CPC worth the money? (1 Viewer)

[ad119]

I can’t find many reviews about the custom poker chips by Classic Poker Chips. Just looking for feed back before I possibly purchase a set.

 

[ParrotheadMZ]

Yes, yes, omg, yes.

Get samples.

 

[justsomedude]

I can’t find many reviews about the custom poker chips by Classic Poker Chips. Just looking for feed back before I possibly purchase a set.

They're literally your only option for custom clays.

Are they better than dice chips? Yes... without a doubt.
Are they better than china clays? Yes... without a doubt.
Are they better than custom ceramics? In most cases, yes. But there are some cool custom ceramics out there.
Are they better than Paulsons? Some say 'yes', because you can customize everything. Some say 'no,' because they just ain't Paulson.

YMMV.

 

[DoubleEagle]

Absolutely!

 

[v1pe]

If you want to design a nice custom set, yes. If you don't care as much about the chip design, it's more cost effective to go with some set of Paulson chips.

CPC chips feel awesome, but unless the design is great or they have great personal meaning I think there's probably more value in a Paulson set.

 

[kmccormick100]

Yes.

 

[crussader]

...it's more cost effective to go with some set of Paulson chips....

Only if you're talking about heavily casino used chips. CPCs are cheaper than most nice Paulson sets, including home fantasy Paulsons.

 

[SixSpeedFury]

Only if you're talking about heavily casino used chips. CPCs are cheaper than most nice Paulson sets, including home fantasy Paulsons.

100% this. If you want the nicer looking Paulsons or the hard to get ones, expect to pay a pretty penny.

 

[ad119]

Sounds like they are well worth it. Now it’s time to save up some winnings to make a purchase. Thanks for the input!

 

[Coyote]

Fellow newbie here too.
What drove me to CPC is the desire for personalization. It's the only way to go, if personalization matters to you.
If you have a concept in mind, or if you're in love with specific colors, combinations and patterns, or if you don't want to be restrained by specific pre-determined denominations, or can afford 12 different denominations good for any opportunity (from 0.05 to 25,000) for an absolute minimum of 1200 chips, then it's CPC.
If you are a clay purist (I am not yet), again it's either CPC or the possibly long endeavour to build a playable set of used legendary Paulsons, whenever you find available what you 'll be looking for.

Otherwise, visually speaking, there are truly beautiful "china clays" out there (for a fraction of the clays' cost), whose feel is generally tolerated by the clergy of this forum - notably the Majestics and Milanos. The latter come as blanks also (so that you can put labels of your own, with whatever denominations or with no denominations at all), but in only 7 out of the 12 colors available for the pre-labeled, pre-denominated ones - if I 'm not mistaken.
A beautiful set of Majestics is on sale right now by a member in the classifieds section.

Above all, get samples.

 

[Perthmike]

To be fair, you often end up paying between $2.50 - $3 per cpc chip if you go for the better spots.

I enjoy my cpcs a lot but i prefer my paulsons by far. The colours are far superior and the stack heights are uniform.

I will say that I’m not a creative person, and bought someone else’s cpcs and added a couple of new chips, so the design doesn’t mean as much to me as sets designed by the owner.

My two cents is that if you really want a custom set, go for cpc, but if you aren’t too bothered go Paulson all the way.

Cpcs will not work out cheaper. You can buy lots of minty rhc paulsons for between $1.20 - $2 a chip. Just look at the horshoes.

 

[v1pe]

Only if you're talking about heavily casino used chips. CPCs are cheaper than most nice Paulson sets, including home fantasy Paulsons.

Really? I assumed if priced out, with similar type edge spots your going to be running at least $2.50+ per chip, no?

There are quite often sets for sale of things like HS, Native Lights (one up right now I think), etc. Maybe not mint condition but usually good+ at the $1-2 per chip range. There are also plenty of BCC, ASM, CPC sets that go up in that range too.

Custom CPCs are awesome, but I would contend that a set of nice looking Paulson for half the price is a better value even if they are used. Of course mint means more to some than others.

Also, I'm mostly referencing cash sets, I don't think there as many tournament sets often enough at those prices.

 

[PlaidDragon]

I can’t find many reviews about the custom poker chips by Classic Poker Chips. Just looking for feed back before I possibly purchase a set.

Heh.... just look at a few of the "pron" threads with CPC chips and you might be convinced of their awesomeness.

 

[ovo]

I bought when they were ASM, cheaper, not as many options. Love my customs. If I didn't have a set, I would love to get a CPC set. Sure they are more expensive now, but more options too. Take the time to plan it out right. Get color and mold samples.

 

[crussader]

To be fair, you often end up paying between $2.50 - $3 per cpc chip if you go for the better spots.

That's true for the upper denominations, but the workhorse chips in my sets are way less than that. My averages run just over $2.00 per chip for the set and that's with progressive spots. A nice set can certainly be built for less than $2.00 a chip.

You can buy lots of minty rhc paulsons for between $1.20 - $2 a chip. Just look at the horshoes.

Horseshoes may be an exception due to so many of them being out there, but only certain denominations. Even hot stamped Paulson solids are going for well over $1 these days. If you put together a Paulson set you may find one or two denominations for the set in that price range, but the price of the other denominations will raise the average well over $2. Even Paulson home fantasy chips are going for around $3 these days.

 

[crussader]

Really? I assumed if priced out, with similar type edge spots your going to be running at least $2.50+ per chip, no?

.. Maybe not mint condition but usually good+ at the $1-2 per chip range.

Yes you can find some denominations in that range for casino used condition, but I don't think you can put together a full cash set of paulson chips at that price. You certainly can't do it with mint chips.

 

[Perthmike]

That's true for the upper denominations, but the workhorse chips in my sets are way less than that. My averages run just over $2.00 per chip for the set and that's with progressive spots. A nice set can certainly be built for less than $2.00 a chip.




Horseshoes may be an exception due to so many of them being out there, but only certain denominations. Even hot stamped Paulson solids are going for well over $1 these days. If you put together a Paulson set you may find one or two denominations for the set in that price range, but the price of the other denominations will raise the average well over $2. Even Paulson home fantasy chips are going for around $3 these days.

That’s true, with certain molds and spots you can keep the price down and have a very nice set.

My problem is that I’m more of a level 4+ spot kind of guy. I’ve had the more simple sets before and I always end up back at the brighter more busy spot patterns.

One of my cpc chips was level 4 and with the dg peacock base, so would be about $2.70 now with the fdl mold.

So I guess that’s the other consideration really, how simple would you like the spot patterns.

 

[allforcharity]

CPC is the only option (for now) for complete customization from design to execution in a casino-quality compression clay chip. There is an unsubstantiated mention that there may soon be competition in this regard.

Relabelling of Paulson used casino product is also an option, but will depend on what is available to be gotten (limited colour/spot choices), how much time you have to attain it, and how much you're willing to pay. There might also be a substantial cost to modify the original chip itself (removing hot stamps and inlays, milling, printing and reapplying a designed decal).

There are also custom ceramic options, which also offer the potential for full face graphic design and customization, but they certainly feel, sound, handle, and stack somewhat differently to traditional compression clays, but at a comparatively very affordable price. Some embrace ceramics and ceramic hyrbids wholeheartedly, while others avoid them with a fervor normally reserved for dice chips.

But your opinions matter most for your happiness. I love my custom ceramics and the use I've gotten from them. My next project will involve used Paulson modification and rehabilitation. Somewhere down the road I will plan for a small custom compression clay set, but whether that is from CPC or any other competition that might be around at that time is still up in the air.

 

[Rhodeman77]

How important is game security too? If you are playing a cash game with thousands of dollars on the table, with people you don’t know very well, do you want to be using anything other than a custom set?

And if you are doing a tournament set a custom set of CPC chips can be much cheaper than a casino set of chips with the same denominations. Horseshoe $1k and up chips are selling for $15+ easily.

Even the highest level CPC chips won’t cost that much.

I have Casino Paulsons and custom CPC chips and love them all. The best answer is to get both.

If you decide to get customs take your time. Don’t rush he design process.

 

[Gameface]

There is a security aspect with custom chips. Maybe that doesn't matter to you. I don't know.

I'm in for the PCF promo chips for a tournament set, but I will not host a cash game until I have my own CPC custom set.

Security matters to me. I've hosted well over 100 games. I've always trusted my players 100%. Security matters to me.

 

[Nex]

This question can only in part be answered objectively, because a lot is very subjective as well.

Do you want to host cash games? You need customs. Doesn't mean it has to be CPCs though. Custom ceramics also offer some level of security, depending on how much you trust the chinese. Wouldn't go with Paulson or China Clay relabels here, as others could simply grab some blanks as well and copy the label.
For low stakes tournaments a stock set of cheapo chips may be fine, but in the long run or for higher stakes I'd get customs too. Paulson is usually a dead end here because of the high prices for the upper denoms as it has been mentioned, so your options here are CPC and ceramics again. If your budget only allows for one CPC set, definitely make it the cash set, and get the cheaper custom ceramics for tournament play.

Do you like the sound and feel of ceramics? Do you want to have a super fancy design that may not be limited by the size of a label or an inlay? Are you fine with chips that won't stand on their edge, but are nicely glossy there instead? Do you want all your chips to look uniformly? Is your budget very limited? Go ceramic.

If you are looking for the (subjectively) superior sound and feel of clay chips, then well you're not going to be happy with ceramics in the long run. Pick up a barrel of samples of both, check them out for yourself. Both options have their advantages and drawbacks; ultimately it comes down to which properties you value over the others.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Discussion of chips requires photos....

...and these are just my customs. I also have playable sets of Paulsons, Bud Jones, Matsui, Milanos, Plastic "Desert Palms", and if you wanted to count them, Dice chips.

I've done light polling of my players to determine if there is a preference. Many don't have a preference, some have stronger opinions and would rate their favorites differently. Here's how I would rate the sets, and why...

1. CPC (because of the customization, but make no mistake, these don't feel just like the chips you used in a casino)
2. Paulson (best feel)
3. Bud Jones (I really like the feel of the v7 style chips. Very "clean" feel)
4. Custom ceramics (Customization of course, but feel just like casino chips, if you play in casino that use ceramics as many do)
5. RT Plastics (easy relabel project, nice big label)
6. China Clay (custom)
7. Milanos (Stock China clay, little game security)
8. Matsui (Great feel, but very slippery, best if you don't have very deep stacks. Their plaques however are top-notch.)
9. Custom ABS (custom, but nearly the same as dice chips)
10. Plastic "Desert Palms". (on par with any sub-25¢ plastic chip like Nexgen, Lucky Bee, etc) super slippery, and stock purchase makes them non-secure chips)
11. Dice chips. (The pariah of all chips, and would rate below using a food item like pretzels or M&Ms)

 

[upNdown]

CPC (because of the customization, but make no mistake, these don't feel just like the chips you used in a casino)

I wonder why you’d say it like that. I’d say they feel more similar than different. And to the untrained eye they probably feel just like paulsons.

 

[links_slayer]

Worth it?

To me, yes.

 

[Wils]

Bear in mind your Paulsons are going to have greater resale value than custom chips that can't be used (readily) to fill out other established sets.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I wonder why you’d say it like that. I’d say they feel more similar than different. And to the untrained eye they probably feel just like paulsons.

Paulsons (THC) are more "grippy" than CPC (FDL). The sound with the Paulson (THC) is also a lower pitch than the CPC (FDL).

Of course, different molds will vary. Paulson (RHC) with a Giant inlay will have less grip than the THC, and CPC (MD-50) will probably have more grip as it has a smaller inlay. I don't have playable sets of those so I can't compare those extra factors.

I guess this is just one more example of "get samples".

 

[upNdown]

Paulsons (THC) are more "grippy" than CPC (FDL). The sound with the Paulson (THC) is also a lower pitch than the CPC (FDL).

Of course, different molds will vary. Paulson (RHC) with a Giant inlay will have less grip than the THC, and CPC (MD-50) will probably have more grip as it has a smaller inlay. I don't have playable sets of those so I can't compare those extra factors.

I guess this is just one more example of "get samples".

CPC gives you plenty of variables with molds, that’s for sure. I don’t think I’ve handled the FDL mold, but it doesn’t strike me as the grippiest.
Paulson’s THC is king, but CPC has several molds I’d prefer to Paulson’s RHC - A, B, E&C for sure, HHL I think and maybe others. Some of them are very high pitched, almost ceramic sounding. And I think they’re all gonna run at least a gram less than Paulson chips.
But comparisons aside, if you think compressed clay chips are worth spending money on, CPCs are definitely worth it.

 

[BGinGA]

Discussion of chips requires photos....
View attachment 158569

...and these are just my customs. I also have playable sets of Paulsons, Bud Jones, Matsui, Milanos, Plastic "Desert Palms", and if you wanted to count them, Dice chips.

I've done light polling of my players to determine if there is a preference. Many don't have a preference, some have stronger opinions and would rate their favorites differently. Here's how I would rate the sets, and why...

1. CPC (because of the customization, but make no mistake, these don't feel just like the chips you used in a casino)
2. Paulson (best feel)
3. Bud Jones (I really like the feel of the v7 style chips. Very "clean" feel)
4. Custom ceramics (Customization of course, but feel just like casino chips, if you play in casino that use ceramics as many do)
5. RT Plastics (easy relabel project, nice big label)
6. China Clay (custom)
7. Milanos (Stock China clay, little game security)
8. Matsui (Great feel, but very slippery, best if you don't have very deep stacks. Their plaques however are top-notch.)
9. Custom ABS (custom, but nearly the same as dice chips)
10. Plastic "Desert Palms". (on par with any sub-25¢ plastic chip like Nexgen, Lucky Bee, etc) super slippery, and stock purchase makes them non-secure chips)
11. Dice chips. (The pariah of all chips, and would rate below using a food item like pretzels or M&Ms)

If I were to rank your top five sets, I'd probably swap your top two choices, and inject ceramic hybrids into the #3 spot -- they are a great combination of security, cost, and feel.

I know you don't own a set, but it's just a matter of time.

 

[Darthhoodie]

I have Casino Paulsons and custom CPC chips and love them all. The best answer is to get both.

This ^

The way I look at it, chipping isn't an instant gratification type sport. You have your whole life to amass as many chips as you can.

I suggest getting both and then some.

Take your time with the custom chips, getting mold and color samples is a must. The colors look different in person and each mold has its own feel. What I like in the feel of a mold may not be what you like so its important to feel it for yourself. The mold samples are $13 bucks each so I would grab a few so you can get an idea how each mold will stack and sound and feel.

In the mean time pick up some casino used Paulson chips, you can't go wrong there.

I personally need at a minimum a travel cash and tourney set both china clay, a Paulson casino cash and tourney set, and a custom cash and tourney set.

The Paulson and cc sets come and go at my whim, but i'm in almost a year on the customs and i am still not happy with what I have so I keep playing around with designs.

Good luck with your chipping.


Edit: What BGinGA said about the hybrid ceramics, I didn't take part in the GB and I regret it, they look sweet!!
I would love to have a Tangiers cash set

 

[Poker Zombie]

If I were to rank your top five sets, I'd probably swap your top two choices, and inject ceramic hybrids into the #3 spot -- they are a great combination of security, cost, and feel.

I know you don't own a set, but it's just a matter of time.

I played with the Ceramic Hybrids at S@P (I believe they were yours), and they are a very respectable chip option. Personally, I'd slide them below Bud Jones, but I'm one of those freaks that really likes BJ chips. I'd also put them below regular ceramics, but that is entirely design specific. With a true ceramic, you can whole-face print the chip. No limits. The Paymasters are a perfect example of what one can do without those limits. My Zombie ceramics (above) also break out of the label area, something not possible with hybrids. The full ceramic also has a better grip.

However, the hybrid is still a fairly new player in the chip market. In time I think we may see some stellar designs that take advantage of the sharper inlay that the hybrid offers and the printable outer ring of the chip...

You're right. it is just a matter of time. :