Newby question about a gift set of clay chips (1 Viewer)

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Hi all,

I'm completely new to PCF, and (full disclosure) stumbled across the site while looking for home games in my area. I hadn't realized how popular and complex the world of chip collecting was, or how knowledgeable and passionate people are about the pastime. It definitely opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at the humble poker chip!

So I realize that this set I'm asking about is probably a POS as far as most of you are concerned, but I got it as a gift, and it is 500 clay chips (or so the box says). After reading a few of the forums I have learned that there are several different makes and types of chips, and I am just curious if anybody knows anything about this particular set -
are they China Clay (read that term in a forum here about oiling chips), or some other type?;​
are they standard size or some weird non-standard diameter (read on another site that they may not be standard size)?;​
could they be relabeled with custom labels (they don't have denominations)?;​
would it be worthwhile to relabel them?;​
am I being laughed at for asking stupid questions?​

Thanks for your patience with a total newby.



310661
 
100% ABS plastic with metal inserts. Better than dice chips, but only by a slight margin.

Oh and welcome to the forum. Glad you found us.
 
I would hold off on relabeling these. Use these in the meantime as is until you find a set in the classified forum!
You’ll hear it on this forum time and time again, get samples.

Welcome to the rabbit hole, my friend. May your closet fill with chips and your wallet run dry
 
I almost bought a very similar set to these before stumbling on to @Hobbyphilic YT channel.

Welcome and I wouldn't bother dumping more money into these, just enjoy them for the time being until you are ready to take the plunge!
 
There might be a minuscule amount of clay in it, but it’s injection mold plastic
Is there any regulation on what they can call clay? I thought they might be calling them clay and just admitting they are “filled” aka slugged for weight.

If marketers could tell you buying these chips will make you richer, your wife prettier, and your dog would stop taking dumps in your slippers, they would.
 
Is there any regulation on what they can call clay? I thought they might be calling them clay and just admitting they are “filled” aka slugged for weight.

If marketers could tell you buying these chips will make you richer, your wife prettier, and your dog would stop taking dumps in your slippers, they would.
The things I would do for that last one
 
Well, technically, *all* chips have some sort of plasticizer components in them, even the true compression clays made by GPI and CPC. There is no standardization in the industry of what is considered "clay", so basically it's buyer beware.
 
These were my first set of chips back in the day I’d say 2006
Blue $1 , Red $5 , Green $25 , Grey $100
Worked well for a lot of my cash games
204C18BD-5766-46F4-82C6-C0979E4394EE.jpeg
E689DA4C-510F-4CA0-9C7F-745C14291DDC.png
 
Welcome to PCF. You will mostly find fine, friendly, and knowledgeable folks here, but unfortunately, much of the uneducated poker chip world -- like much of the uneducated poker world, or uneducated world in general -- is filled with marketing hustlers trying to take your hard-earned money using false claims and hyperbole.

As an example, for starters... no modern poker chips actually contain clay, and they haven't for a very long time. Clay chips aren't real clay, ceramic chips aren't real ceramic, and 11.5g is not the official casino weight of poker chips. Anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is either straight-up lying, too ignorant to know any better, or trying to pull a fast one.

Although all poker chips today are essentially plastic with varying degrees of other added materials, there are three common (and drastically different) types of chips produced today:
  • Compression-molded 'clay' chips. Essentially hand-made by only two companies in the world, using carefully guarded proprietary and multiple-step processes and materials, and relatively expensive. They are used in many casinos, typically weigh between 9-10 grams, and have a distinct sound and feel that is akin to 'clay'. Chips may be foil hot-stamped, or have inlays pressed into the chip during compression using high temperature and pressure.
  • Injection-molded 'ceramic' chips. Special polymers added to the material produce a nearly indestructable and fire-resistent chip that can be dye-sublimation printed (full-face and rolling edge), and produces a sound and feel similar to that of a ceramic/porcelain product without the associated fragility. Hybrid ceramic chips can be designed/molded with a recess that can contain a printed adhesive-backed plastic-laminated vinyl label. Ceramic chips are used in many casinos, typically weigh about 10 grams, and are generally in the mid-range of the chip market price-wise.
  • Injection-molded plastic chips. Plastic chips vary widely in terms of both quality and cost, and depending on the manufacturer and materials, can be dramatically different. On the high end, they use either softer injected materials or harder acrylic (typically used in thin layers), and undergo additional production processes, creating a more finished (and expensive) product, many of which are used in casinos. The least expensive chips are mass-produced for pennies apiece with little concern for serious quality control, and tend to be hard, slippery, and pretty unsuitable for a serious poker game. Some chips are molded around an internal metal slug, producing a heavier chip (11.5 - 14 grams) with a metallic clank sound. Unweghted chips typically weigh between 8 - 9.5 grams, and most plastic chips can be printed, hot-stamped, or have adhesive-backed labels applied. China clays have additional 'earthy' materials added, which produces a more fragile but less 'plasticky' chip which more closely resembles a 'clay' chip.
So I realize that this set I'm asking about is probably a POS as far as most of you are concerned, but I got it as a gift, and it is 500 clay chips (or so the box says). After reading a few of the forums I have learned that there are several different makes and types of chips, and I am just curious if anybody knows anything about this particular set -
are they China Clay (read that term in a forum here about oiling chips), or some other type?;​
are they standard size or some weird non-standard diameter (read on another site that they may not be standard size)?;​
could they be relabeled with custom labels (they don't have denominations)?;​
would it be worthwhile to relabel them?;​
am I being laughed at for asking stupid questions?​
Your chips fall into the lower end of the injection-molded metal-slugged plastic category, and adding new quality labels, while certainly possible, would cost you two or three times what they are worth. I don't recommend it -- even after putting lipstick on a pig, it's still gonna act and sound like a pig. Better to spend that money towards a worthwhile upgrade.

There are no stupid questions (well, there are, but you didn't ask any). Best advice I can give you regarding your upcoming chip journey is 'get samples'. You won't know what you really like until it's actually in your hands, and spending money on something you don't know if that's true or not is pretty silly.
 
Welcome to PCF. You will mostly find fine, friendly, and knowledgeable folks here, but unfortunately, much of the uneducated poker chip world -- like much of the uneducated poker world, or uneducated world in general -- is filled with marketing hustlers trying to take your hard-earned money using false claims and hyperbole.

As an example, for starters... no modern poker chips actually contain clay, and they haven't for a very long time. Clay chips aren't real clay, ceramic chips aren't real ceramic, and 11.5g is not the official casino weight of poker chips. Anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is either straight-up lying, too ignorant to know any better, or trying to pull a fast one.

Although all poker chips today are essentially plastic with varying degrees of other added materials, there are three common (and drastically different) types of chips produced today:
  • Compression-molded 'clay' chips. Essentially hand-made by only two companies in the world, using carefully guarded proprietary and multiple-step processes and materials, and relatively expensive. They are used in many casinos, typically weigh between 9-10 grams, and have a distinct sound and feel that is akin to 'clay'. Chips may be foil hot-stamped, or have inlays pressed into the chip during compression using high temperature and pressure.
  • Injection-molded 'ceramic' chips. Special polymers added to the material produce a nearly indestructable and fire-resistent chip that can be dye-sublimation printed (full-face and rolling edge), and produces a sound and feel similar to that of a ceramic/porcelain product without the associated fragility. Hybrid ceramic chips can be designed/molded with a recess that can contain a printed adhesive-backed plastic-laminated vinyl label. Ceramic chips are used in many casinos, typically weigh about 10 grams, and are generally in the mid-range of the chip market price-wise.
  • Injection-molded plastic chips. Plastic chips vary widely in terms of both quality and cost, and depending on the manufacturer and materials, can be dramatically different. On the high end, they use either softer injected materials or harder acrylic (typically used in thin layers), and undergo additional production processes, creating a more finished (and expensive) product, many of which are used in casinos. The least expensive chips are mass-produced for pennies apiece with little concern for serious quality control, and tend to be hard, slippery, and pretty unsuitable for a serious poker game. Some chips are molded around an internal metal slug, producing a heavier chip (11.5 - 14 grams) with a metallic clank sound. Unweghted chips typically weigh between 8 - 9.5 grams, and most plastic chips can be printed, hot-stamped, or have adhesive-backed labels applied. China clays have additional 'earthy' materials added, which produces a more fragile but less 'plasticky' chip which more closely resembles a 'clay' chip.

Your chips fall into the lower end of the injection-molded metal-slugged plastic category, and adding new quality labels, while certainly possible, would cost you two or three times what they are worth. I don't recommend it -- even after putting lipstick on a pig, it's still gonna act and sound like a pig. Better to spend that money towards a worthwhile upgrade.

There are no stupid questions (well, there are, but you didn't ask any). Best advice I can give you regarding your upcoming chip journey is 'get samples'. You won't know what you really like until it's actually in your hands, and spending money on something you don't know if that's true or not is pretty silly.
As someone who is new, this post was incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you @BGinGA !
 
I got a similar set when I bought a decent chip-caddy. The chips are junk, but I use them with my in-flight poker table. If one falls to the floor, it is no big deal, they are cheap and easily replaceable (dropping something on the floor in an airplane is essentially gone forever, unless you have a contortionist with you).

While it my be lipstick on a pig, it sure is a pretty pig.
311216


...and so far, the only game played at 36,000 feet.
311218
 
I got a similar set when I bought a decent chip-caddy. The chips are junk, but I use them with my in-flight poker table. If one falls to the floor, it is no big deal, they are cheap and easily replaceable (dropping something on the floor in an airplane is essentially gone forever, unless you have a contortionist with you).

While it my be lipstick on a pig, it sure is a pretty pig.
View attachment 311216

...and so far, the only game played at 36,000 feet.
View attachment 311218


this.....is.....amazing!
 
Oh and to the OP's question, I have 1400 of those WPT chips that are buried in boxes deep in my chip cabinet that I can't even give away (wouldn't)........they were my first upgrade from dice chips......the thought of how much I spent on them makes me sick some times, but the wooden cases they came in are very nice at least.... :)
 
It's so funny seeing newbies react to @Poker Zombie 's creation, I seriously think you have a market here.....! ;)
We thought about producing more for PCF'ers, but the idea was quickly shot down as we began manufacturing it. Stretching vinyl over a 1" square-edged rail was a nightmare.

Still, the number of free drinks we have received from enthusiastic flight attendants has made it worthwhile (not to mention the fact that all flights feel too short when the game is good).
 
I got a similar set when I bought a decent chip-caddy. The chips are junk, but I use them with my in-flight poker table. If one falls to the floor, it is no big deal, they are cheap and easily replaceable (dropping something on the floor in an airplane is essentially gone forever, unless you have a contortionist with you).

While it my be lipstick on a pig, it sure is a pretty pig.
View attachment 311216

...and so far, the only game played at 36,000 feet.
View attachment 311218
Wow that's the coolest table I've saw in ages did you make that yourself?
 
Oh and to the OP's question, I have 1400 of those WPT chips that are buried in boxes deep in my chip cabinet that I can't even give away (wouldn't)........they were my first upgrade from dice chips......the thought of how much I spent on them makes me sick some times, but the wooden cases they came in are very nice at least.... :)

Well if you ever do decide to give them away, please keep me in mind - then I would have 1900 junk chips! And while I truly appreciate the gift from close family member, I'm glad I didn't invest a whole lot on them (although I think that they were on sale at Costco at the time for a pretty low price)

While it my be lipstick on a pig, it sure is a pretty pig.

I agree, nice upgrade on the labels! And awesome airplane seat tray poker table!
 
I got a similar set when I bought a decent chip-caddy. The chips are junk, but I use them with my in-flight poker table. If one falls to the floor, it is no big deal, they are cheap and easily replaceable (dropping something on the floor in an airplane is essentially gone forever, unless you have a contortionist with you).

While it my be lipstick on a pig, it sure is a pretty pig.
View attachment 311216

...and so far, the only game played at 36,000 feet.
View attachment 311218


What app are you running on your iPad for the blinds?
 

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