Building a set (1 Viewer)

[MattinIdaho]

Dumb question about building a cash or tournament set.
Right now I have 750 Nexgen Pros for a home tournament set. It works great. Everyone either loves the set or couldn't care less one way or the other.
A month ago I was thinking I'd upgrade to a set of Milanos. I have 120 of these in a cash game denomination and I like them.
Up until I found this site, I was thinking that Milanos were pretty top grade.
Obviously I'd like to eventually upgrade to a set of Paulsens or similar.
But when I finalize a set, I want a complete set of the same chips. It would drive me nuts to have chips with different logos on them.
It would be tough if not impossible for me to fork out $1500 plus at one time to buy a complete 750 chip set.
But building a set of the same kind of upper end chip a little at a time seems daunting if not impossible.
Can it be done 1 rack at a time and more or less match up the same chip? I realize clay colors will vary from batch to batch. But I could live with that as long as the logo was the same.
Thanks for any input.

 

[churlbut18]

Yes, I think building a complete Paulson set from the same casino, rack by rack, is doable if you choose the right casino. There are a few that come to mind that have large quantities of chips out there.

PCA (President Casino on the Admiral)
Casino Aztar MO
Casino Aztar IN
Terrible's (a few different casinos)
Casablanca Aruba
Etc...

Then there are some Paulson home game chips like World Top Hat and Cane (WTHC).

You'll need to watch the classifieds closely and often. Single racks and barrels get swooped up quickly. And you'll need patience.

But it is doable. Many of us including myself have done it this way because we don't have $1000's to spend at once.

Also, you should look at Key West CPC chips and reach out to @dennis63 on this forum. See Key West in the marketplace here on the forum. Clay chips that you can buy by the rack/barrel on demand! Highly recommended.

Good luck!

 

[Nex]

If you buy stock chips, it should be possible. However you'll pay a much higher price overall if you buy in units of 100 instead of doing a one-time large purchase.

With customs, you'll likely hit a wall with a MOQ that is higher than 100.

Definitely do not get Milanos for your tournament if you already use them in cash game. Never use the same type for both tournament and cash game.

 

[Gunnar]

You can also look at ceramics

 

[upNdown]

I realize clay colors will vary from batch to batch. But I could live with that as long as the logo was the same.
Thanks for any input.

This really isn't an issue, at least not with casino paulsons. Clay colors seem pretty consistent within a casino's rack.
What's more of an issue for some people is condition consistency.. A stack of 20 well worn chips can be half a chip to a full chip shorter than a stack of minty chips. That really bothers some people.
As far as the mixed "logos" go, only you know what's right for you. But the easiest way to build a Paulson set without plunking down thousands of dollars at once is to build a mixed casino set, rack by rack. Many/most of us have done it. It can be a lot of fun, mixing and matching. And so many more chips are available to you this way. Take a look at the mixed casino peon thread and see what you think. https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...ial-mixed-set-pr0n-thread-of-pcf.11227/unread

 

[Trihonda]

Definitely do not get Milanos for your tournament if you already use them in cash game. Never use the same type for both tournament and cash game.

Very much this. You mentioned wanting to keep the set the same, but this cannot be the case with tournament and cash chips. If there is any chance that a denomination would be used for both games, you must have different sets.

I personally like the Milanos, and still use them frequently for travel tournaments. There are some people that don't like them, but many that do. I don't think this is a bad set if your budget does not include Paulson chips at the moment. I started out with NexGen style chips, then moved to Milanos, and then after A while I obtained some Paulson chips. Now Paulson chips seem to pour into my house like water on a waterslide.

If you are into this long enough, opportunities will present themselves. Be patient. Jim at the chip room sometimes has sales for used casino chips, and this is the source of many of our Paulson chips. The classifieds is also a great source. patience is the key. I have no doubt you will get the set you love eventually, try to enjoy the ride along the way.

 

[RagsPoker]

Have you considered labeling? Buy casino Paulson chips that you really like, then get labels from Gear with a custom design. I'm very happy with my sets.

 

[mummel]

Milanos are great bang for your buck. I have 1,300+ I think.

If you decide to get China clays, buy everything at once, because colors will vary between batches.

And it's pretty rare, by I have seen some color differences here between Paulsons and if I was paying $3 a chip that tilt me to no end. Try find that WTHC thread.

Whatever you get, you've come to the right place. Welcome to the abyss. The sickness is strong here.

 

[MattinIdaho]

You can also look at ceramics

I have a very small set of Nile Club ceramics (120 chips) in cash denominations. The ceramics haven't ever warmed on me. I realize there are better ceramics than the Nile Club though

 

[MattinIdaho]

Whatever you get, you've come to the right place. Welcome to the abyss. The sickness is strong here.

I see that

 

[12thMan]

I always offer a counter argument for the people who say you absolutely can't have cash and tournament chips from the same set: you absolutely can (in my opinion of course). I understand the argument, of course it would theoretically be possible for a tournament 25 or 100 to end up in the cash game, I'm not saying the thought is impossible, but it is not something I would worry about if you like the chips. (and Milanos are most definitely a good bang for your buck, some people don't like them, others like myself find them to be one of the nicest/best china clays for the money)

Look, if you run a tournament and come up with some missing chips you will know which will put the alarm bells up right away and you can proceed from there. But, if that's what you are scared of with the group of players you host I would question why those people are in your house in the first place. Same goes with chips displayed at a meet up, I understand why the thought of "security" would come up with thousands of dollars worth of rare collectibles on display, but putting chips behind lock and key the instant a security guard isn't watching is unnecessary and goes against the whole spirit of a meet up. I feel a private poker game with friends is the same way. Besides, if we are talking about china clays in the first place, what does it matter if you have two different sets for tourney and cash when you can order barrels of whatever chips you want for a fraction of their table worth and get them into play that way?

If you host large tournaments with multiple tables filled with people you only know because they came with another player last week I would say be careful about the chips you put into play. But if you host with people who you know their spouses/kids/life and you would lend a helping hand to in the middle of the night if called upon I say don't sweat that kind of stuff. Be aware of it? Sure, Sweat it? No way.