dayglo saturn

@dennis63 is the Key West guy

 

[WedgeRock]

Thanks, color is dayglo saturn

Sorry, but OP had it correct. On the Key West's, the color is Key Lime Pie.

 

[pokachups]

I assume you are doing tournaments then? 300 chips would be sufficient for 6 players and more. It’s probably a good idea to plan for more than just your current game though and buy enough for at least one full table.

400 chips will get you:

T25 x 120
T100 x 120
T500 x 70
T1000 x 90

Using starting stacks of 10k:

12/12/7/5

The extra 1ks are for color-ups.
You could even do:

8/8/4/7 and get by with even less chips.

These are rough breakdowns off the top of my head, there’s probably room to optimize

Thank you. I've actually been considered getting into cash games moreso than tournaments, so doing 1/5/25/100/500 denoms. Do cash games require more chips in your experience?

 

[WedgeRock]

For a 6 player cash game (depending on the buyin), you don't need 100s or 500s.

 

[suchj0sh]

Thank you. I've actually been considered getting into cash games moreso than tournaments, so doing 1/5/25/100/500 denoms. Do cash games require more chips in your experience?

So like $1/$2 blinds with a $200 buy-in?

$1 - 100
$5 - 200
$25 - 80
$100 - 20

Total bank: 400 chips for $5100.

Would be more than enough to handle 6 handed $200 max buy-in with some re-buys. Could probably drop the $100’s and a barrel or two of the $25’s in favor of more $5’s too.

$1 - 100
$5 - 260
$25 - 40

Total bank: 400 chips $2400

Trying to think about the least amount of chips you need for a bank really lets you know everyone here has too many chips in their sets

 

[Eriks]

Do cash games require more chips in your experience?

Yes. We play 2/5 kr with 7 or 8 players. Buy-ins are typically 1000 and for starting stacks I do something like:

1 x 25
5 x 25
25 x 18
100 x 4

First few rebuys with 25s and then mostly with 100s, and a possibly few 500s later in the night. We could just as well do 5/5 but now I have all those poor 1-chips that wanna see play!

Btw don’t listen too much to the muricans, they think a 200-bet has to be made two fisted with 5-chips . They’ll try to convert you to the dark side if you don’t watch it

 

[pokachups]

Good input. I had calculated for a 6 player 500 buy-in such as:
10x1
13x5
9x25
2x100

But I can see how having another 100 or so chips makes for a nicer chip distribution. I just want to avoid having a ton of unused chips (i.e. overspending ).