DIY chip mold? (1 Viewer)

[SwissChip]

As a fishing- and DIY guy, i build my own fishing rods in winter times.
Do molds for DIY poker chips exist?

 

[allforcharity]

They can, but they generally don't. Molds for these types of industrial manufacturing processes typically cost many thousands of dollars each, and must be made to spec with the other equipment.

 

[ekricket]

They can, but they generally don't. Molds for these types of industrial manufacturing processes typically cost many thousands of dollars each, and must be made to spec with the other equipment.

That’s the company line.

But reality is a bit different. Are you talking about a few hundred or thousands and thousands? If you just want to press stuff in your garage it’s doable. If you want to ramp up production for sale that’s a different story.

 

[improviseallday]

That’s the company line.

But reality is a bit different. Are you talking about a few hundred or thousands and thousands? If you just want to press stuff in your garage it’s doable. If you want to ramp up production for sale that’s a different story.

Is there a thread of someone pressing chips with custom molds in a garage? Would love to see how they did it.

 

[allforcharity]

That’s the company line.

Not spouting a line. Everybody thinks it's easy. A certain Red Ott had all the right equipment for mass production and still couldn't do it right. BCC had all the equipment and the expertise and they had well known QC issues. A guy in a garage with a dream is just that.

 

[Jawnie]

Always wondered if you could reheat old paulson chips back into dough and repress in a homemade jig. Maybe make some random oversizes chips

 

[KHarp1]

Are they heated, or, is the mold put under enough pressure that a heating chamber isn't needed? What material would you use? Just a could random thoughts.

 

[BGinGA]

Always wondered if you could reheat old paulson chips back into dough and repress in a homemade jig. Maybe make some random oversizes chips

Theoretically (if using single-color blanks with no spot colors, hot-stamp foil, or existing inlays), one could feasibly heat the chips up to a temperature that would allow the material to be reshaped using a mold apparatus that utilized adequate temperature and pressure controls.

Theoretically. And then the newly molded chips would require finishing.

 

[upNdown]

Is there a thread of someone pressing chips with custom molds in a garage? Would love to see how they did it.

I’m pretty sure that’s never happened

 

[mipevi]

Is there a thread of someone pressing chips with custom molds in a garage? Would love to see how they did it.

This probably qualifies: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/home-made-clay-poker-chips.55717/

 

[improviseallday]

This probably qualifies: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/home-made-clay-poker-chips.55717/

What an amazing thread! tldr: it can be done at a rough level with a few years of time on a budget greater than buying Paulsons

Pretty cool hobby, even if it isn't particularly time-efficient.

 

[SwissChip]

Cool...!
Of course, only for a small amount of chips. Not for running a company.

But i would try to use clay from the pôterie, press them in a mold or stamp (that maybe exist?), and
burn them.
Some emaille colors could be great, but difficult to get them flat.

All a big question mark.