Durable/Inexpensive Set Recommendation for a Newbie (1 Viewer)

[tabletalker7]

Any specific Ceramics you recommend for a budget of $300 500ct?

You could get semi-custom ceramics from @BR Pro Poker (Gene from ABC operates this site as well.) at $70/rack for $350. Personally, this is what I would do with that budget. You can just give your club a name or whatever and you have an instantly secure set.

https://brpropoker.com/collections/standard-design-ceramic-poker-chips

That is what I did

IMG_20200228_115314.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

quick breakdown

IMG_20200228_115231.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

Micro Stakes

I went semi-custom on a stock design and got something I LOVE from @BR Pro Poker . I paid just under 800, but I got 1200 chips. For only 500 chips, a semi-custom option is right in your price range.

 

[wolfpack]

I got 1000 custom ceramic chips for $375 shipped directly from a supplier in china.

 

[djfayze]

I got 1000 custom ceramic chips for $375 shipped directly from a supplier in china.

View attachment 571625

I’d love to hear about the process and who you used.

 

[ChasetheRiver]

That is what I did

IMG_20200228_115314.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

quick breakdown

IMG_20200228_115231.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

Micro Stakes

I went semi-custom on a stock design and got something I LOVE from @BR Pro Poker . I paid just under 800, but I got 1200 chips. For only 500 chips, a semi-custom option is right in your price range.

Thats a beaut of a set! The plaques are awesome.

 

[riotouslevity]

That is what I did

IMG_20200228_115314.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

quick breakdown

IMG_20200228_115231.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

Micro Stakes

I went semi-custom on a stock design and got something I LOVE from @BR Pro Poker . I paid just under 800, but I got 1200 chips. For only 500 chips, a semi-custom option is right in your price range.

Piling on with BR Pro. I like the Tiki kings and Lucky Dragons

 

[tabletalker7]

Piling on with BR Pro. I like the Tiki kings and Lucky Dragons

We pile on with BR Pro for a reason - Top notch quality at a price you can afford.

 

[tabletalker7]

Thats a beaut of a set! The plaques are awesome.

The plaques actually came from another site vendor here - @Apache - you can find them here https://www.apachepokerchips.com/product/andrew-jackson-20-plaque/

 

[coolguy101]

I’ll add my $.02 as another relative newbie. I got free samples from forum a member, and bought samples from Apache and discount poker chips. My observations: I liked the Monaco chip looks, but didn’t like the weight or soft plastic they use. I despise ceramics, because they should and feel like cheap hard plastic. One step up from dice chips, IMO. The China clays are really, really nice. I almost bought some of those. The Bud Jones in the sample pack feel awesome, as they are legit casino chips. Local card casinos in california use them, so if you’ve felt them before you might like them. They feel different than the typical Vegas chip, but they will probably be more durable and easier to clean. I really wanted them, but in the end I just wasn’t wild about the colors and design. In the end, I bought used casino Paulsons and spent a whole lot more money than I had originally intended. But I could afford it, so I did.

So if I were to rate them as far as relatively affordable chips go and exclude Paulsons or classic poker chips, I would rank them like this:
Bud Jones (depending on price)

China clays from Apache
Sluggers aka Monaco 13.5g type chips
Ceramics
Walmart dice chips

I didn’t get samples of nexgens because after watching a bunch of videos on them, I decided they weren’t for me.

my opinion is China clays feel the closest to a vegas casino chip for the budget minded price. Nothing else comes close in that price range.

bud Jones are real casino and poker tournament chips, so if you like the feel of those, you will immediately know the feel of them. Get samples, though, and ONLY buy after trying everything out. It’s worth the investment even if you have to buy samples.

 

[ChasetheRiver]

I’ll add my $.02 as another relative newbie. I got free samples from forum a member, and bought samples from Apache and discount poker chips. My observations: I liked the Monaco chip looks, but didn’t like the weight or soft plastic they use. I despise ceramics, because they should and feel like cheap hard plastic. One step up from diamond chips, IMO. The China clays are really, really nice. I almost bought some of those. The Bud Jones in the sample pack feel awesome, as they are legit casino chips. Local card casinos in california use them, so if you’ve felt them before you might like them. They feel different than the typical Vegas chip, but they will probably be more durable and easier to clean. I really wanted them, but in the end I just wasn’t wild about the colors and design. In the end, I bought used casino Paulsons and spent a whole lot more money than I had originally intended. But I could afford it, so I did.

So if I were to rate them as far as relatively affordable chips go and exclude Paulsons or classic poker chips, I would rank them like this:
Bud Jones (depending on price)

China clays from Apache
Sluggers aka Monaco 13.5g type chips
Ceramics
Walmart diamond chips

I didn’t get samples of nexgens because after watching a bunch of videos on them, I decided they weren’t for me.

my opinion is China clays feel the closest to a vegas casino chip for the budget minded price. Nothing else comes close in that price range.

bud Jones are real casino and poker tournament chips, so if you like the feel of those, you will immediately know the feel of them. Get samples, though, and ONLY buy after trying everything out. It’s worth the investment even if you have to buy samples.

Thanks for the insight! I've been looking around for some samples but for Bud Jones and Paulson chips they are hard to come by. I think I'm going to order a sample of ceramics and a sample of China clays to at least get a feel for the weight and texture. Would love it if there was a brand of China clays that had a similar colorway to the paulson Pharaoh's.

 

[Colquhoun]

I wouldn’t discount the idea of ceramics...there are plenty of major casinos that use them... and many of the EPT (European Poker Tour) events use them as well.
If you’re looking for a deal, sign up with BRProPoker because their Black Friday sale is due to be announced soon...you may get an even larger set for your money.

 

[Colquhoun]

I just remembered the HSI used Paulsons from the ChipRoom:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/horseshoe-southern-indiana-sale-thread.62028/
The $1 chips are only $.49 each. The $5 and $25 are $.59 and .$69 respectively. Although I think those used ones are the only chips still available.
They’re dirty, but clean up beautifully...you’ll have trouble finding Paulsons that inexpensive anywhere else.

 

[coolguy101]

I bought the HSI chips. Fantastic. I spent a lot of money. I keep going back and buying more because of the same reason I would never do a custom chip order: wonder if someday I need more matching chips? To me the worst thing that could happen is I need more chips for some reason, and either none are available or I would need to place a large order to get them custom made again. I wanted to buy more of the $500 chips because I only bought 20 to start, but they are all sold out and the only way i can get more is from a chip scalper that bought them all up so they could sell them later and make money con them. So my advice is to never do a custom chip order if you ever think you will want to buy more later. Either make more than you think you can ever use up front, or buy off the shelf.

 

[tabletalker7]

To me the worst thing that could happen is I need more chips for some reason, and either none are available or I would need to place a large order to get them custom made again.

More reason to love ceramics. They are made to order. Order what you want and they make it. Down the road you need more, and they make more. No biggie

 

[BGinGA]

And don't discount other types (and sizes) of ceramic variants -- the polyclays (with mold markings, similar look to clays) and polyinno hybrids (with recessed center and laminated label, similar look to clays) both offer performance and visual advantages over standard ceramic chips.

The 43mm hybrids are among my favorite chips in terms of looks and feel, and are extremely affordable imo.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Another vote for ceramics here. It really depends on the ones you sample. There is a world of difference between cheaper ceramics (Scroll, Nile Club) and other ceramics. For my money, Chipcos and BR Pro Poker / ABC ceramics are at the top, followed by Sunfly, and I rank them above China clays.

 

[ChasetheRiver]

And don't discount other types (and sizes) of ceramic variants -- the polyclays (with mold markings, similar look to clays) and polyinno hybrids (with recessed center and laminated label, similar look to clays) both offer performance and visual advantages over standard ceramic chips.

The 43mm hybrids are among my favorite chips in terms of looks and feel, and are extremely affordable imo.

In regards to the 43mm chips, how do you find playing with them over the 39mm? I'm assuming you only have higher denominations in the 43mm's and if so which ones specifically?

 

[djfayze]

I'm not much of a fan of China Clays as I used to be, and the Milanos are not one of the few I like since they tended to be very slippery and drab color palate. NexGens I'm not a fan of with its colors for both inlays, base, and edgespots, and are really slippery too.

A few people mentioned these chips, the Monaco Casinos: https://www.discountpokershop.com/25pc-135g-monaco-casino-clay-poker-chips-colors-p-605.html
I just got a T100 base tourney set after immediately getting samples. They're great for the value of what they are. Stack well, not really slippery outside of the T5k, and the weight is not too bad.

But remember to get samples first before you buy a set.

Sent you a PM about these!

 

[Goldfish]

Oh if you are hosting 1-2 then you should at a minimum be looking at the semi customs from Br pro poker and avoiding stock chips entirely.

It's just worth that piece of mind that no one is going to cash out an extra $100 from the bank by slipping in $4 worth of readily available chips.

Even if you think your friends are trustworthy, sometimes things, or sometimes a friend brings someone to play that he shouldn't, if it only happens once it's your money. Customization is worth the piece of mind.

For starting stacks I would suggest something like 10/28/2 of 1/5/25 for a 200 buy-in.

A set of 100/300/80/20 of 1/5/25/100 accomodates 10 such buy ins plus extra high chips for rebuys.

The total bank would be 5600 or 28 buy ins of 200, enough for 3 buy ins per person 9 handed.

Totally agree with this. Rule number one of hosting - protect the bank! Chip security (custom) and maintaining chip inventory is very important.

 

[Goldfish]

We pile on with BR Pro for a reason - Top notch quality at a price you can afford.

A friend who hosts a regular game uses custom ceramics from BR Poker Pro and has oversized 500s. Works well.

 

[ChasetheRiver]

Totally agree with this. Rule number one of hosting - protect the bank! Chip security (custom) and maintaining chip inventory is very important.

That's a good point I never considered. Would hope no one would do that but with that much money and a new face every couple of months, it could be a risk.

 

[Goldfish]

That's a good point I never considered. Would hope no one would do that but with that much money and a new face every couple of months, it could be a risk.

It actually happened in my friends home game - a guy we all have known for years brought counterfeit chips and inserted them into the game. Knock on wood, it’s never happened in my game - but I have always use customs chips.

 

[TheDuke]

If you're not in a rush to get your chips and you like ceramics, I'd highly recommend taking a look at the group buy forum and finding the card mold group buy thread. The current buy is closed but more are on the way.

~30¢ per chip for full custom with aligned edges. Bottom line, you will not find a better price to quality prop anywhere else. The downside is that you'll have to be patient as it'll take a while.

 

[ChasetheRiver]

If you're not in a rush to get your chips and you like ceramics, I'd highly recommend taking a look at the group buy forum and finding the card mold group buy thread. The current buy is closed but more are on the way.

~30¢ per chip for full custom with aligned edges. Bottom line, you will not find a better price to quality prop anywhere else. The downside is that you'll have to be patient as it'll take a while.

I'll keep an eye out thanks!

 

[riotouslevity]

In regards to the 43mm chips, how do you find playing with them over the 39mm? I'm assuming you only have higher denominations in the 43mm's and if so which ones specifically?

I haven't found a need in home cash games. I've found that a 4 color denom set will cover a one table cash game:. I have a $7000 or 3400 bigs bank for 1/2 and 8 - 10 players. I may have got to the $6000 level once in 6 years.

So no real need for the Big chip.

I do like the 43 mm just because they are bigger and I have big hands. Many get a set all 43 one day , but still enjoying my cpc 39s for now

 

[Goldfish]

In regards to the 43mm chips, how do you find playing with them over the 39mm? I'm assuming you only have higher denominations in the 43mm's and if so which ones specifically?

Personally, I always use 43mm for 1k chips. I go back and forth for oversized 500s. The 43mm are awesome to play with but a pain to store if u are using a case. I have moved to bird cages so it’s not an issue anymore. My current custom set has 43mm 1ks and my work in progress set has 43mm 500s and 1ks.

 

[BGinGA]

In regards to the 43mm chips, how do you find playing with them over the 39mm? I'm assuming you only have higher denominations in the 43mm's and if so which ones specifically?

Personally, I don't really like mixing chip sizes in the same set. But I do have three all-43mm tournament sets (T25-T25000 demoninations) -- one Paulson clay set, and two ceramic hybrid sets (with one more planned).

 

[coolguy101]

I despise the 43mm chips mixed 39mm. It messes up the stacking of my racks

 

[Doublebassa]

I'm a total newbie that has just built my first set. I went for Crown Casino Royale 14g slugged chips, just because they are cheap, look smart and stack well (also being in the UK choices are super limited unless you want to spend $$$$$ on import charges)
It took me about a year to build this set by scavenging marketplace and gumtree for second hand sets but I built the whole set (600 chips) for £70 (and that includes spending £40 on 200 $1 chips). If you buy new these are about £6 for a roll of 25 so still incredibly cheap.

I have 200 $1, 220 $5, 160 $25 and 20 $100 chips.

A selection of Pr0n attached.

 

[BirdCage]

Good China Clay option just listed here—> https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/460x-dunes-china-clays-from-apache-for-120.65017/

 

[Raphmivey]

durable+inexpensive=ceramics