How to Clean Paulson Chips with Labels (1 Viewer)

[justsomedude]

So - I got my first set of Paulsons (Stardust Mansion chips - thanks liftapint!), and I am game to cleaning them up. While I have found some threads on cleaning chips, it seems like all of those threads address chips with inlays. The Stardust Mansion chips have labels, and I am worried about messing up the labels while cleaning them.

Is there a thread on cleaning up labeled Paulsons? Am I just missing it in my search?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BGinGA]

Dunno what makes you think those Paulson Stardust Mansion chips have labels vs inlays.... have they been relabeled?

 

[moose]

1 tablespoon of tsp in 8 cups of water, soak for 5 min and starting brushing.

 

[liftapint]

So - I got my first set of Paulsons (Stardust Mansion chips - thanks liftapint!), and I am game to cleaning them up. While I have found some threads on cleaning chips, it seems like all of those threads address chips with inlays. The Stardust Mansion chips have labels, and I am worried about messing up the labels while cleaning them.

Is there a thread on cleaning up labeled Paulsons? Am I just missing it in my search?

Thanks in advance!

Aren't they inlays? I'll toss a few in a bowl of water over night, and see what happens. I'll add TSP for a few minutes tomorrow, and scrub them up in the end...I've wondered what these look like when they're all clean, so I don't mind doing the experiment.

I'm pretty sure they'll be just fine.

 

[liftapint]

I ran the water as hot as it would come out of the tap, put it in a bowl, and dropped 4 chips in. 10:50pm. We'll see how they look tomorrow.

 

[justsomedude]

Dunno what makes you think those Paulson Stardust Mansion chips have labels vs inlays.... have they been relabeled?

I guess they could be "inlays"? I'm just used to seeing Paulsons with a thin layer of clear "chip material" on top of the center casino inlay. As in, the label is literally embedded in the chip. Perhaps I'm just confused because the Stardust glossy label is "exposed" to the elements. Is the label still "inlayed"? Sorry for the jumble of terms - I'm trying to explain how these are different than say, Empress inlays.

Aren't they inlays? I'll toss a few in a bowl of water over night, and see what happens. I'll add TSP for a few minutes tomorrow, and scrub them up in the end...I've wondered what these look like when they're all clean, so I don't mind doing the experiment.

I'm pretty sure they'll be just fine.

Maybe they are embedded. Are they still permanently adhered (pressed in)? If so, I guess I'm less concerned. But still, the label is exposed, which means water could still penetrate.

Curious to see how your test works out lifta... thanks for doing it!

PS: Loving these chips! And just secured some tourney chips from Apache Josh for my quarters. w00t!

 

[Psypher1000]

So - I got my first set of Paulsons (Stardust Mansion chips - thanks liftapint!), and I am game to cleaning them up. While I have found some threads on cleaning chips, it seems like all of those threads address chips with inlays. The Stardust Mansion chips have labels, and I am worried about messing up the labels while cleaning them.

Is there a thread on cleaning up labeled Paulsons? Am I just missing it in my search?

Thanks in advance!

The SPM's were my first set, too! They were also my first set to clean. First, a point of fact - the SPMs are inlaid, not labeled. If you find a Paulson that's been labeled, it's an aftermarket label.

With that out of the way, what I did w/my SPM's is drop them in some water with a good shot of dish soap that had OxyClean in it. I let the chips soak in the warm water/soap mix for a few minutes, then scrubbed them with a toothbrush. They came out sparkling!

I have not tried the plain TSP/water mix as exactly as recommended above, but I have absolutely used a TSP/water mix as the cleaning solution when I use my ultrasonic cleaner. It, too, does the job.

Whatever method you choose, wear gloves. And if you're working with TSP, wear eye protection as well.

 

[Psypher1000]

I guess they could be "inlays"? I'm just used to seeing Paulsons with a thin layer of clear "chip material" on top of the center casino inlay. As in, the label is literally embedded in the chip. Perhaps I'm just confused because the Stardust glossy label is "exposed" to the elements. Is the label still "inlayed"? Sorry for the jumble of terms - I'm trying to explain how these are different than say, Empress inlays.



Maybe they are embedded. Are they still permanently adhered (pressed in)? If so, I guess I'm less concerned. But still, the label is exposed, which means water could still penetrate.

Curious to see how your test works out lifta... thanks for doing it!

PS: Loving these chips! And just secured some tourney chips from Apache Josh for my quarters. w00t!

A label is basically a sticker. You can peel it off.

An inlay can't be peeled off. What you're feeling on the SPM's is a smooth/glossy inlay vs. the textured inlays of the Empress set, et. al. Regardless of size/texture, though, they're both inlays.

Also, if you have Empress chips that you want to sell, just let me know

 

[justsomedude]

An inlay can't be peeled off. What you're feeling on the SPM's is a smooth/glossy inlay vs. the textured inlays of the Empress set, et. al. Regardless of size/texture, though, they're both inlays.

Ah ha! This is what I was not understanding. THANKS!

Also, if you have Empress chips that you want to sell, just let me know

I only have 50 of the $25 chips. Will trade you straight up for $25 SPMs.

 

[moose]

The mix above is mild enough that I have never bothered with gloves. It's the chips that soak, not your hands anyways.

Just be aware that it is strong enough that it will fade the spots on the ones noticeably if you soak too long in tsp.

 

[ChaosRock]

I cleaned mine using a TSP solution like moose but I ran then chips through a Sonic Cleaner for a couple of minutes... That was enough for all the cash chips, and the tourney ones as well, to be super clean... However, the white $1s still had a tiny little bit of purplish color transfer on the faces and edges... So once they were out of their bath I used a Magic Eraser on them and the bright white was back on, like new...

 

[AfterTheFact]

Extremely hot water will warp the chips, learned that the hard way.

Other than that TSP with dawn dish soap, warm water and a toothbrush is my method of choice.

I cut the toothbrush bristles in half to make them penetrate the recess areas better.

 

[liftapint]

Extremely hot water will warp the chips, learned that the hard way.

.

Oh yes, absolutely. Thanks for mentioning this. Don't use super hot water!

 

[atomiktoaster]

I use oxyclean and comfortably warm water and a nail brush like this:

Much faster than a toothbrush, since you get the whole chip with a couple swipes. Gloves help keep from brushing off the skin on your hand that's holding the chips. A magic eraser is great for rack check and other marks that don't come off otherwise.

 

[liftapint]

Test complete. Chips stayed soaking in water for 11 hours (do not try this at home...not necessary, and water always COULD seep in). But the inlays look great, no problem at all. So go for it, clean up those Stardust chips! Sounds like you've already found the threads on cleaning chips.

My only word of caution is -- don't leave the chips in the TSP solution for very long. The chip color can get zapped out.

Good luck, and don't forget to post photos when you're finished. Take some before photos too. It will be rewarding when you see how great they turn out!

 

[justsomedude]

thanks lifta!

 

[BGinGA]

Yep, 10 minutes max soak time (with agitation) in very warm water with Oxyclean or TSP is plenty to get 99% of most gunk to just fall off with no risk of any bleaching effect (colors typically return with post-wash oiling). Use a fresh water rinse (with agitation) as soon as scrubbing/magic eraser actions are completed.