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Hi, all! Noob checking in to learn about chip cleaning. (1 Viewer)

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MPC_Exec

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Hi All,

I'm a member of my school's poker club and will be giving a talk on poker chips. I want to focus on poker chip cleaning (a bit hyper-specific, I know!). I found this forum and was thrilled to see detailed and active posts on the matter, which I've been reading through today. It's quite dense, so I'm still a bit early on in my understanding. I'll be reading more posts tomorrow and potentially following up with more specific questions on the relevant board, but for now just wanted to say hi and see if there are any general tenets, tips, or other things to keep in mind with chip cleaning.
 
Welcome to PCF. This is pretty much a one stop shop for you:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/ultrasonic-chip-cleaning.1691/

Also check out the oiling done right thread. The search function will lead you to other areas as well. Tips would be to use the right method and chemicals (or not) on the right chips. Do it wrong on the wrong chip and you will permanently fade or destroy it. Do it right on the right chip, and you will be amazed at the result.
 
Last edited:
Hello and welcome!

There are multiple threads on chip cleaning. Some types of chips are very prone to chemical damage with regular detergents. Others can survive chemical baths for hours.
 
allforcharity said:
Hello and welcome!

There are multiple threads on chip cleaning. Some types of chips are very prone to chemical damage with regular detergents. Others can survive chemical baths for hours.
Click to expand...
Yes, there are different type of chips and different type of cleaning method

It will be best to mention what type of chips you are cleaning, I going to think it most likely Plastic Chip which Wiping with clean fiber cloth will be the easiest cleaning method
 
Welcome!

Tonysquander said:
Also check out the oiling done right thread.
Click to expand...
Agreed, but make sure to not only read the OP, but also the posts that speak against the method so you get both sides.
(I haven't chosen a side myself, but so far there's no difference whatsoever between the chips I compression oiled and the ones that got the "oil in water method", which is at least 10 times quicker).
 
MPC_Exec said:
Hi All,

I'm a member of my school's poker club and will be giving a talk on poker chips. I want to focus on poker chip cleaning (a bit hyper-specific, I know!). I found this forum and was thrilled to see detailed and active posts on the matter, which I've been reading through today. It's quite dense, so I'm still a bit early on in my understanding. I'll be reading more posts tomorrow and potentially following up with more specific questions on the relevant board, but for now just wanted to say hi and see if there are any general tenets, tips, or other things to keep in mind with chip cleaning.
Click to expand...
God. I hate cleaning.....
 
Tonysquander said:
Welcome to PCF. This is pretty much a one stop shop for you:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/ultrasonic-chip-cleaning.1691/

Also check out the oiling done right thread. The search function will lead you to other areas as well. Tips would be to use the right method and chemicals (or not) on the right chips. Do it wrong on the wrong chip and you will permanently fade or destroy it.
Click to expand...
Just as a counter-point, most of us clean our chips by hand, and that “oiling done right” thread is a little insane.
Point is, there’s like 10 years worth of knowledge on this site. Do some searches and read everything you can.
 
Last edited:
upNdown said:
Just as a counter-point, most of us clean our chips by hand, and that “oiling done right” thread is a little insane.
Point is, there’s like 10 years worth of knowledge on this site. Does some searches and read everything you can.
Click to expand...
Agreed, there are a lot of opinions and I’m not a proponent of any of them…lol. Both of those threads have a lot of information weighing pros and cons of many different methods for cleaning and preserving chips. If nothing else, you will be entertained.
 
Mr Winberg said:
Do you know about the politics section? ;)
Click to expand...
I come here so I don’t have to think/hear about politics and I stay away from that thread because it would unalterably impact my opinion of some members, I am sure.
 
Tonysquander said:
I come here so I don’t have to think/hear about politics and I stay away from that thread because it would unalterably impact my opinion of some members, I am sure.
Click to expand...
Yup. I’ve been getting away from it for that reason. I wouldn’t talk politics at the table, so why do it here? (At least I keep telling myself that - maybe today it will stick)
 
Tonysquander said:
I come here so I don’t have to think/hear about politics and I stay away from that thread because it would unalterably impact my opinion of some members, I am sure.
Click to expand...
It’s more fun to discuss issues with people that one doesn’t agree with, but sure there are a few (seemingly) nut jobs on these forums that just are bit more to chew than your average contrarian :)
 
MPC_Exec said:
Hi All,

I'm a member of my school's poker club and will be giving a talk on poker chips. I want to focus on poker chip cleaning (a bit hyper-specific, I know!). I found this forum and was thrilled to see detailed and active posts on the matter, which I've been reading through today. It's quite dense, so I'm still a bit early on in my understanding. I'll be reading more posts tomorrow and potentially following up with more specific questions on the relevant board, but for now just wanted to say hi and see if there are any general tenets, tips, or other things to keep in mind with chip cleaning.
Click to expand...
This is how I do mine:

 
Politics section is better now that a certain member appears to have been banned (again), but yeah you're still not missing out on anything unless you like going in circles.

Probably not what @MPC_Exec was expecting this thread to devolve to, so on the cleaning front, it depends on exactly what type of chips (manufacturer, material, etc.) you are talking about. If it's Paulsons, there are a variety of opinions, like basically everything on this website. I personally do warm water with soap, followed by a magic eraser scrub. Sometimes some light toothbrush follow-up if there is "hooker-juice" in the cracks. You'll find out that slang from just browsing the threads linked elsewhere in the replies here.
 
Eriks said:
It’s more fun to discuss issues with people that one doesn’t agree with, but sure there are a few (seemingly) nut jobs on these forums that just are bit more to chew than your average contrarian :)
Click to expand...
I agree, I'm am firmly against living in an echo chamber and always like to consider, possibly agree with and respond to other's perhaps differing views, just not while I am doing something I find to be otherwise pleasurable, like talking about cleaning my chips! Even the mention of P w/ no one's opinions even expressed derailed this thread...lol.

Sorry MPC, back to chip cleaning talk, although you are going to find out, if you have not already, that there are many hotly contested positions involving that topic as well! :)
 
Mr Winberg said:
Welcome!


Agreed, but make sure to not only read the OP, but also the posts that speak against the method so you get both sides.
(I haven't chosen a side myself, but so far there's no difference whatsoever between the chips I compression oiled and the ones that got the "oil in water method", which is at least 10 times quicker).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation! I've read through both the Oiling Done Right and Ultrasonic Chip Cleaning Pages as well as the relevant posts on @Ben8257 's linked thread. They're all very information dense and while I have a good sense of the methods themselves, weighing the pros and cons for different types of chips has been a bit beyond me due to all the different kinds you guys seem to reference.

I wanted to ask, though, if there are any specific posts that stand out as speaking out against a method? Or primarily exploring its cons? I would like to get both sides, as you said.
 
I don't remember the threads, but there are some that talk about Oxi clean and magic eraser, both are more harsh than dish soap.

I would search both oxi clean and magic eraser, both will yield worth while results to read.

Also there is a post with @ Eloe2000 recommending a specific scrubber for hand cleaning, I'd read that thread. it was a good recommendation, I think it is similar to a brush that Ben recommends but it rotates!
 
MPC_Exec said:
I wanted to ask, though, if there are any specific posts that stand out as speaking out against a method?
Click to expand...
Well the heat gets turned on in post 505 of the oiling chips thread. All hugs and kisses after a few pages though, so all is well :-)
 
Machine said:
I don't remember the threads, but there are some that talk about Oxi clean and magic eraser, both are more harsh than dish soap.

I would search both oxi clean and magic eraser, both will yield worth while results to read.

Also there is a post with @ Eloe2000 recommending a specific scrubber for hand cleaning, I'd read that thread. it was a good recommendation, I think it is similar to a brush that Ben recommends but it rotates!
Click to expand...
And Sonic toothbrushes…don’t forget those
 
Casino-used white Paulson chips tend to get off-white with age and use. A soak OxyClean is great and whitening them again, but can make the colored edgespots fade slightly. A small amount of oil brings back the color.
I wouldn’t recommend long soaks in OxyClean for colored chips.
 

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