Chip storage - is stacking in acrylic chip racks bad? (1 Viewer)

[utgtrash]

Just wondering if stacking in chip racks causes any noticeable wear or damage to your chips? I didn’t assume so but enclosed racks seem to be a thing so I’m wondering if anyone has had issues with full rack on full rack stacking.

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

Interested in that as well. I'm not stacking higher than 3 racks on top of each other in my flimsy wobbly china racks until I'm convinced that it's safe for the chips to do so.

 

[RainmanTrail]

Yes, it can certainly damage chips. Some racks aren't perfectly flat or level, creating high points in the rack. Also, not all chips are uniform in diameter, so some stick up higher than others. You can easily damage a chip if you stack them up too high. That said, it's not really much of an issue for most, and the damage wouldn't really be all that noticeable if they are chips that get used with any degree of regularity.

 

[JP1984]

Interested in that as well. I'm not stacking higher than 3 racks on top of each other in my flimsy wobbly china racks until I'm convinced that it's safe for the chips to do so.

Same here! I'm not sure what approach to take yet, love the idea of a birdcage but not sure it's the best approach. @RainmanTrail how do you store yours?

 

[utgtrash]

Yes, it can certainly damage chips. Some racks aren't perfectly flat or level, creating high points in the rack. Also, not all chips are uniform in diameter, so some stick up higher than others. You can easily damage a chip if you stack them up too high. That said, it's not really much of an issue for most, and the damage wouldn't really be all that noticeable if they are chips that get used with any degree of regularity.

so enclosed racks/racks with covers are the way to go?

 

[Easylife]

Was also thinking about this yesterday so glad to see this post. Running out of racks with covers as the collection grows and have a few without and was deciding if I needed to order more with covers or not or if i could just stack. Watching this thread with interest.

 

[JP1984]

Might just bang one of these in the garden and fill it with shelves to stack them in barrels instead of racks

 

[Easylife]

Might just bang one of these in the garden and fill it with shelves to stack them in barrels instead of racks

View attachment 697795

Send me your address and I'll check how secure it is for you

 

[RainmanTrail]

Same here! I'm not sure what approach to take yet, love the idea of a birdcage but not sure it's the best approach. @RainmanTrail how do you store yours?

I put them in chip boxes and store them in my vault unless they're going to be in play, in which case they go in drawers.

 

[Colquhoun]

Stacking racks for long term storage has been discussed here:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/long-term-storage.48967/

 

[LeLe]

I can imagine it definitely not good to stacking them long term with all the weight on the bottom rack.

Better to keep them without stacking them in rack or keep them in cases

 

[k9dr]

I keep all of my chips stacked in racks on my desk and have never noticed any damage. Most are stacked 5 or 6 racks high, but some are 8 or 10 racks high. I like them displayed where I can enjoy them, not hidden away in boxes.

 

[trigs]

I have mine stacked 4 racks high so I can see them and show them off. I've never noticed any damage from stacking them that way.

 

[upNdown]

Yes, it can certainly damage chips. Some racks aren't perfectly flat or level, creating high points in the rack. Also, not all chips are uniform in diameter, so some stick up higher than others. You can easily damage a chip if you stack them up too high. That said, it's not really much of an issue for most, and the damage wouldn't really be all that noticeable if they are chips that get used with any degree of regularity.

You know, we’ve been over this before and if I recall correctly, there’s been exactly one claim of chips being damaged by being stacked in racks and that claim was dubious.
Don’t go scaring newbs with words like definitely, when you’re speaking theoretically, about a method that’s used everywhere, with no verified complaints.

 

[TheBigTater]

As long as the racks fit well (not a lot of sway/wobble back and forth) there shouldn't be any extensive damage to chips on the bottom racks. If the racks are loose/ill fitting then you might expect some damage especially if you are moving them around a lot. If you are going to invest in chips then spend a little extra and invest in proper sized racks for your chips. This means different chips will require different size racks.

If your racks fit then just stacking them for storage/display is fine.

 

[Colquhoun]

One thing to note if you have Chipco racks...check where the injection mold marks are. Some of them have extra flashing (especially the marks on the ends) that is quite sharp and could do damage to the outer chips of each row) especially if there’s extra weight on them.

A small trim with an x-acto blade will remove it. The marks are detailed here:

 

[Hairy_Crocodile]

One thing to note if you have Chipco racks...check where the injection mold marks are. Some of them have extra flashing (especially the marks on the ends) that is quite sharp and could do damage to the outer chips of each row) especially if there’s extra weight on them.

A small trim with an x-acto blade will remove it. The marks are detailed here:
View attachment 698009

I just got some chipco racks, and this was the first thing I noticed when put my first barrel in them too. Its not too much of an issue as long as you remove it all. I noticed that I had flashing on multiple parts of some racks as well.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

I can imagine it definitely not good to stacking them long term with all the weight on the bottom rack.

I've seen this concern before and the amount of weight is not what some might think it is. At most, the bottom chip in a stack of five racks will only have the weight of four chips and a tiny fraction of a rack sitting on it, total. As long as the chips fit properly in the rack, the load is equally distributed.


From my first custom set in 2007 and everything after that has always been in racks and in cages and I have never seen any issues. Chips that don't get used as frequently (higher denominations, etc.) I'll *maybe* every six or nine months give them a spin in their rows and maybe even "rotate the tires", putting bottom racks on top and so forth. I don't do that as habit, but more something out of boredom or if the TV is on and there's nothing to do.

 

[Indyscammer]

so enclosed racks/racks with covers are the way to go?

Yes.

 

[BGinGA]

I've seen this concern before and the amount of weight is not what some might think it is. At most, the bottom chip in a stack of five racks will only have the weight of four chips and a tiny fraction of a rack sitting on it, total. As long as the chips fit properly in the rack, the load is equally distributed.


From my first custom set in 2007 and everything after that has always been in racks and in cages and I have never seen any issues.

^^ this. I've stored clay chips -- in properly-sized racks -- stacked up to ten-high for years with no damage.

Heat is the enemy, not weight. Keep 'em cool.

 

[JustDave]

what about uv? do people need to worry about light damaging the chips?

 

[JeepologyOffroad]

what about uv? do people need to worry about light damaging the chips?

Yes

 

[BGinGA]

what about uv? do people need to worry about light damaging the chips?

Yes indeed. Both direct and indirect sunlight can permanently damage chips.

All of my my chips in racks are stored on shelves in the converted chip storage closet (some in bird cages, some not) or in portable pelican-style cases (located in our chip room).

 

[upNdown]

Yes indeed. Both direct and indirect sunlight can permanently damage chips.

All of my my chips in racks are stored on shelves in the converted chip storage closet (some in bird cages, some not) or in portable pelican-style cases (located in our chip room).

So somebody needs to start manufacturing birdcages made from that UV protecting museum glass?

 

[BGinGA]

So somebody needs to start manufacturing birdcages made from that UV protecting museum glass?

Wouldn't hurt. I think @abby99 uses it for her sample and individual chip display cases.

 

[duffman]

Not trying to scare anyone, but I will not store any of my chips in racks (stacked) for a prolonged period of time. YMMV. I made the mistake of storing 5 racks of $1's on top of one another for roughly 10 years at room temperature in a closed closet. Some of the chips developed flat spots from the rack on top. Here are a couple pic's...

 

[abby99]

Wouldn't hurt. I think @abby99 uses it for her sample and individual chip display cases.

Yes, and it works very well although they never got direct sunlight. I bought them direct from sfdisplay. They also have an eBay store. Definitely worth checking them out. To give credit where credit is due, I learned about these display cases from @Jeff.

 

[philhut]

Not trying to scare anyone, but I will not store any of my chips in racks (stacked) for a prolonged period of time. YMMV. I made the mistake of storing 5 racks of $1's on top of one another for roughly 10 years at room temperature in a closed closet. Some of the chips developed flat spots from the rack on top. Here are a couple pic's...

View attachment 698817View attachment 698818

Out of curiosity how many racks were in the stack to cause this progressive weight load?

 

[duffman]

Out of curiosity how many racks were in the stack to cause this progressive weight load?

5 racks stacked on top of one another. Not all of the chips were damaged like the pic's show. It's been a while, but I'd imagine these particular chips sat a bit higher in the rack and were toward the bottom where more weight was being applied.