Old ceramics vs new ceramics (1 Viewer)

[303Mike]

Hey folks,
New member, have a question that’s probably been answered a hundred times, been trying to sift through all kinds of old posts here but not very good at navigating the threads.

What happened to true ceramic chips? Been out of poker for 10ish years now, I used to have a nice set of Chipcos that I believe were actually ceramic. Just ordered a sample set of Tiki Kings, advertised as “ceramic” but they feel nothing like it. More like plastic. I don’t get all the rave reviews of them, is that the new standard now?
How do I find tourney sets of the old school chipco’s?
Thanks in advance. Feel free to post links to threads you know about so I can read up on them.
cheers!

 

[MrWitti]

Hello and welcome
Chipco always hat its special feel. Their more rounded edges and very smooth surface make them feel different to other ceramics. Maybe try to get a sample set with smooth surface ceramics compared to textured ceramics, maybe that feels more familiar?

 

[upNdown]

As I understand it, all ceramics are actually some kind of polyester; actual ceramic would be too brittle. But I do agree that Chipcos are the best. And if you're serious, you're in luck. Because it's not very often that you can buy chipco tournamnet chips off the rack, but here you go. Scroll down to the Chipco WSOP chips, and buy with confidence. 500 chipcos for $200.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/black-friday-sale.64636/unread

 

[allforcharity]

All chips are plastic.

Now, having said that, it's good to get a feel for all the different products from the different manufacturers out there. You could try your luck obtaining old ChipCos, because there are sets out there. For what can be easily customized right now, you've got to go to @BR Pro Poker and @SUN-FLY Poker Chips . Luckily they are both forum vendors and sponsors.

 

[CrazyEddie]

What happened to true ceramic chips? Been out of poker for 10ish years now, I used to have a nice set of Chipcos that I believe were actually ceramic. Just ordered a sample set of Tiki Kings, advertised as “ceramic” but they feel nothing like it. More like plastic.

Your old Chipcos were plastic too, just a different variety of plastic than the more recent ceramics. Ceramic chips aren't ceramic, they're plastic - they just sort-of feel like ceramic. Same thing with clays; they're plastic, but they sort-of feel like clay. Sort of.

The defining characteristic of a "ceramic" chip is that it can withstand the dye-sublimation printing process, which means they can be printed directly on the chip's surface rather than having to use a printed inlay (like clays) or a printed decal (like plastics).

 

[Venturalvn]

I believe @ABC Gifts and Awards owns the Chipco assets now, but I think they only use them for casino orders these days. Customs are only done through their house blank now.

 

[BGinGA]

Chipco chips -- like all 'ceramic' poker chips -- are primarily polyester. Game-On Chip Company (GOCC) still produces chips that are very similar to the old Chipco chips, but the company is pretty flakey to deal with.

Sun-Fly and ABC/BRPro are two other companies producing high-quality ceramic chips. ABC also produces chips using Chipco-style blanks, but they are only available to casinos. There are also a few Chinese companies that manufacture ceramics -- some decent quality, some not.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Does ABC/BRPro source their (non-Chipco-style) ceramic blanks from Sun-Fly? Or their own contracted manufacturer? Or is that not publicly disclosed?

 

[BGinGA]

Does ABC/BRPro source their (non-Chipco-style) ceramic blanks from Sun-Fly? Or their own contracted manufacturer? Or is that not publicly disclosed?

ABC's blanks are not Sun-Fly. Has never explicitly said from who/where, however.

 

[JRReynolds6181]

I feel like I have been lied to all these years. “Clay?” “Ceramic?”
I don’t know who you people are anymore.

 

[allforcharity]

I feel like I have been lied to all these years. “Clay?” “Ceramic?”
I don’t know who you people are anymore.

It's the little white lies we tell each other that sometimes keep us sane.

 

[CrazyEddie]

It's okay. YOUR clay chips are totally clay, I promise.

Now be good, and the Chip Fairy will leave an Empress Star T5000 under your pillow tonight.

 

[303Mike]

As I understand it, all ceramics are actually some kind of polyester; actual ceramic would be too brittle. But I do agree that Chipcos are the best. And if you're serious, you're in luck. Because it's not very often that you can buy chipco tournamnet chips off the rack, but here you go. Scroll down to the Chipco WSOP chips, and buy with confidence. 500 chipcos for $200.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/black-friday-sale.64636/unread
View attachment 595836

Thanks for the great info. I would certainly be interested in that 500set. When I click the link it takes me to the middle of a 42 page thread, and I can’t seem to find the info for the actual set....
I gotta learn how to navigate this forum

 

[upNdown]

Thanks for the great info. I would certainly be interested in that 500set. When I click the link it takes me to the middle of a 42 page thread, and I can’t seem to find the info for the actual set....
I gotta learn how to navigate this forum

Sorry. Hit the first page.
That’s a sale by The Chip Room, a trusted vendor that has probably sold more than half the chips owned by people on this site.