Casino-used chips - enjoyable or detestable? (2 Viewers)

[Psypher1000]

It's occurred to me that a number of folks here really prefer minty-sharp edges on chips, where as I'm not as big of a fan. I don't like the beveled edges on the CPS chips, but I'm perfectly okay with the worn/rounded edges of casino-used chips. I'm curious to see just how much in the minority I am, though - or if I'm in the minority at all. What say you? Are you able to enjoy casino-used chips, or would you sooner throw them out your window than have them in your home games?

 

[moose]

The huge advantage of mint chips is that I don't have to clean them.

 

[ChaosRock]

There's nothing like getting mint chips and breaking them in but for pure play and shuffling nothing beats slightly used casino chips... So to your question, I love them both... For me though there's a limit on how worn the chips can be... If the edges are totally rounded, just like you see in a lot of casinos, than I'll pass...

 

[slisk250]

I love my well used Terrible's MT 5s. They shuffle like butter and I'm not worried about slightly used chips when buying now. I play with my chips. They wouldn't sit on the shelf long if all my poker playing friends were retired.

 

[jbutler]

i used to prefer very slightly casino used chips. nowadays i prefer mint, but would never turn away some chips that are slightly broken in.

 

[RichMahogany]

nowadays i prefer mint, but would never turn away some chips that are slightly broken in.

This. I first got into chipping when the Grand Victoria set was released. I had a set of well broken in primaries that I loved as they were my first clay chip, and Paulson chip. After I sold them and picked up some minty secondaries, I promised myself to never buy well worn chips again. I also had a small set of casino used Oak Trees but the wear was so minimal as to not bother me in the slightest.

As much as I love BCC chips and hope to have a BCC cash set one day, there is nothing, NOTHING, like minty fresh Paulson chips.

 

[abby99]

My major problem with used casino chips is the smell of cigarette smoke. Otherwise, I don't mind slightly used chips. I don't like to play with bicycle-tire chips whether at home or in a casino.

 

[atomiktoaster]

I still like my GV primary 5s, which are pretty rounded. The cost of mint chips makes me too nervous to just toss them around the table. Just going by feel, I don't think you can beat slightly broken in (like Aztar 100s).

 

[Shaggy]

I prefer minty to slightly used. I have some heavily worn Cali Bells that do see action, and I enjoy them. The primary issue there is inconsistent thicknesses. Cleaning used chips used to be an issue until I jumped on ski_ex's ultrasonic cleaner band wagon.

 

[Lars]

I like them used. I sold my set of Mint PCA tourney chips and kept my used Empress tourney chips. I love the soft edges. I love that fortunes were won and lost with them. I love that thousands of people used them and now they are in my poker shed in the middle of Utah. I just prefer used chips.

 

[jbutler]

I prefer minty to slightly used. I have some heavily worn Cali Bells that do see action, and I enjoy them. The primary issue there is inconsistent thicknesses.

yeah to me this is the primary issue with more than slightly used chips. i wouldn't be too bothered by casino used chips if they were of sufficiently uniform thickness.

 

[Psypher1000]

My major problem with used casino chips is the smell of cigarette smoke. Otherwise, I don't mind slightly used chips. I don't like to play with bicycle-tire chips whether at home or in a casino.

As for the smoke smell, can a dishsoap bath get rid of that? Baking soda? Other treatment?

 

[RichMahogany]

As for the smoke smell, can a dishsoap bath get rid of that? Baking soda? Other treatment?

I think it just eventually goes away on it's own?

I cleaned my GV primaries 2-3 times and the cigarette smell still lingered

 

[chipjoker]

I stared with a USED set of Empress cash set and enjoy the History that is part of the worn chips, But when I started getting MINT 98 Isthmus chips I had a hard time putting them down....

I will always like used casino chips but its more the CASINO aspect, I want me some mint CPC's ..... One day.

 

[k9dr]

The huge advantage of mint chips is that I don't have to clean them.

This is the main reason I prefer mint chips - it saves me hours of cleaning.

 

[courage]

I prefer minty to slightly used. I have some heavily worn Cali Bells that do see action, and I enjoy them. The primary issue there is inconsistent thicknesses. Cleaning used chips used to be an issue until I jumped on ski_ex's ultrasonic cleaner band wagon.

^^precisely this. I'd happily snap up 2k of moderately worn casino chips and have them cleaned in short order.

 

[Shaggy]

I think it just eventually goes away on it's own?

I cleaned my GV primaries 2-3 times and the cigarette smell still lingered

I recall hearing that white vinegar works well. Haven't used it however.

 

[Psypher1000]

I recall hearing that white vinegar works well. Haven't used it however.

Ah, yes. From a Ski_ex5 post on big blue, these steps were followed after the ultrasonic cleaner treatment...

After quickly rinsing the Aztars in clean water, and then patting them dry with a towel, all 25 chips went straight into a jar containing Distilled White Vinegar (5% acidity) straight from the jug. You can get this stuff pretty cheap by the gallon in warehouse clubs (Sam's, COSTCO, etc.), and even in drug stores. Note again that I did NOT dilute the 5% vinegar. I closed the lid on the jar, and rotated the jar gently with the 25 chips and vinegar inside for one minute. I then removed the chips and quickly dried them with a towel WITHOUT ever rinsing them with water. I then laid them out on the poker table to dry overnight, turning them once after a couple hours. I could detect NO fading on the chips as a result of the short vinegar bath, unlike earlier experiments in which I used a 50% diluted vinegar solution for 15 minutes.

 

[72o]

The tediousness of hand cleaning and the fact that I just can't stand looking at a stack of rounded chips has driven me to prefer only minty or excellent condition Paulsons.

 

[Tommy]

I followed ski_ex5's ultra sonic cleaning write up a few times and the results were excellent. Saved me a lot of time.

 

[NiceShot]

I am building a cash set of used paulson casino chips and I love playing with them. They add more of a casino feel for me and I don't feel like I have to be as careful with them. Shuffling is nice and I can relate to that buttery smooth feeling.

My mint set is nice to play with but I can't help but try and keep a majority of them in mint condition so don't feel as comfortable putting them into play.

 

[inca911]

Lightly used and clean is definitely the way to go.

 

[B.C.]

Mint. Only because I want to wear them down myself!

 

[Mental Nomad]

I love used chips, as long as they're evenly enough worn that the different denoms still stack to similar height at 20.

I also love mint. And I love them broken in.

I also finally got to fondle a CPS set, and I have no problem with the beveled edges at all. I don't love the label, but the chip is fine for the price.

I also rather like some fifteen cent retail chips, as long as they don't feel very plastic... and I like a lot of ceramic designs (thwarted by the fact that I hate some of them when not edge-aligned), and I really want a custom CPS set.

I think I just love chips.

 

[Psypher1000]

...I think I just love chips.

Admission is the first step!

 

[ChipEnvy]

I'm so pumped when I get to play poker that whatever chips I am playing with are my favorite chips of all time.

In all seriousness, I love the look of mint chips, but prefer to play with chips that have just barely been broken in. In this condition, you don't have to worry about your drunk buddies splashing the pot, or doing some very poorly executed chip tricks with them.

 

[mike32]

For some reason I have no problem with broken in Paulson chips, but I can't stand worn Chipco's. The white ring and faded colors ruin those chips IMO. I have a couple Chipco casino sets and they were bought as new, and I really like those. I had some well worn ones long ago that I could not get rid of fast enough.

 

[Irish]

+1 for slightly broken in but not rounded, I don't care for the bicycle tires. Mint are fine too, I don't mind breaking them in.

 

[Mental Nomad]

Agreed on worn casino Chipcos... They just look worn and weary. But most home ceramics never reach that sort of wear level.

 

[ChaosRock]

For some reason I have no problem with broken in Paulson chips, but I can't stand worn Chipco's. The white ring and faded colors ruin those chips IMO. I have a couple Chipco casino sets and they were bought as new, and I really like those. I had some well worn ones long ago that I could not get rid of fast enough.

I'm with you there regarding the Chipcos Mike... I'd add that they become very slippery when too worn down...

A few year years back I had an older and dirty casino Chipco set that I washed and the colors faded even more... Believe it not I actually oiled the chips faces, with just a tiny bit of oil... Colors came back to life and they did not become even more slippery because of the oil... Well, they were very slippery to begin with...