Spinner repair methods and results (2 Viewers)

[drdr]

Calling anyone who's attempted to repair or reverse spinners.

What have you tried?
What worked or didn't work?

Make sure to mention chip and inlay/label type, and perhaps the cause of spinning. I'm guessing there's a range of spinner situations and best method will vary by circumstances.

 

[drdr]

My situation is I have around 10 CPC A-mold spinners from a set of 1000 made not quite a year ago. Inlays are bulged outward at their center but their edges seem fused into the chip. Was thinking some somehow injecting glue through the inlay, fine syringe perhaps. But first would rather listen to other's attempts or solutions.

 

[btbmason]

Lots of information in this thread which may help, I’d assume that flattening them in the same way you would with a warped chip would eliminate the spinners.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/flattening-warped-chips.3903/

 

[drdr]

Lots of information in this thread which may help, I’d assume that flattening them in the same way you would with a warped chip would eliminate the spinners.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/flattening-warped-chips.3903/

Thanks, forgot about that thread. Warping definitely one type of spinner cause. Wondering what else is out there.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

My situation is I have around 10 CPC A-mold spinners from a set of 1000 made not quite a year ago. Inlays are bulged outward at their center but their edges seem fused into the chip. Was thinking some somehow injecting glue through the inlay, fine syringe perhaps. But first would rather listen to other's attempts or solutions.

This almost sounds like you might have a "bubble inlay" where there is air trapped between the inlay and the chip itself. If you press on the inlay, does it depress and pop back when you let so? If so, that's what this could be.

I recall a thread ages ago back on CT where someone described how they removed the inlay, sanded it down somehow and re-adhered it with a tiny drop of glue. Of course, that's information that's lost to the aether,, so I don't know exactly what they did.


I have H-mold spinners that are primarily ASM era and I suspect there might be something about the adhesive they used to hold the inlay in place before pressing as well as the environment I have kept them in (inside, A/C in the summer, but desert dry) that makes some of them want to bulge a little. With no recess in the H-mold, they have become spinners. I removed one and was able to (easily) replace it with a sample label from @Gear. Those labels are thinner than the now removed inlay, so no worries about a spinner after an exchange.

I'm currently checking what I have in terms of spinners in that set and starting to prep the inlay artwork to place an order for replacement labels. I still have all the original art files I sent to ASM so this should be relatively easy to do.

[It seems the H-molds are the only problems I have beyond a few chips here and there. I have H-mold, Dia-square, hourglass and scroll mold chips from ASM and CPC and the H-molds are the only ones that have had a spinner "problem". I think most of that has to come with the age of that mold and the cups used to make them, but it's only a guess.]

 

[Colquhoun]

I recall a thread ages ago back on CT where someone described how they removed the inlay, sanded it down somehow and re-adhered it with a tiny drop of glue. Of course, that's information that's lost to the aether,, so I don't know exactly what they did.

@Ben8257 did something similar to an inlay that was peeling up:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/inlay-reconditiong.84472/

When I got my CPC set, there were a few spinners that were caused exactly as you describe, a bubbling inlay. Thankfully, there were enough included extras to cover the few that were like this.
I wonder if removing the inlay and gluing back with Ben’s process, the bubble could be resolved.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

I had forgotten about @Ben8257 's repair. Thanks for the reminder!

The one on CT was different for sure. I don't remember them trying to flatten in the inlays, but I can absolutely see how a bubble inlay would need that otherwise one is just putting the bubble back in place, except now with some extra glue.


I should have mentioned, the few spinners from the sets I have that aren't the H-molds were completely covered by the extras that get sent along. The H-mold spinners I have are definitely not bubbles, at least in the handful of inlays I have sacrificed to see how I might repair them.

 

[drdr]

This almost sounds like you might have a "bubble inlay" where there is air trapped between the inlay and the chip itself. If you press on the inlay, does it depress and pop back when you let so? If so, that's what this could be.

Yes, this is what I have. I'm wondering if there could be a fix that doesn't involve removing the whole inlay. Am worried about damaging the clay when inlay is removed.

 

[bigblind]

sounds like you have a bubble inlay, inlay should pop right off, clean off
old glue and reattach with some model glue

 

[drdr]

sounds like you have a bubble inlay, inlay should pop right off, clean off
old glue and reattach with some model glue

Seems so. And that would be the method that's worked previously for others, going by the good info provided. I should try that.

My inlays on the A-mold are 1" which means the inlay edge are often variably compressed into the mold depressions rather than cleanly into central flat clay. If the inlay doesn't come out easy I may have to experiment with a new method.

 

[Colquhoun]

Seems so. And that would be the method that's worked previously for others, going by the good info provided. I should try that.

My inlays on the A-mold are 1" which means the inlay edge are often variably compressed into the mold depressions rather than cleanly into central flat clay. If the inlay doesn't come out easy I may have to experiment with a new method.

In general, CPC inlays pop out quite easily.

 

[warma]

Any resolution?

I’m having a very different experience. When I tried popping my bubbling inlay off, the plastic laminate came off, but not the rest of the inlay. When I dug under it, I got the glossy top layer of the inlay off, but the paper base was firmly stuck to the chip.

I tried it on another and had the same experience. After prying up a part of the laminate, and realized the same thing was occurring, it pressed the laminate down and it got rid of the bubble and most of the spin.

On my chips, it appears the paper base is firmly attached to the chip and the issue resides within the inlay layers, likely with the laminate.

Bottom up: laminate, glossy top of the inlay, chip with the inlay paper base firmly attached.

 

[drdr]

I've been so smashed by work, family, life I hadn't attempted yet.

Maybe your chips aren't the norm? Have you tried reattaching, and how did that go?

 

[warma]

I've been so smashed by work, family, life I hadn't attempted yet.

Maybe your chips aren't the norm? Have you tried reattaching, and how did that go?

Once the laminate separates, there’s no putting it back.

 

[drdr]

Once the laminate separates, there’s no putting it back.

Oh, man. Won't lie, bit horrified. Sorry that happened.

 

[TheBigTater]

Seems so. And that would be the method that's worked previously for others, going by the good info provided. I should try that.

My inlays on the A-mold are 1" which means the inlay edge are often variably compressed into the mold depressions rather than cleanly into central flat clay. If the inlay doesn't come out easy I may have to experiment with a new method.

Which is a good reason to never go with the 1" inlay that goes right up to or into the molded area...... never liked those, just sayin'

Yeah if bubble inlay then only fix is to remove the inlay (delicately in your case) and re-glue back in place, GL.

 

[warma]

Oh, man. Won't lie, bit horrified. Sorry that happened.

Nah, that’s what extra chips are for. It was also interesting to see how the inlay is made.

For all the “CPC inlays just pop off” talk, I’ve never found it easy to remove them.

Just trying to understand the bubble spinners as I’m about to order another set of H molds and want to order appropriate quantities.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

Nah, that’s what extra chips are for. It was also interesting to see how the inlay is made.

For all the “CPC inlays just pop off” talk, I’ve never found it easy to remove them.

Just trying to understand the bubble spinners as I’m about to order another set of H molds and want to order appropriate quantities.

My H-mold orders for add-ons and top-offs for have been order +10%.

I might suggest an additional %5 on top simply because of the possible CPC shutdown.

My bubble/spinner rate for the ones that CPC are producing are lower than the 10% rate (ASM before seem a bit higher) and I'm hopeful my re-label (described several posts above) rescue chips for me (I suspect whey will).

I still think that's a mold-specific rate and other molds (based on the three others I have had made) are lower. YMMV, but in an abundance of caution with the impending CPC closure looming overhead, a little bit more spent in spares will save a lifetime in regret later.



(detailed report on my "fixes"will be posted here... Still doing final counts, making sure artwork is in line and an order placed... and Holiday things interrupting as well there too...).