Tina Hybrid slipperiness question and advantages over China clays (1 Viewer)

[MikeH]

Hi all, new poster here so I apologize if this has been discussed already, I did my best to search the forums but didn't find an answer to my question.

I'm looking for a set of chips for board games and thus my requirements are slightly different than most here. My main priorities in a set of chips are exceptional stackability and grip, as well as functional and pleasing colours (obviously subjective). I intend to get custom labels right away or relabel a set of chips down the line for my own design and desired denominations (20's).

Because I'm in Canada, my options are rather limited and I've been leaning towards China clays that can be had for relatively cheap ($0.38 USD). After browsing here a fair bit I've been intrigued by the Tina hybrids which seem to come very highly recommended as a superior alternative to CC's. Unfortunately being in Canada means they come out to quite a bit more per chip as seen in this thread:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/napkin-math-tina-vs-br-pro.128187/

I'm looking for a very small set of 200 or 300 chips so the flat shipping and label fees increase the cost per chip even more. This made me hesitate on Tina's and I'm on the fence about if the increased quality is worth roughly double the price.

From what I've learned (please correct me if I'm wrong) the original Tina ceramics such as the card mold were slippery and prone to spinners, and the subsequent Tina hybrids addressed some of these issues with better edge designs and an inset center. The consensus seems to be that the web mold is the most grippy of these but I've seen divided opinions.

I'm wondering how the web mold and other Tina hybrids compare to CC's such as Royals or Milano's in terms of slipperiness and handling. I've seen a lot of members saying that Tina's are far better than CC's but I haven't seen a lot of reasons apart from the rounded edges and smell of CC's. I don't really care about how similar the chips feel to crazy expensive chips that I will never own and likely will never get a chance to feel or play with. I'm sure there are some facets I'm haven't considered that give the Tina's an edge, and I'd like to know before I dismiss them as too expensive for what I need.

So, please enlighten me as to why Tina's are better (or not) than CC's in terms of usability and if they are still a good buy at double the price. I look forward to hopefully hearing some arguments for both sides. Thanks!

 

[BirdCage]

Both are great. Web mold Tina hybrids are perhaps slightly more slippery than Dunes China Clays, IMHO. I wouldn’t categorize either slippery, like many ceramics. This is when new. I suppose that may not age/wear equally, so not sure if slipperiness may increase with either or how quickly over time.

I have both and love both equally.

 

[philhut]

Hi all, new poster here so I apologize if this has been discussed already, I did my best to search the forums but didn't find an answer to my question.

I'm looking for a set of chips for board games and thus my requirements are slightly different than most here. My main priorities in a set of chips are exceptional stackability and grip, as well as functional and pleasing colours (obviously subjective). I intend to get custom labels right away or relabel a set of chips down the line for my own design and desired denominations (20's).

Because I'm in Canada, my options are rather limited and I've been leaning towards China clays that can be had for relatively cheap ($0.38 USD). After browsing here a fair bit I've been intrigued by the Tina hybrids which seem to come very highly recommended as a superior alternative to CC's. Unfortunately being in Canada means they come out to quite a bit more per chip as seen in this thread:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/napkin-math-tina-vs-br-pro.128187/

I'm looking for a very small set of 200 or 300 chips so the flat shipping and label fees increase the cost per chip even more. This made me hesitate on Tina's and I'm on the fence about if the increased quality is worth roughly double the price.

From what I've learned (please correct me if I'm wrong) the original Tina ceramics such as the card mold were slippery and prone to spinners, and the subsequent Tina hybrids addressed some of these issues with better edge designs and an inset center. The consensus seems to be that the web mold is the most grippy of these but I've seen divided opinions.

I'm wondering how the web mold and other Tina hybrids compare to CC's such as Royals or Milano's in terms of slipperiness and handling. I've seen a lot of members saying that Tina's are far better than CC's but I haven't seen a lot of reasons apart from the rounded edges and smell of CC's. I don't really care about how similar the chips feel to crazy expensive chips that I will never own and likely will never get a chance to feel or play with. I'm sure there are some facets I'm haven't considered that give the Tina's an edge, and I'd like to know before I dismiss them as too expensive for what I need.

So, please enlighten me as to why Tina's are better (or not) than CC's in terms of usability and if they are still a good buy at double the price. I look forward to hopefully hearing some arguments for both sides. Thanks!

I have what would be called "Anita's", cards mold chips manufactured by a different manufacturer than "Tina". The chips are very similar in quality but we're slightly cheaper in a group buy a few years back. The chips have a nice texture that when new is excellent, they have only been used a few times so are in great shape and stack well. Definitely better than anything available domestically. The domestic options are good but for approximately the same $ you can have custom ceramics from the PRC.

I am not sure if the Tina's are different but the Chinese ceramics is received stack like bricks and I did not find a single spinner in the 3575 chips I ordered. The rolling edge has fading at the seam on many chips most noticeable on the red chips. It's not the end of the world. For inexpensive customs I couldn't be happier with the chips I designed myself in MS paint.

Two chips broke in shipping and we're repaired with crazy glue to fill racks...I do not plan to intentionally put them in play. Here is what the inside looks like.

You have no idea how happy I am to have custom chips that are fairly secure for cashing out. I was always nervous in the past when the table started going deep and I was playing with a set like Pharaohs or "other" that were less common but still "available". Custom chips give you peace of mind when issuing the $25+ value chips.

Longevity-wise I'd guess the chips would be durable for once a month play for many years.

 

[upNdown]

My view (from a guy who’s only owned sample sets of these chips,) is that the biggest factor may be WHICH China clays you want to buy. Because I’ve had a few different China Clay sample sets and they were all different and some were pretty slippery.

 

[MikeH]

My view (from a guy who’s only owned sample sets of these chips,) is that the biggest factor may be WHICH China clays you want to buy. Because I’ve had a few different China Clay sample sets and they were all different and some were pretty slippery.

Thank you, I'll definitely be ordering samples to feel a few different CCs. I've heard that even within a line of chips some denominations are more or less slippery. Is this very commonplace?

 

[MikeH]

Both are great. Web mold Tina hybrids are perhaps slightly more slippery than Dunes China Clays, IMHO. I wouldn’t categorize either slippery, like many ceramics. This is when new. I suppose that may not age/wear equally, so not sure if slipperiness may increase with either or how quickly over time.

I have both and love both equally.

Thank you for the info, great photos as well, I think both sets look fantastic. I'm curious if anyone has experience with either becoming more slippery over time. I've heard that some China clays become brittle and deteriorate over time but I've also heard that some last a long time without any problems.

 

[LeLe]

My main priorities in a set of chips are exceptional stackability and grip, as well as functional and pleasing colours (obviously subjective)

Up the budget, skip Tina/CC, go straight for Excellent++ Paulson Clay

Zero Stackability issue that can last a lifetime. Tina/CC don't wear as well and will become slippery over time even the better Hybrid Tina

 

[allforcharity]

Get BR Pro ceramics. I'm pretty sure you can get custom denoms among their stock offerings.

 

[philhut]

I had a big set of these china clays. I am a retired horseman (injured, not old now working as RN in a ER). With many years riding showjumpers and exercising thoroughbreds, which was amazing but gave me 2 broken legs. So "Crazy Horse" seemed like a good theme. Bought them a few years after selling my good pharaoh set. They were decent chips but, two things had me sell them after i think 2 games (1 cash, 1 tourney/cash) using the set.
1- I was paranoid after using the set with the same group twice that someone may get the wise idea to order a roll of chips.
2- i had become a snob to Paulson's (HSI's were being listed by @TheChipRoom
)
Absolutely nothing wrong with the chips, they handled well. Really I should have stopped there. I sold the scroll ceramic set I also had for the same reasons as above.