Ultrasonic & HSIs (2 Viewers)

[BearMetal]

Due to a series of unfortunate events comprised of bourbon, football, and a TCR sale, I sadly have a set of HSI's arriving today.

I'm curious if anyone has cleaned used HSI primary chips with an ultrasonic cleaner. If you have I'd like to hear what proportions of TSP to water that you used and how long you ran it for.

In general, in the HSI thread, some people have mentioned that they were able to clean their HSI chips with no fading whatsoever. I would like this to be a test to see if I could achieve the same thing. It's not that I mind oiling chips, but I've never had the chance to use my ultrasonic without the need for even a little light oiling afterward.

Edit: If we can, let's keep the poll to either:

• Actual experience cleaning HSI chips without fading
• If you have no experience cleaning the HSIs without fading, then cleaning any RHC chips without fading

 

[inca911]

What ultrasonic do you have and how dirty are the chips? 2T in the bath for 1 minute @ 42C is my typical starting point. That is for a full rack of not-so-filthy chips, using Lundmark "TSP (actually sodium metasilicate) with salad spinner rotation as fast as you can manage it.

 

[Pinkdan]

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

I followed this guide and it worked great. If you’re worried about fading then try cleaning in 30 sec intervals so you don’t over clean

 

[BearMetal]

What ultrasonic do you have and how dirty are the chips? 2T in the bath for 1 minute @ 42C is my typical starting point.

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

I followed this guide and it worked great. If you’re worried about fading then try cleaning in 30 sec intervals so you don’t over clean

I've cleaned 1000s of chips, but they've always faded. Some were very dirty and went in for 60+ seconds. Others for 30s. I've always used 2 tbsp to 8 cups of water at around 42c.

My Vevor 6L is great... but I'm just wondering with these chips specifically what have people used and have they noticed any fading at all.

It's more of an experiment with anything to better hone my skills at cleaning. if they end up needing to be oiled then so be it, but I'm just curious other people have done.

 

[Rieguy]

I sadly have a set of HSI's arriving today.

 

[Pinkdan]

I've cleaned 1000s of chips, but they've always faded. Some were very dirty and went in for 60+ seconds. Others for 30s. I've always used 2 tbsp to 8 cups of water at around 42c.

My Vevor 6L is great... but I'm just wondering with these chips specifically what have people used and have they noticed any fading at all.

It's more of an experiment with anything to better hone my skills at cleaning. if they end up needing to be oiled then so be it, but I'm just curious other people have done.

very cool! Have you tried other cleaning agents? I heard dawn works and doesn’t foam up the US water nearly as much as you’d think

 

[BearMetal]

very cool! Have you tried other cleaning agents? I heard dawn works and doesn’t foam up the US water nearly as much as you’d think

From what I understand, anything that could create bubbles and/or pockets of air, would negate the cleaning ability of the US. So, I've only tried TSP. I mean, the stuff works amazingly well; some of the STD-laden gooey chips come out looking like a clean baby's butt.

 

[BearMetal]

@Rieguy ... it's sad b/c:

• I know the wife is going to find out
• I'm going to pay for it when she does
• I'm also going to pay for it when the credit card bill arrives

 

[allforcharity]

If you have the less used/unused primaries or secondaries, then I think 1 tbsp per 4 cups, for 30-45 sec in at 37-40C should be sufficient to clean your chips. Fading is much less noticeable for inlaid chips compared to hot stamped ones. Certain colours are slightly worse than others.

 

[Pinkdan]

@Rieguy ... it's sad b/c:

• I know the wife is going to find out
• I'm going to pay for it when she does
• I'm also going to pay for it when the credit card bill arrives

I wonder how many people on this forum can relate to this... um not me though, nope definitely not...

 

[FordPickup92]

This is why I dont use an ultrasonic, that and no matter what everyone says it deteriorates the face of the chip

 

[BearMetal]

This is why I dont use an ultrasonic, that and no matter what everyone says it deteriorates the face of the chip

I know Brie, I know. But in the past, even though they have caused the chips to fade, a light oiling always brings them back to their former glory. And I know that some people don't like the oil chips, but I do like being able to hand caress each one.

but the reason for this post is that I'm wondering if there's a better way to do this with the ultrasonic. If not I actually might just clean these HSIs by hand.

 

[ChipTalker]

I have been an ultrasonic hater in the past but tested a few HSI chips that came out great. I guess it has its place for non high end sets but always test a chip or two of each color first. We did a few cap fulls (4-6) of Simple Green (just cause that is all they had at the store) which I believe is same or similar active ingredient in TSP. We mixed that with a pretty full vevor 6L bin at around 40C for 2 min and the results were clean chips with no fading. The cleaned chips were still darker than the new chips during a side by side comparison. We should have taken pics but were caught up in the moment.

 

[BearMetal]

I have been an ultrasonic hater in the past but tested a few HSI chips that came out great. I guess it has its place for non high end sets but always test a chip or two of each color first. We did a few cap fulls (4-6) of Simple Green (just cause that is all they had at the store) which I believe is same or similar active ingredient in TSP. We mixed that with a pretty full vevor 6L bin at around 40C for 2 min and the results were clean chips with no fading. The cleaned chips were still darker than the new chips during a side by side comparison. We should have taken pics but were caught up in the moment.

You did the HSI chips for 2m ... wow, that's a lot longer than I've ever put mine in.

 

[Pinkdan]

You did the HSI chips for 2m ... wow, that's a lot longer than I've ever put mine in.

I did 2 min for a lot of mine too

 

[ChipTalker]

@seyff45 posted some of what we did in the other thread. He since oiled so cannot do a side by side anymore else I would but very pleased with the results.
For some reason the inner rim of the whites (around the label) needed a very light magic eraser but other colors did not need to be touched up.

 

[seyff45]

And again, the only chips that appear to be a different color or "faded" are the 4-5 brand new reds that I got with the set... those would be considered "faded" or "less vibrant" than all of my other red chips.

I've cleaned thousands of used casino chips by hand in the past and this had a much better outcome than hand cleaning IMO. It was my first time using an US, but consider me to be a convert in a big way.

 

[BearMetal]

And again, the only chips that appear to be a different color or "faded" are the 4-5 brand new reds that I got with the set... those would be considered "faded" or "less vibrant" than all of my other red chips.

I've cleaned thousands of used casino chips by hand in the past and this had a much better outcome than hand cleaning IMO. It was my first time using an US, but consider me to be a convert in a big way.

my guess is the reason that people think that minty chips are faded is because they're still covered in a little bit of dust. a quick rinse and some water would probably make them look the exact same as your newly cleaned US chips.

 

[seyff45]

These were probably on the felt but nowhere near as long as the others (still had cross hatching)

All of the chips were cleaned in the US (including the newer ones). I don't think these still had factory dust in them in this case.

What's strange is they were all oiled too so who knows

 

[warma]

From what I understand, anything that could create bubbles and/or pockets of air, would negate the cleaning ability of the US. So, I've only tried TSP. I mean, the stuff works amazingly well; some of the STD-laden gooey chips come out looking like a clean baby's butt.

Dawn doesn’t bubble. Fill tank, add Dawn.

Caveat- I didn’t use the lettuce spinner method, just the wood spoon stir.

 

[Pinkdan]

Dawn doesn’t bubble. Fill tank, add Dawn.

Caveat- I didn’t use the lettuce spinner method, just the wood spoon stir.

important caveat

 

[BearMetal]

Dawn doesn’t bubble. Fill tank, add Dawn.

Caveat- I didn’t use the lettuce spinner method, just the wood spoon stir.

interesting. I have to try this on a few chips that I have that are dirty and I don't care about.

 

[BearMetal]

Based on the poll, the way I've been doing it is a good way. So I tried it on a barrel of $500s. They came out so clean after only 30s. After drying, they were just a bit faded... Just a tad thirsty.

So, oiling must commence. Maybe I'll have to try Dawn. I can't imagine it would work, but why not...

 

[seyff45]

Suffice to say the 500s are the least dirty (they were the highest denim that I got)

You're going to need more time for the lower denoms for sure.

 

[BearMetal]

Suffice to say the 500s are the least dirty (they were the highest denim that I got)

You're going to need more time for the lower denoms for sure.

Did a barrel of $100s that were gross. 30s still did the trick.

 

[ChipTalker]

I would like to know other opinions here and I only say this now after years because I never had both dirty and clean chips of the same exact denom set before this HSI sale. When we received both chips the used were clearly darker than the new from hooker juice. When we used the Ultrasonic the used were still darker than the new. Is it possible that it is not fading but instead removing some hooker juice and getting closer to original color? Of course depending on the variables it is possible you can totally mess up and fade a chip but in the case we are talking about here do you really think it is fade or is it restore?

I guess 1 way to find out is US a new chip and then compare to other new chips ... maybe when I get some time I will try that out.

 

[BearMetal]

I would like to know other opinions here and I only say this now after years because I never had both dirty and clean chips of the same exact denom set before this HSI sale. When we received both chips the used were clearly darker than the new from hooker juice. When we used the Ultrasonic the used were still darker than the new. Is it possible that it is not fading but instead removing some hooker juice and getting closer to original color? Of course depending on the variables it is possible you can totally mess up and fade a chip but in the case we are talking about here do you really think it is fade or is it restore?

I guess 1 way to find out is US a new chip and then compare to other new chips ... maybe when I get some time I will try that out.

I cleaned one of my new chips by hand with some mild soap and warm water. Upon comparing it to an US-cleaned chip, the US-cleaned was more uniform in color but slightly lighter. So I lightly (and I mean lightly; 1 single drop) oiled the US, and it was now darker. So I did the same to that 1 new chip and they all look the same .

Maybe I have to do the whole barrel of new to get a true comparison...

 

[BearMetal]

So I figured I'd post some of my findings here:

• Even at 30s with the tried-and-true ratio, I still got fading
• After oiling, they look amazing
• If you only edge-oil mint, you get very consistent results when comparing them against used/cleaned/oiled

4 Barrels of used Along with 1 Barrel of New (Used were U/S cleaned and oiled; New was edge-oiled)

Used/Cleaned -- Used/Cleaned/Oiled -- New (Uncleaned / No Oil)

 

[ChipTalker]

hmm yeah I don't love the look of the used/cleaned without oil.
I have 80 cleaned not oiled yet, I will post some pics when I get a few min.

 

[BearMetal]

hmm yeah I don't love the look of the used/cleaned without oil.
I have 80 cleaned not oiled yet, I will post some pics when I get a few min.

Neither did I. Interestingly enough though, after I oil the ones that I cleaned and then I did an extremely light coat of edge oil to the mint ones, they all looked uniform and fantastic.