Flattening Warped Chips (3 Viewers)

[JP1984]

Flattening jigs arrived from @Sparkynutz today. I have 9 of each size, ordered spares in case any European chippers want one.

I have 1365 chips to flatten and hopefully more coming...around 45 hours of effort if I use both ovens at 50 degrees. I can't wait!

 

[David Spragg]

View attachment 1473803

Flattening jigs arrived from @Sparkynutz today. I have 9 of each size, ordered spares in case any European chippers want one.

I have 1365 chips to flatten and hopefully more coming...around 45 hours of effort if I use both ovens at 50 degrees. I can't wait!

At our energy prices it would have been cheaper to buy new chips wouldn't it lol

 

[JP1984]

I did consider a set from you! Even now, after 100+ hours of murdering these, I am still tempted but I feel like I'm pot committed now the wife just thinks I should be committed I think!

 

[JP1984]

OK, I've started and immediately realised I don't have enough blank ceramics. I want 4 clamps in the 2 ovens and 4 cooling down at the same time.

Anyone got any blank ceramics they are done with before I go tap up BR Pro?

 

[wickedwonka121]

OK, I've started and immediately realised I don't have enough blank ceramics. I want 4 clamps in the 2 ovens and 4 cooling down at the same time.

Anyone got any blank ceramics they are done with before I go tap up BR Pro?

View attachment 1474384View attachment 1474385

What temperature are you using?

Edit: Nvm I see your other post.

 

[JP1984]

What temperature are you using?

Edit: Nvm I see your other post.

Now I'm up and running I can confirm I'm doing 20 mins at 50 degrees and 20 mins cooling, no extra squeeze during cooling required with my chips/clamps, I guess it's different for every setup and chip type though, I went very conservative to begin with.

I'm blown away by how effective it is, they stack like bricks now. Once I've got more ceramics I'll be able to flatten 2 racks per hour, won't take me long at all, I was fearing 40+ hours. I reckon I'll be done in under 8 hours.

 

[JP1984]

Home alone today, made the most of it! Had a great time!

 

[Huskerchipper]

I have some chips i wouldn't mind flattening a bit. My oven doesn't go that low though Mine only goes to 175 Fahrenheit/80 Celsius is there a specific heating pad you guys are using?? I have never seen one that has a temperature setting.

 

[Colquhoun]

I have some chips i wouldn't mind flattening a bit. My oven doesn't go that low though Mine only goes to 175 Fahrenheit/80 Celsius is there a specific heating pad you guys are using?? I have never seen one that has a temperature setting.

Usually the heating pad has a Low-Med-High setting, and the temperature ranges are either printed on the pad itself or the box it came in.

 

[Huskerchipper]

Usually the heating pad has a Low-Med-High setting, and the temperature ranges are either printed on the pad itself or the box it came in.

Thank you my friend. Also found this recommended somewhere in the 14 pages of this thread...

 

[Nitterdonker]

I have some chips i wouldn't mind flattening a bit. My oven doesn't go that low though Mine only goes to 175 Fahrenheit/80 Celsius is there a specific heating pad you guys are using?? I have never seen one that has a temperature setting.

I was also concerned because my heating pad only has the Low-Med-High setting. I can say that for me, the High setting works just fine. As others have done, I will do a preheat of the chips and blanks in the pad for 45 minutes. Then they go into a clamp, back in blanket for 45. Finally I take them out of the blanket and let them cool for 45. Seems to absolutely do the trick!

 

[Huskerchipper]

Thank you so much. I appreciate that simple detailed process.

I was also concerned because my heating pad only has the Low-Med-High setting. I can say that for me, the High setting works just fine. As others have done, I will do a preheat of the chips and blanks in the pad for 45 minutes. Then they go into a clamp, back in blanket for 45. Finally I take them out of the blanket and let them cool for 45. Seems to absolutely do the trick!

 

[Colquhoun]

I was also concerned because my heating pad only has the Low-Med-High setting. I can say that for me, the High setting works just fine. As others have done, I will do a preheat of the chips and blanks in the pad for 45 minutes. Then they go into a clamp, back in blanket for 45. Finally I take them out of the blanket and let them cool for 45. Seems to absolutely do the trick!

45 minute preheat, and then 45 minute heat?!?!?!
If you put them in a single layer and fold over the heating pad so that it is contacting the top and bottom of each chip, they are throughly heated to their core within no more than 5 minutes. Give it 10 to be sure, but 1.5 hours of heating is crazy long. Also, there's no need to preheat, imo....just heat, clamp, cool.
While heating the chips, I throw the blanks on top of the pad and they’re plenty warm by the time the chips are ready.
No need to make a whole night of this for 1 rack of chips.

 

[Nitterdonker]

45 minute preheat, and then 45 minute heat?!?!?!
If you put them in a single layer and fold over the heating pad so that it is contacting the top and bottom of each chip, they are throughly heated to their core within no more than 5 minutes. Give it 10 to be sure, but 1.5 hours of heating is crazy long. Also, there's no need to preheat, imo....just heat, clamp, cool.
While heating the chips, I throw the blanks on top of the pad and they’re plenty warm by the time the chips are ready.
No need to make a whole night of this for 1 rack of chips.

I hear ya, perhaps it's the pad or perhaps really bad warping, but for me this worked when other attempts did not. Overkill perhaps? I have no question, but I liked the results and not needing to do any second runs.

 

[Nitterdonker]

Again though, I have dealt with some disgustingly warped chips haha. My experience could be an odd one

 

[davesilver88]

I'm going to read thru this thread to learn.

One of the batches of Fun Nite's contain at least a barrel of warped chips. I'm gonna have to price out the "flattening kit"

blanket
clamp
flattening rack
ceramic blanks

If anyone just went thru this and wants to help, DM'ing me some info would be greatly appreciated.

I betting the cost of all this stuff would be close to equal to what someone may charge for this service.

 

[caballo993]

This was my experience last month:

Blanket- Amazon $16
https://a.co/d/bKoXO50

Clamps- Harbor Freight $3-9
12 in ratcheting clamp $3
8 in wooden clamp $9

Flattening Rack with Ceramic Blanks - @Sparkynutz $9.50/ea

 

[Brandon]

+1 on the use of the blanket, just turn the B on high and let the heat do its thing. I will say there was zero chance my THC chips (not badly warped at all, just a bit of wobble) were ready for action after 10 min. I would say most batches (slightly clamped as to not over flatten) took at least an hour of heat. Some batches, I had to run through a second time. I suppose everything is relative, and the more you tighten, the faster it may go....I just wanted to give each barrel PLENTY of time to gently flatten so as to not screw them up. This was an expensive set of chips tho, so maybe I was too careful.

 

[Taghkanic]

FWIW… This ad popped up in my social media… A device for flattening vinyl records:

https://recordpi.com/

As best as I can tell, it involves sandwiching records between a heavy metal disc and some other record-shaped material, in an insulated bag with a temperature control device.

Obviously my mind went straight to poker chips. In theory warped chips could be sandwiched between the discs as well… Not sure how many would fit, but the temp control seems like a plus. Also don’t know if additional weight would be needed.

Or I guess the temp-controlled bag could just be used in place of an oven, with clamped chips places inside?

I post it mainly as a curiosity, but it got me thinking.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Not sure how many would fit, but the temp control seems like a plus.

45, but maybe 44 because of the bolt in the middle

(37x 43mm chips)

 

[Colquhoun]

...and the more you tighten, the faster it may go....

Be real careful with the amount of clamping. Too much pressure can lead to "waistbanding", which can also happen during manufacture, but can be created with clamps.
example photo from @wickedwonka121

I've found that even mild pressure, just enough that the chip barrel doesnt fall out of the clamp, is still enough to flatten them. I urge everyone to use the least pressure that still flattens the chips.
And regardless of pressure, I've also found that it sometimes requires a second round to ease them into the correct shape.
I'll still stand by the opinion that any more than 10 minutes in a heating pad is a waste, their core temp is sufficiently heated.

 

[ekricket]

PSA:

If you are flattening chips and this happens to you, suck it up. Don’t put these chips for sale with misleading pictures anymore.

 

[Brandon]

Be real careful with the amount of clamping. Too much pressure can lead to "waistbanding", which can also happen during manufacture, but can be created with clamps.
example photo from @wickedwonka121
View attachment 1488745

I've found that even mild pressure, just enough that the chip barrel doesnt fall out of the clamp, is still enough to flatten them. I urge everyone to use the least pressure that still flattens the chips.
And regardless of pressure, I've also found that it sometimes requires a second round to ease them into the correct shape.
I'll still stand by the opinion that any more than 10 minutes in a heating pad is a waste, their core temp is sufficiently heated.

This 1,000,000%. Extra time is worth it to not f*!% them up

 

[UniLover]

First time flattening after reading through this thread a couple of times.

Bought these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZTVY1PM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

My oven lowest temp is about 170F so I started with 10 minutes and measured the outside temp:
10 minutes = around 110
12 minutes = around 115
15 minutes = around 120

Did a couple test half-barrels at 15 minutes. Left the clamp on these leaded Paulson THC and let cool to room temp.

Now I just need more ceramic blanks from @Sparkynutz!!!

 

[Saditsfact]

First time flattening after reading through this thread a couple of times.

Bought these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZTVY1PM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

My oven lowest temp is about 170F so I started with 10 minutes and measured the outside temp:
10 minutes = around 110
12 minutes = around 115
15 minutes = around 120

Did a couple test half-barrels at 15 minutes. Left the clamp on these leaded Paulson THC and let cool to room temp.
View attachment 1496935

View attachment 1496936

Now I just need more ceramic blanks from @Sparkynutz!!!

Just a thought but has anyone tried putting the clamped chips in the fridge or freezer to cool down faster? lol

 

[Colquhoun]

Just a thought but has anyone tried putting the clamped chips in the fridge or freezer to cool down faster? lol

I put a fan on them, but that’s as far as I was willing to go. Worried a quick flash of cold might crack them

 

[UniLover]

ASM/CPC chips are both harder and are manufactured at a much higher temperature than either Paulson or BCC chips -- making them less susceptible to significant softening from the lower heat levels induced by hot-stamping.

I'm pretty sure that the ASM/CPC's material doesn't like that amount of heat I'm using though.

What's the final consensus on CPC? I have a rack of severely warped small crown from hot stamp... Clamp only without heat overnight? Light heat?