Here is how to modify 44mm CPC chips to fit in over-sized chip racks! (1 Viewer)

I think I would fall into the use a different rack crowd but if you're happy that's all that matters.
Yea, I was/am in that camp too, but the problem is that there are no clear racks like this, that match my other racks, casino-style racks, that fit these. The only way is to go to a totally different type of rack, or something custom, which I wasn't a fan of, so this was my last resort for this kind of rack to work with these chips :)

I get why a lot of other people don't want to do this, though, but I personally think it's a good option (unless you have thousands of chips to do, then it may be too much labor).
 
I recently received my 44mm chip order from CPC, and bought a rack online for them, and I couldnt fit 20 chips in each barrel of the rack.

View attachment 635811

After searching online, and some back and forth with @David Spragg (and some members here), I learned that there aren't any chip racks on the market that will hold 44mm CPC chips. My only option is custom wood racks, or custom 3D-printed racks, neither of which I like the look of.

These generic chip racks are 67.87mm interior width.
View attachment 635813

And a barrel of CPC chips average about 68.26mm thick (too thick for the racks)
View attachment 635815

So after some thought and some math, I realized that these chips weren't too far off from fitting, and only a small amount would need to be removed from each chip for them to fit. With my calipers, I was averaging 3.41mm per chip from CPC, but they only needed to be down around 3.39mm to fit, so I would only need to remove .02mm on average (a human hair is about .06mm). The 3.41mm from the factory is "average" though. Some chips were below the 3.39mm already, and some of them were as high as 3.48 or even 3.52mm.

View attachment 635810

I emailed David to ask him if the center of the chip was lower then the rim, and he said it was, but only slightly. So I decided to use my 1000 grit wet stone (made for knife sharpening) to remove a small bit of material. This is a very fine grit, and the stone feels almost like glass -- This isn't rough and coarse like your typical sand paper you buy at your home improvement store.
View attachment 635816

I measured each chip with my calipers and made sure I got each chip down to 3.39mm (removing a little bit evenly from each side). Here is an example: This chip started at 3.45mm thick
View attachment 635817

Here is a video showing the method:

We are really only knocking off the high spots from the rim of the chip. The center doesn't get touched.

Here is the same chip after about 1-2 minutes of evenly removing material from each side
View attachment 635818

And here is the face of that same chip after sanding it from 3.45 to 3.38mm. The cross-hatching is still strong and looks great.
View attachment 635819

So after I did 20 chips down to at least 3.39mm, I washed the dust off and tested them in the rack. PERFECT! And looking at the face of the chips, you cant even tell they were sanded.
View attachment 635820

So the next thing I thought was, hmm, now these barrels of pumpkins will be slightly shorter than all the barrels of my 39mm. So I got a brand new barrel of my $500 39mm purple chips that have never been in play. To my surprise, they are the same height per barrel!
View attachment 635821

I wondered how that could be? So then I tried to put the barrel of purple into the oversized rack that the orange chips wouldn't fit into initially, and they fit great (not too tight at all). For some reason, I guess the 44mm chips are ever-so-slightly thicker than the 39mm chips, and modifying them like this makes them the exact same thickness as the 39mm chips.

Here is a barrel of un-modified brand new 39mm chips. They fit perfectly into the over-sized rack (width-wise).
View attachment 635824

So, a little before and after:

Here is a video showing trying to put stock CPC 44mm chips into the rack that don't fit:

Here is a video showing how nicely they go in after modifying them:

#genius
 
Well done. I really like this!

The fact that the stack heights come out exactly the same as the other denoms is a huuuge plus IMO. I really don't like having different stack heights across denoms within a set, so this is a big upgrade. Well done!
 
Good job with the sanding. Certainly not the first time chips have been sanded - there is a whole thread on sanding Matsuis/Bud Jones with 1000 grit.

Personally, I have no aversion to the process. A finishing stone like that is going to be less abrasive than a habitual chip shuffler.
 
I’ll probably end up trying this on my 39mm chips if I ever have uneven barrels. That’s what really drives me crazy. Makes counting and verifying chips stacks a pain.
 
All's well that ends well! (I read that somewhere...)

I was reading something the other day about someone using a 7000 grit block -- can't imagine how smooth that is!

Check your email - I sent one yesterday regarding Borlands.
 
I use the Japanese wet stones to sharpen my knives and my daughter (chef by trade) only uses these stones on her knives which are insanely expensive knives.

But I have always used them wet, did you use them dry for fear of color transfer? Have your thought about running your process 25% with a 1000 grit or 3000 grit and then the rest of process with 6000 or 9000 grit for a smoother finish on the edges?
 
No. The edges are already very smooth. 3000 grit and up is for a mirror finish on knives. That isn’t needed on “clay” chips. They feel great. I have a 5000-grit stone, but didn’t use it.
 
well its more about razor edge than a mirror finish. any how ... very cool solution to a common problem thanks for posting it
 
call me crazy..... but I think i'd either modify the actual rack or have a custom rack made.
I have a buddy 3D printing a rack to test for my CC 8v’s. I am also considering experimenting with sanding a rack or making some relief cuts so they a bit. Personally, I wouldn’t even sand my CC’s but nice work and beautiful chips.
 
Sanding chips? Lmao.
sounds sooo wrong. But admittedly have tried this with a few extras. I found two things. It’s a ton of work and it gives you a good “broken in” feel instantly. It was the voice in my head that screamed while I was doing it that stopped me from contemplating doing it across the board.
I think most of us on PCF would react with a "hell no!" if someone asked us to sand some of our chips.
But amazing how many will go over them with a magic eraser. Pretty much the same thing.
 
I think most of us on PCF would react with a "hell no!" if someone asked us to sand some of our chips.
But amazing how many will go over them with a magic eraser. Pretty much the same thing.
He was spot on using the calipers. Basically increased the quality by making them the same thickness and super flat. All without making it look sanded. I would do it. Don't go cheap on the stone.
 
Last edited:

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom