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[ChipWreck]

Might have belonged once before, Wa-a-ayyyy back (if this form goes wa-a-ayyyy back). (Possibly again), Hello to all.

As might be suspected I joined to get help with a couple questions. I am building a set of chips for a friend who hosts tournaments (single table, 3 rebuys). Years ago I built my own tournament set out of about 1500 retired casino Paulson TH & C's. I see those have gotten $$$$$. Who'd have guessed? (Well, not me.)

So, first question: I've looked at the general store in Vegas (been visiting their bookstore since the late 70's), and they've got a decent-looking clay composite (is that what a "classic hot stamp" chips is?). Priced at $.35/ea seems about right. I'm trying to get something that looks and feels (at 9 or 10 gm) like the clays they still use in casinos (at least in the Chicago area). Don't like the metal inlays or the ceramics--never felt right to me. There's another place that looked as though they made their own here in the US. Run about $.33 each (can't recall the website). Any suggestions from members? Whom do you use? Whom do you like? Pros? Cons? Help!

Second question. That tourney set of mine is getting"'grubby." I mean they're still well short of disgusting, but, you know...post COVID... I would like to clean them up. (Can I say that? ARE we "post-COVID????) Any suggestions on a safe way to do that--something that won't damage the chip???

 

[KHarp1]

Welcome back! Any chance you can post a few pics of your current chips? Others here can probably give you more detailed info on cleaning, but, I use warm water and dawn dosh soap. The really grungy chips I'll scrub with a soft toothbrush, or, an untrasonictoothbrush. Rinse and then spread them on a towel to dry.
Some people use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Careful not to use any chemicals.

 

[MichaelBubly]

Welcome! There a bunch of cleaning threads for THC chips. I used warm water and a magic eraser to clean up my RHCs and a soft bristle toothbrush for some other grime.

Ultrasonic cleaners are also great if you have one or can borrow one.

Here's more or less the best thread to read through for cleaning chips. There is great resources for cleaning with both ultrasonic cleaners and by hand.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/ultrasonic-chip-cleaning.1691/

 

[Fran]

Welcome !
I clean my chips the same way as @MichaelBubly explained.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

Welcome! Or welcome back??? The other guys took care of your cleaning question so I'll take a shot at the chip question for your buddy.

What retailers call "clay composite" we typically call "china clays." Most have very little actual clay in them and are injection molded plastics. If they have a weight in them, we call them "sluggos." Sluggos are about 15-20 cents a piece and china clays run in the 30-50 cent each range, so that's probably what you're looking at. If you can show some pics or provide a link, we can give you more assistance regarding what you are looking at.

Another option here on PCF that is very popular lately are ceramic molded chips with a debossed "cards mold" image around the outside of the chip. These were made to emulate a clay chip, and they are not weighted. The big draw is they can be fully, 100% customized as to what images and colors are on the chip. They also run right in the 40 cents a chip range, so competitive with china clays.

These chips are made in China and we work directly with the company to have them produced and shipped. You can participate in a Group Buy, or deal with the company directly, depending on how much of a hurry you are in. Following are a couple of links to some Cards Mold threads that will keep you very busy learning about these chips.

Lot's of photos of member's sets in this thread. This link is to my personal custom designed tournament set.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cards-mold-showcase.69344/post-1544777

This is a great general info thread about everything cards mold.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ramics-master-consolidated-info-thread.65544/

 

[allforcharity]

Hello and welcome!

If you're looking for real casino clay, you'll probably have to stay away from anything that sells for $1.50 a chip or less.
Jim at TheChipRoom (vendor here) still has some leftover chips from a sale that just happened this past Sunday, and you can put together a big set of T5-based tourney chips using Diamond Jim secondary cash chips for a very reasonable price.

 

[ChipWreck]

Welcome back! Any chance you can post a few pics of your current chips? Others here can probably give you more detailed info on cleaning, but, I use warm water and dawn dosh soap. The really grungy chips I'll scrub with a soft toothbrush, or, an untrasonictoothbrush. Rinse and then spread them on a towel to dry.
Some people use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Careful not to use any chemicals.

If I can figure out how--I'm technologically challenged --I'll post some. Give you an idea how dirty. (Ooooh....just saw an "attached file button down there!)
But I did try dish soap and even a toothbrush (though not my Sonicare) and it was a LOT of work.

Thank you for replying!

Hello and welcome!

If you're looking for real casino clay, you'll probably have to stay away from anything that sells for $1.50 a chip or less.
Jim at TheChipRoom (vendor here) still has some leftover chips from a sale that just happened this past Sunday, and you can put together a big set of T5-based tourney chips using Diamond Jim secondary cash chips for a very reasonable price.

$1.50? Really? Are these retired casino chips? B/c I know those have gotten pricey. (Yeah, yeah, it's been a WHILE.)

Welcome! Or welcome back??? The other guys took care of your cleaning question so I'll take a shot at the chip question for your buddy.

What retailers call "clay composite" we typically call "china clays." Most have very little actual clay in them and are injection molded plastics. If they have a weight in them, we call them "sluggos." Sluggos are about 15-20 cents a piece and china clays run in the 30-50 cent each range, so that's probably what you're looking at. If you can show some pics or provide a link, we can give you more assistance regarding what you are looking at.

Another option here on PCF that is very popular lately are ceramic molded chips with a debossed "cards mold" image around the outside of the chip. These were made to emulate a clay chip, and they are not weighted. The big draw is they can be fully, 100% customized as to what images and colors are on the chip. They also run right in the 40 cents a chip range, so competitive with china clays.

These chips are made in China and we work directly with the company to have them produced and shipped. You can participate in a Group Buy, or deal with the company directly, depending on how much of a hurry you are in. Following are a couple of links to some Cards Mold threads that will keep you very busy learning about these chips.

Lot's of photos of member's sets in this thread. This link is to my personal custom designed tournament set.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cards-mold-showcase.69344/post-1544777

This is a great general info thread about everything cards mold.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ramics-master-consolidated-info-thread.65544/

Don't have time to chase those links down, but I will. Thanks

Hello and welcome!

If you're looking for real casino clay, you'll probably have to stay away from anything that sells for $1.50 a chip or less.
Jim at TheChipRoom (vendor here) still has some leftover chips from a sale that just happened this past Sunday, and you can put together a big set of T5-based tourney chips using Diamond Jim secondary cash chips for a very reasonable price.

Okay, doing a "gulp!" thing here. Certainly not going to spend a grand on this gift, so $1.50/ea is OUT. I guess I'll ask a few places that look decent if they'll send a sample. I better consult your glossary to see what T5-based means. I'm taken a back a bit, really.
Although I once bought a tray of $.50 chips from a casino near St. Louis because they were brand new and a BEAUTIFUL pink (the gal at the cage actually took them out of the plastic tube for me) I remember thinking that fifty cents seemed like a lot even for a mint condition THC. I'm laughing out loud as I type. Maybe that was a really good investment! I do know a lot of casinos, though, that will sell you a chip for a dollar!

 

[KHarp1]

Yeah, things have changed since the Chiptalk days 20 years ago.

 

[MichaelBubly]

Jim looks like has still got some nice Tropicana tournament sets. Plastic, not clay. But I much prefer these to ceramic or cheap china clay chips.

Good breakdown for under $.50 / chip

 

[KHarp1]

Of the top of my head, I'd think you should be able to do that for about 1000 chips, maybe less of you were strategic with rebuys. The Gemaco Tropicana are reasonably priced, for today's market, as are the Tina ceramics, but, you don't like ceramics.

 

[MichaelBubly]

Of the top of my head, I'd think you should be able to do that for about 1000 chips, maybe less of you were strategic with rebuys. The Gemaco Tropicana are reasonably priced, for today's market, as are the Tina ceramics, but, you don't like ceramics.

You could do a T10k with a rebuy for everyone for up to 10 people with the set above. Add two barrels of 5k and you can do 3 rebuys / per person. 400-440 chips.

Can easily copy and paste the breakdown into almost any other set too.

120x 25
120x 100
50x 500
80-100x 1k
20-60x 5k

12, 12, 5, 6 starting stack for T10k. 12, 12, 5, 6, 2 for T20K starting.

 

[KHarp1]

You can get Gemaco's for probably 200-250.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

Of the top of my head, I'd think you should be able to do that for about 1000 chips, maybe less of you were strategic with rebuys. The Gemaco Tropicana are reasonably priced, for today's market, as are the Tina ceramics, but, you don't like ceramics.

I don't like most ceramics either. But to me, cards mold are a completely different animal. The debossed mold and ring make them much more clay-like than other ceramics. I would strongly suggest that OP gets samples prior to summarily dismissing them just because he thinks they're like every other ceramic.

 

[lane_robert_s]

Welcome

 

[Tonysquander]

Welcome to PCF!

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

@ChipWreck Just as an example, here is a cards mold tournament set that sold a few days ago that could have met your needs for a one table tournament with rebuys. Total cost including shipping was $255.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/aria-cards-mold-tournament-chips-500.103760/

As you can see, even though these are ceramic, they look very much like clay "real casino" chips, and until you touch them yourself, you won't believe how good they feel. In my opinion, more similar to clay than other ceramic chips. No, they won't fool you into thinking they are real clay, but neither will any of the other clay composite chips in your price range. These chips are right around 9.5 grams each. Official Casino weight! LOL. (it's a little joke we have here on PCF)

Photos credited to @Chipnut Please let me know if you want me to remove them.

 

[Just1Better]

Hello, welcome to the forum!!