CPC Set Compromises (5 Viewers)

[SSTB2213]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find anything through my searches.

I'm working on my first custom CPC set, and trying to prioritize the different upgrades available. Size, mold, color (weighted vs non), edge spots, and inlay shapes are all monetary considerations, and when combined the price on a larger set quickly spirals.

Of course, there is the thought of "buy once, cry once" and get what you love, but for the more frugal chippers I'm curious how you guys thought through this. Realizing that this is largely subjective, which upgrades do you consider to be the best values?

Personally, the small crown mold is my favorite, but they are ~.35c more expensive per chip than CSQ (which I also really like). I'll probably "compromise" with the CSQ and allocate those costs to edge spots or shaped inlays.

PS- Does anyone know why the edge spot upgrade costs don't remain constant? For example, when comparing CSQ and SCROWN, there is a .33c premium per chip when ordering SCROWN L1, but the upgrade fee jumps to .58c per chip when comparing the same molds for L5.

 

[LeLe]

Personally, the small crown mold is my favorite, but they are ~.35c more expensive per chip than CSQ (which I also really like). I'll probably "compromise" with the CSQ and allocate those costs to edge spots or shaped inlays.

Felt like you answer your own question, It better to go with your favorite mold but also work within a budget that one can afford and don't comprise the daily lifestyle.

Also, in case you haven did it yet, it good for you for hand on sample of the mold first before deciding as different CPC mold can felt much different from each another as well

PS- Does anyone know why the edge spot upgrade costs don't remain constant? For example, when comparing CSQ and SCROWN, there is a .33c premium per chip when ordering SCROWN L1, but the upgrade fee jumps to .58c per chip when comparing the same molds for L5.

You should look at % increasement rather than Raw number for Comparision as they have different base price, for example

The % increasement from L4 to L5 for CSQ is 11.73% whereas Small Crown is 12.56%

 

[JMC9389]

Get a shuffle stack sampler of each mold and order what you like. This is a set of chips that will last your entire lifetime and your kids' lifetime and beyond. Don't be in a situation when you're on your deathbed looking back and kicking yourself for not spending the extra $600 for chips on the scrown mold instead of CSQ.

 

[SteveEH]

Old school/minimal themes helped keep my sets' costs down. No expensive edge spots, no expensive dayglow base colors, and no shaped inlays.

Also lots of people recommend making the workhorse your favorite chip. If that means a level 1000 edge spot it's going to be expensive. I prefer edge spot progression, where the most complex/expensive is your highest denomination.

I also recommend getting shuffle stacks before committing to a mold. FYI, I ruled scrown out after doing this.

Edit also an efficient breakdown.

 

[Huskerchipper]

I wish every one of my sets had shaped inlays but to me that is a substantial increase in cost that I had to forego. My sets are really big though so it might not be as taxing for someone looking at a smaller say 600 chip set.

 

[SSTB2213]

Get a shuffle stack sampler of each mold and order what you like. This is a set of chips that will last your entire lifetime and your kids' lifetime and beyond. Don't be in a situation when you're on your deathbed looking back and kicking yourself for not spending the extra $600 for chips on the scrown mold instead of CSQ.

$600 maybe not, but SCROWN + shaped + crazy edges I might be regretting spending the $1,600

In all seriousness, you're probably right- especially since the theme I'm toying around with is of interest to my son as well.

 

[SSTB2213]

I wish every one of my sets had shaped inlays but to me that is a substantial increase in cost that I had to forego. My sets are really big though so it might not be as taxing for someone looking at a smaller say 600 chip set.

Sounds like you might have prioritized mold > color > edge spots > inlay shape. I think that's what most people go with.

 

[Colquhoun]

In my opinion, mold choice is paramount, and everything else should follow in priority. If scrown is your favorite, I say go with that and budget everything else …mold is the most important aspect regarding look, feel, etc.
I think the reason there is a premium on scrown is that the mold is aging ( it’s been used by casinos and customs for decades), and production may produce more waste chips. I know the Roman mold was retired because there were so many rejected chips that it wasn’t worth the cost of continuing.
If you don’t have a sample set of molds, it’s a must. The scrown is smoother than some, having less crosshatching than the CSQ.

 

[Tonysquander]

Don’t compromise on something you’re probably going to keep for a lifetime and possibly pass down to your kids. You can always make more money, pretty soon you may not be able to make more of these chips.

 

[bigblind]

get samples of molds first

 

[Phoe9x]

Be reasonable with yourself when designing. Yes this is a luxury poker chip set, and something that’s going to last a very long time. But not everyone has the budget to do all those crazy decisions like level 12 edge spots for each chip and shaped inlays.

I recommend that you take a very long look at the poker chip set gallery on this website and take notes on sets that other people have made. What do you like? What do you not like? Are shaped inlays a must? How could you incorporate some of the things you like into your theme?

There’s so much you can do with CPC. I personally like the more retro vibe so simple edgespot levels (<6) is fine with me.

If anything, DESIGN UNTIL YOU CANT DESIGN ANYMORE. Make 5 versions of each chip. See what you like, ask the opinions of others. Start with your workhorse chip since it should be your favorite, and from there you should be able to prosper.

You want something you can stomach buying even if it stretches your budget a little, because you don’t want to end up with hundreds of chips you spent too much money on and don’t like.

 

[Cratty]

My view is similar to many of the posters above. I wouldn't view anything as a compromise but as a constraint to guide the design, which can actually help. Sometimes too much freedom can lead to a bit of a jumble.

Circle inlays allow more art than shaped inlays, design in a way that leans into that.

Pick a mold that feels cohesive with your set. @Fran's burgundy club is a perfect example of this.

Simpler edgespots can knock the pants off complicated ones IMO if designed cohesively or especially if you go more "vintage" looking.

I mean hell, some of my all-time favorite sets are as simple as it gets. @Sprouty's milesclub hotstamped solids is one of the best examples.

 

[Machine]

I ragrets!

 

[SSTB2213]

I ragrets!

View attachment 1452759

Good lookin chips! I’m guessing you thought it’d be too cramped to put the denom amounts with the image? PS stealing your chip breakdown/quantities that I saw on another post! Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Machine]

I have done a few sets, and I must say overwhelmingly I like a theme side and a denom side.

Its the thing I like about the Hustler Casino's chip, I wish there was a CPC offering

 

[Huskerchipper]

I see your in the states. I have a full set of mold samples. DM me if you are interested. I will save u some $$$
I also have a full hotstamped color sample set as well that I would be willing to let go.

 

[warma]

Sounds like you might have prioritized mold > color > edge spots > inlay shape. I think that's what most people go with.

I think it all has to tie to your design principles and your vision for the set.

My limit set was inspired by an historical chip, so inlay shape, edge spots, and colors were all pre-set, I just had to find a mold.

My cash sets were more mold > spot > color > inlay, wherein I wanted spots that were historically available for the mold and with that in mind went for color.

 

[SSTB2213]

I see your in the states. I have a full set of mold samples. DM me if you are interested. I will save u some $$$
I also have a full hotstamped color sample set as well that I would be willing to let go.

Thanks, DMing you now

 

[allforcharity]

Costs go up with certain more complex edge spots as well as certain molds because they have different average "failure" rates in the compression process, whether inconsistent spot shapes and split, or failure of ejection from the mold, or any number of factors that lead to an esthetically poor or unusable product.

Using a shaped inlay has about the same cost premium as increasing average spot complexity by 2-3 levels.

 

[SSTB2213]

Costs go up with certain more complex edge spots as well as certain molds because they have different average "failure" rates in the compression process, whether inconsistent spot shapes and split, or failure of ejection from the mold, or any number of factors that lead to an esthetically poor or unusable product.

Using a shaped inlay has about the same cost premium as increasing average spot complexity by 2-3 levels.

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense!

 

[KingZilla]

Shaped inlays add a lot to the look of a chip. I tried using them on the CPC chip designer and my particular design would have to be reduced down quite a bit to fit in the various shaped inlays. That was something I'm not willing to do. So I guess it depends on your inlay art. The Icarus design above did work with shaped inlays but do notice the imaged was reduced to fit. Good Luck on your project.

 

[SSTB2213]

Point taken. And good eyes, I didn’t even realize that at first look.