Help Me Take the First Step Into the Abyss (2 Viewers)

[merkong]

Long time player and host who stepped away from dice chips recently. Not a huge distance traveled; set of Monte Carlo denominated for out cash game. Obviously a step up from our roots and the denominations took the cash game in the right direction.

My inquiry to the masses is, as an upcoming step over the edge is inevitable, what are some thoughts regarding a first purchase?

Does a person pick up a rack of something north of the equator on the higher end scale? Would these be for looks, could you infiltrate them into the cash game? Does a person save for a set? How high on the “awesome scale” does one go with that first real purchase?

I’ve never dabbled in anything that didn’t get at least mildly out of hand (according to my wife). Brewing beer, vintage muscle bicycles, building up my home gym, and (fortunately) poker.

Just throwing that out there so everyone can feel guilty when I need a second job or have a second mortgage.

Thanks.

merkong (Ken)
Just a home game host in MN

 

[louBdub]

If I could redo it…

I’d avoid all the bullshit gateway drugs, stop wasting time, and just get the inevitable……..

Full send. Go.

 

[buffalojim]

Here, let me help.

Welcome!

 

[merkong]

Here, let me help.

Welcome!

I’d have been disappointed with help of any other type.

I can swim.

I think I’ll be infusing some of the advice I receive from the group and buy myself a really nice Christmas gift. The nice thing is it’s not “just” for me.

Sharing is caring.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[merkong]

If I could redo it…

I’d avoid all the bullshit gateway drugs, stop wasting time, and just get the inevitable……..

Full send. Go.

I think you’re onto something. And on something.

Solid advice.

We did need to upgrade from the dice so I’m alright with that $200 invested in our cash set.

Time thought to boldly go where so many of you have gone.

 

[buffalojim]

I’d have been disappointed with help of any other type.

I can swim.

I think I’ll be infusing some of the advice I receive from the group and buy myself a really nice Christmas gift. The nice thing is it’s not “just” for me.

Sharing is caring.

Thanks for the reply.

On a serious note, I always knew I wanted Paulson clays before I even owned any, having played with them previously. I didn't need to buy samples of chips to know what I wanted as I had done much research and reading beforehand. I wanted older, leaded, clay Paulson chips, period. I would recommend getting samples of different chips to see what you might like though. Prices of some things will make your eyes bleed, so decide what you're willing to spend and see what your options are.

 

[Tonysquander]

I came here looking to upgrade my dice chips, quickly decided that I wanted to go custom with CPC and then fell down the rabbit hole of getting some CDI 98s as a “stop gap” measure until my customs arrived. That turned into having a full set of those plus another full set of CDI98 “extras” plus other sets. Lol. Leaded THCs are going to cost you but are the GOAT. If you want to skip the trial and error and get the best, go straight for that. I also happen to have a set of leaded THC awesomeness for sale

 

[bernielomax]

Ken, what would be your budget for better chips? There are several routes to go from here, but it depends on what your willing to spend.

 

[merkong]

I think as a toe dipping endeavor I’d inquire if $300-500 would bring something in that would be appreciated and functional.

 

[louBdub]

Cautionary tales are everywhere here…

This is mine
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/one-year-later.95559/

 

[liftapint]

Honestly, do yourself a favor. Buy a "Tina cards mold" set that you like the look of, and then delete this site from your browser history. This is the best way.

 

[buffalojim]

Honestly, do yourself a favor. Buy a "Tina cards mold" set that you like the look of, and then delete this site from your browser history. This is the best way.

Truth

 

[LeLe]

I think as a toe dipping endeavor I’d inquire if $300-500 would bring something in that would be appreciated and functional.

I will say at that budget you can get

1) 1000 Card Mold Set

2) 600 China Clay Set

3) 500 BR Ceramic Set

4) 400 Casino Grade Plastic Set

5) 300-400 Used Paulson Set

6) 200 GC/NM Paulson Set

 

[liftapint]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/1120pc-cards-mold-starlite-cash.96677/#post-2000048

Now go live your life. You can still get out of here alive.

 

[bernielomax]

I think as a toe dipping endeavor I’d inquire if $300-500 would bring something in that would be appreciated and functional.

I don't think your going to be able to leave PCF behind. Your already neck deep by building a poker table.

It this were me, I would stick with the Monte Carlo's you just bought for now. Spend more time exploring PCF and see what you can potentially put together.

The list by @LeLe is a good summary of what you can get.

There will be future sales by @TheChipRoom which could get you a casino used set for a good price.

 

[allforcharity]

Get samples of various chips (or meet up with a local member who is willing to show you samples) so you know what's out there. Then decide if it's something worth pursuing.

 

[Tonysquander]

I have played with both and frankly I would rather have a Monte Carlo set than a Tina Card Mold set. Sticker versus sublimation but the Monte Carlos (IMO) look, feel and sound much better. Maybe I should post this on the unpopular opinions thread though...

 

[LeLe]

It this were me, I would stick with the Monte Carlo's you just bought for now. Spend more time exploring PCF and see what you can potentially put together.

+1, this is what I did.

I gotten a 600 Card Mold set and explore PCF for about 6 months before I committed my first buy into a Paulson Set

There will be future sales by @TheChipRoom which could get you a casino used set for a good price.

There some interesting TCR sales at times to times too even if you are not looking to paid more than $1 per chip

I built a budgeted set of 600+ Majestic Star with matching Denomination (So I can get a consistent similar barrel height) at just above $200

 

[linux]

Honestly, do yourself a favor. Buy a "Tina cards mold" set that you like the look of, and then delete this site from your browser history. This is the best way.

Nobody does that

Been here a month and had the same advice. Should have listened but nooooo. I started with cc and ceramic samples and quickly realized that paulsons are the way to go and decided to start small with a couple mini-sets of 100 chips. Four weeks later (after taking the advice to start s spreadsheet to track what I have, another mistake) after a few purchases of between $60 and $200 I find that I have 754 chips and have spent $1776 (not counting racks). I was stunned.

The problem is that I've decided that the set I really, really want now is Dunes. Again, I was warned. One of our members bought what looked like a near mint set for nearly $6K. I was envious but that's probably where I'm headed. After spending $2K, I could have been 1/3 there. I understand the excessive gene; motorcycles, guitars, beer, now chips...

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded reply but this virus can be expensive for sure, but fund... Good luck

 

[louBdub]

Everyone on PCF…. Who owns more than one set of chips, is excessive. Dare I even say if you own a rack of $100s for your cash set, you’re wildly excessive haha. But I like that shit!

We’re all addicts. We all share the same dumb gene. We all get dumb, go full tard, buy and collect expensive things, and share them with the magical internet people.

ITS WHAT WE ARE. I keep reading the same story…. Tools, guns, cars, motorcycles, etc.

Now it’s poker chips.

All of you, stop lying to yourselves, we’re all addicted to circle discs.

So Ken, take a hit of the sweet clay goodness and just smile my man. Nothing else will fulfill your desires…. Just a small hit. Nothing crazy…….. Let it tingle a little….

Nobody will judge you here.

Go on…. Let it happen………….

 

[SteveEH]

I'm not a collector. Years ago I wanted high quality, meaningful set for my home game. I went through 4 sets that didn't work until I finally got there.

Here's what I did to get there:

- took my time to settle on a meaningful theme.
- looked for inspiration from custom home game and casino sets.
- got samples, including shuffle stacks of molds I was considering.
- made sure the mold I was choosing worked with my theme.
- hired a professional designer for the artwork.

In the interim you can always upgrade to some ceramics that can be sold later.

 

[upNdown]

vintage muscle bicycles

Um, what now?

Does a person pick up a rack of something north of the equator on the higher end scale? Would these be for looks, could you infiltrate them into the cash game? Does a person save for a set? How high on the “awesome scale” does one go with that first real purchase?

No, you can't mix a rack of high end clays in with your monte carlo suggers. Well it's your game, you can do whatever you want, but maybe leave us out of that one. you can go as high end as you want with your first purchases. Just make sure you do your homework and don't get screwed. Because high end chips are totally resellable, just make sure you get something that other people might want and that you don't overpay for it. You know, in case you don't love it. Because if you're just jumping in, you're bound to learn you'll like some chips more than others.

 

[merkong]

Cautionary tales are everywhere here…

This is mine
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/one-year-later.95559/

I’ve been thru this thread. It’s amazing… Live the recovery move on the hot stamps.

So impressive top to bottom. To be able to make such an affliction so beautiful.

You like, own an oil field or something right?

 

[buffalojim]

Live look at @louBdub

 

[merkong]

Um, what now?


No, you can't mix a rack of high end clays in with your monte carlo suggers. Well it's your game, you can do whatever you want, but maybe leave us out of that one. you can go as high end as you want with your first purchases. Just make sure you do your homework and don't get screwed. Because high end chips are totally resellable, just make sure you get something that other people might want and that you don't overpay for it. You know, in case you don't love it. Because if you're just jumping in, you're bound to learn you'll like some chips more than others.

So, a first timer (with regard to going headlong into the real deal) buys a rack or builds a set?

I guess what do people think would be the minimum first time purchase is it typically in pursuit of a set?

 

[linux]

Minimum? You can get some pretty cool, real clay chips from Classic Poker Chips at about $600 for a set of 300 or some pretty cool chips from Apache like Dunes or Majestics for about the same, 50 cents each.

 

[upNdown]

So, a first timer (with regard to going headlong into the real deal) buys a rack or builds a set?

I guess what do people think would be the minimum first time purchase is it typically in pursuit of a set?

I think my first real purchase here was a couple racks of near mint Pauslon RHC $1s that caught my eye. It only took me a few months to build those into a playable mixed set, but that was back in the days when you could order premium leaded paulson racks from spinettis, like ordering off a menu. But then it took me while to realize that I didn't care for the RHC mold (especially when mixed with other Paulson molds) And it might have taken me a year or more to get that mixed set to where I liked it. But that's the nice thing about mixed sets - you can swap racks in and out until you find out what you really like, while still playing with them.

 

[merkong]

So Ken, take a hit of the sweet clay goodness and just smile my man. Nothing else will fulfill your desires…. Just a small hit. Nothing crazy…….. Let it tingle a little….

Nobody will judge you here.

Lol.

I’m so easily influenced.

I’ll keep the group apprised. Lots of good thought here.

 

[linux]

But if you want nice Paulson sets that tickle your fancy, you either lay down $1K (and 'that's' minimum) to $4K (or more, much more...) or start collecting racks or barrels as they come up on the classifieds forum. For me, that's cheaper (as least on an order by order basis ) and more fun to see what member want to sell or buy or trade.

 

[Darson]

The traditional advice is "buy once, cry once". The challenge with this is that your favourite chips are a personal thing so "best" to you may not be the same as "best" to others.

So the standard advice on PCF is "get samples". Get your hands on a few chips of a few different types and see what you like - what appeals to you. Ceramics, clay, leaded clay, high-end plastics etc all have a different feel, different availability and different cost. So get a feel for what you like and then you can chase...