Chip Material Ranking (1 Viewer)

There’re also big differencies between the various ceramic and plastics manufacturers. Imo:

Plastics: B&G>>>>>>>>>Abbiati>Bud Jones>Matsui (haven’t tried Gemaco)

Ceramic: B&G>>>>>>>>>Chipco>>>>Brpro>sunfly (have not tried cards mold or other ”china blanks)
 
Obtainable chips:
Leaded textured Paulsons > Abbiati plastics >> everything else, and I mean everything.

If leaded TRK were more easily obtainable in singles and sets, I'd rank them with the Paulsons or maybe above them.
 
@HosStyle - What you mean by "materials" is somewhat ambiguous. I'm guessing you're trying to rank the different types of chips, but even what constitutes a "type" of chip can be ambiguous.

Probably the highest level of classification would be:

Mass-market plastics
Enthusiast-grade plastics ("china clays")
Ceramics
Casino-grade plastics
Clays

... but most of those can be easily divided into more granular "types". Consider clays:

TRKs
CPCs (and ASMs and Burt Cos)
BCCs
Paulsons

But we can be more specific still:

TRKs - leaded
TRKs - non-leaded
CPCs - weighted
CPCs - non-weighted
BCCs
Paulsons - leaded
Paulsons - non-leaded

Each of those seven types uses a different type of material, although we call them all "clay". The clay formula is a mix of stuff including plastic, clay minerals, fibrous material, dyes, and other stuff that we don't even know about, and each of the above has a different formula. In fact, every different color has a slightly different formula, although all the colors of one manufacturer have fairly similar formulas, and every manufacturer's formulas are very different from every other manufacturer's formulas.

You can do the same kind of detailed breakdown for casino grade plastics (Bud Jones V2s, Bud Jones V7s, Matsui ABS, Matsui non-ABS, and Abbiatis are all made from different plastic formulas and all feel quite different from each other), for ceramics (Chipco, ABC, Sun-Fly, and Tina all are different), China clays (Majestics, Milanos, and Spirits are all different), and even mass-market plastics (dice chips, Outlaws, and Monte Carlos are all different).

So your question is very open-ended and perhaps not very well specified, perhaps moreso than you realize.
 
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... and since your criteria mention feel, sound, and weight, then that brings molds into consideration (i.e. THC vs. RHC, TRK small crowns vs. large crowns, CPC A-mold vs. Circle-Square vs. Horse Head Right etc etc) since different chips made by the same manufacturer using the same materials but different molds will have different feel, sound, and weight.

Not to mention, for example, Matsui slugged vs. Matsui unslugged (affects feel, sound, and weight) and many other similar cases.

In other words, there's a lot more going on here than just "material".


For what it's worth, I'm of the opinion that Every Chip Feels Different but All Chips Feel Good. I've got plastic sluggos, THC, bone, and ivory (just to name a few) and I love the way they all feel. I wouldn't try ranking them any more than I'd rank the clothes in my closet. Different chips with different feels for different moods.

That said, my ranking is

1. Leaded THC
2. Everything else (thirty-way tie)
 
CrazyEddie said:
@HosStyle - What you mean by "materials" is somewhat ambiguous. I'm guessing you're trying to rank the different types of chips, but even what constitutes a "type" of chip can be ambiguous.

Probably the highest level of classification would be:

Mass-market plastics
Enthusiast-grade plastics ("china clays")
Ceramics
Casino-grade plastics
Clays

... but most of those can be easily divided into more granular "types". Consider clays:

TRKs
CPCs (and ASMs and Burt Cos)
BCCs
Paulsons

But we can be more specific still:

TRKs - leaded
TRKs - non-leaded
CPCs - weighted
CPCs - non-weighted
BCCs
Paulsons - leaded
Paulsons - non-leaded

Each of those seven types uses a different type of material, although we call them all "clay". The clay formula is a mix of stuff including plastic, clay minerals, fibrous material, dyes, and other stuff that we don't even know about, and each of the above has a different formula. In fact, every different color has a slightly different formula, although the all colors of one manufacturer have fairly similar formulas, and every manufacturer's formulas are very different from every other manufacturer's formulas.

You can do the same kind of detailed breakdown for casino grade plastics (Bud Jones V2s, Bud Jones V7s, Matsui ABS, Matsui non-ABS, and Abbiatis are all made from different plastic formulas and all feel quite different from each other), for ceramics (Chipco, ABC, Sun-Fly, and Tina all are different), China clays (Majestics, Milanos, and Spirits are all different), and even mass-market plastics (dice chips, Outlaws, and Monte Carlos are all different).

So your question is very open-ended and perhaps not very well specified, perhaps moreso
Click to expand...
CrazyEddie said:
@HosStyle - What you mean by "materials" is somewhat ambiguous. I'm guessing you're trying to rank the different types of chips, but even what constitutes a "type" of chip can be ambiguous.

Probably the highest level of classification would be:

Mass-market plastics
Enthusiast-grade plastics ("china clays")
Ceramics
Casino-grade plastics
Clays

... but most of those can be easily divided into more granular "types". Consider clays:

TRKs
CPCs (and ASMs and Burt Cos)
BCCs
Paulsons

But we can be more specific still:

TRKs - leaded
TRKs - non-leaded
CPCs - weighted
CPCs - non-weighted
BCCs
Paulsons - leaded
Paulsons - non-leaded

Each of those seven types uses a different type of material, although we call them all "clay". The clay formula is a mix of stuff including plastic, clay minerals, fibrous material, dyes, and other stuff that we don't even know about, and each of the above has a different formula. In fact, every different color has a slightly different formula, although the all colors of one manufacturer have fairly similar formulas, and every manufacturer's formulas are very different from every other manufacturer's formulas.

You can do the same kind of detailed breakdown for casino grade plastics (Bud Jones V2s, Bud Jones V7s, Matsui ABS, Matsui non-ABS, and Abbiatis are all made from different plastic formulas and all feel quite different from each other), for ceramics (Chipco, ABC, Sun-Fly, and Tina all are different), China clays (Majestics, Milanos, and Spirits are all different), and even mass-market plastics (dice chips, Outlaws, and Monte Carlos are all different).

So your question is very open-ended and perhaps not very well specified, perhaps moreso than you realized
Click to expand...
CrazyEddie said:
@HosStyle - What you mean by "materials" is somewhat ambiguous. I'm guessing you're trying to rank the different types of chips, but even what constitutes a "type" of chip can be ambiguous.

Probably the highest level of classification would be:

Mass-market plastics
Enthusiast-grade plastics ("china clays")
Ceramics
Casino-grade plastics
Clays

... but most of those can be easily divided into more granular "types". Consider clays:

TRKs
CPCs (and ASMs and Burt Cos)
BCCs
Paulsons

But we can be more specific still:

TRKs - leaded
TRKs - non-leaded
CPCs - weighted
CPCs - non-weighted
BCCs
Paulsons - leaded
Paulsons - non-leaded

Each of those seven types uses a different type of material, although we call them all "clay". The clay formula is a mix of stuff including plastic, clay minerals, fibrous material, dyes, and other stuff that we don't even know about, and each of the above has a different formula. In fact, every different color has a slightly different formula, although the all colors of one manufacturer have fairly similar formulas, and every manufacturer's formulas are very different from every other manufacturer's formulas.

You can do the same kind of detailed breakdown for casino grade plastics (Bud Jones V2s, Bud Jones V7s, Matsui ABS, Matsui non-ABS, and Abbiatis are all made from different plastic formulas and all feel quite different from each other), for ceramics (Chipco, ABC, Sun-Fly, and Tina all are different), China clays (Majestics, Milanos, and Spirits are all different), and even mass-market plastics (dice chips, Outlaws, and Monte Carlos are all different).

So your question is very open-ended and perhaps not very well specified, perhaps moreso than you realize.
Click to expand...
Excellent breakdown I bit off more than I could chew with this one. I was trying to see how others viewed the quality of chips and why. I know many people really like ceramics but I haven’t found any I like while others hate CC I have really enjoyed them. I have talked to several guys that love Paulson and hate CPC. I don’t think I titled this thread correctly by using the word materials but I didn’t know how else to categorize them. I have enjoyed learning from this thread though!
 
Even leaded Paulsons can be further broken down.

THC inlaid
THC hot stamp
RHC inlaid
RHC hot stamp
IHC inlaid (I don't recall any IHC hot stamp)

You also have smooth inlays, textured inlays, and textured shaped inlays, though the feel of the chips does not change depending on the shape of the inlay.
 
For clay chips, I’d order them like this:

Leaded Paulson clay
Leaded TRK clay
BCC clay
CPC clay
Unleaded TRK Clay
Unleaded Paulson clay

For ceramics, it’s harder to say, especially since the finish affects it so much.
I love casino Chipcos with the linen finish. The other, smoother, kind of bubbly finish is great too.
I love the feel of dio de Los muertos chips, but I think that company (bropro poker) offers a few different ceramic blanks, so I’m not gonna rate that company’s ceramics based on just one.
I love Sunfly’s 43mm hybrids with the small inlays, but honestly, their ceramic is very plasticy feeling, which I don’t love.
And those new card molds from China feel great, but the more I think about them, the less I like them, just based on principle.

And my feelings on most plastic chips won’t make it through the swear filters. The abiatti’s from the group but felt great, but they seem way too expensive.

TL;DR - Clay is the way, the leadier the better.
 
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1. Paulson leaded THCs.
2. BCCs.
3. TRK leaded.
4. Everything else.

Disclaimer: I am a complete noob but I have handled a buttload of chips — and based on feel alone, this is how I see it. I sincerely wish I had access to more quality #2 and #3 sets as it might sway my thoughts, but my interest in #4 has reached near zero.
 
HosStyle said:
I’m gonna have to look up Trk!
Click to expand...
1640219801467.jpeg
 
<<<<-----Take this new guy's opinion with a huge grain of salt but of the ones I've owned and played with:

1 - Paulson - I love how clays feel, and sharp uniform edges are huge for me, a barrel looking like one cylinder makes me bite my knuckle. 'The' casino chip for me and what I've played with at the casinos.
2 - CPC - The material only comes in 2nd mostly because the colors I want aren't weighted, and the texture created with the molding process. With that said, I'm designing my inlay now in Adobe Illustrator and going to purchase customs in the 1st Quarter.
3 - China Clay - I like these more than below (and maybe more than many in this forum) because the molds on my Pharoahs look pretty satisfying to me and the weight is just right. I love the sound and it's easy to do tricks. If these were just a bit more minty, sharp edged and better color wear consistency, I'd be more satisfied. (My family/friends players prefers these to my Paulsons - go figure). I also have never smelled anything when handling these, but then again this nose let's me eat blue cheese in large quantities.
4 - Ceramics don't cut it for me because they are not molded and a bit slippery for my taste. I'm a sucker for 3d (even in the movies). Although I would love a whole playable Chipco Luxor 1993 chip set as it was the first chip I decided to collect when I went the first week of opening.
5 - Faux Clay - If I was dirt poor, I'd spring for these as they feel kinda nice and would be an upgrade to the other lower cost chips.
6 - ABS Plastic Dice chips - Kinda like making me drive a Chevy Malibu, I guess it gets me there. Has some weight but nothing else feels right.
7 - Neccos - I would call these MC's (Mexican Clays) as that's where they are made now. Main Pro: Winner eats all! :)
8 - Plastic (Unweighted) - Too light and you can't eat'em.
 
bezerkus said:
<<<<-----Take this new guy's opinion with a huge grain of salt but of the ones I've owned and played with:

1 - Paulson - I love how clays feel, and sharp uniform edges are huge for me, a barrel looking like one cylinder makes me bite my knuckle. 'The' casino chip for me and what I've played with at the casinos.
2 - CPC - The material only comes in 2nd mostly because the colors I want aren't weighted, and the texture created with the molding process. With that said, I'm designing my inlay now in Adobe Illustrator and going to purchase customs in the 1st Quarter.
3 - China Clay - I like these more than below (and maybe more than many in this forum) because the molds on my Pharoahs look pretty satisfying to me and the weight is just right. I love the sound and it's easy to do tricks. If these were just a bit more minty, sharp edged and better color wear consistency, I'd be more satisfied. (My family/friends players prefers these to my Paulsons - go figure). I also have never smelled anything when handling these, but then again this nose let's me eat blue cheese in large quantities.
4 - Ceramics don't cut it for me because they are not molded and a bit slippery for my taste. I'm a sucker for 3d (even in the movies). Although I would love a whole playable Chipco Luxor 1993 chip set as it was the first chip I decided to collect when I went the first week of opening.
5 - Faux Clay - If I was dirt poor, I'd spring for these as they feel kinda nice and would be an upgrade to the other lower cost chips.
6 - ABS Plastic Dice chips - Kinda like making me drive a Chevy Malibu, I guess it gets me there. Has some weight but nothing else feels right.
7 - Neccos - I would call these MC's (Mexican Clays) as that's where they are made now. Main Pro: Winner eats all! :)
8 - Plastic (Unweighted) - Too light and you can't eat'em.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response! This exactly what I was looking for in this thread! I appreciate you taking the time!
 

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