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Who likes 'casino used' condition? (1 Viewer)

GoStumpy

GoStumpy

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I really think building a casino used set for my cash game would be fun, I have mint chips which are beautiful and cool, but there's something about used worn chips that just have history... Or something lol.

Anyone else feel this way? I ordered those 80 dirty used PCA's off eBay and am tempted to put up a wanted post in the classifieds looking for more used and worn PCA's, probably using Empress 5's...

What say you?
 
I absolutely love them for shuffling, that's for sure. I picked out the 12 most worn PD $1s from my set that I use to shuffle when I am in the office or on the computer. Butter.....
 
I like the mint sets... I love the broken in casino used... and then back again to like for the heavily worn casino chips.

The problem with the heavily worn (Cali Bell $5) chips is the thickness issues. They are wafer thin and when stacking for counting, a stack of 21 of one color can equal a stack of 20 from another. Its a nuisance, but it brings down the love to a like.
 
pretty sure there are some lucky derby chips out there for "inexpensive", Nothing is cheap, except the super diamonds that cannot even be given away.
 
I definitely like them broken in, they shuffle so much better and take on a nice patina. I think the Empress primary $5s I have though are too worn, once they fit 21 to a barrel they don't handle as well or play as practically with chips in better condition, so for me there's a sweet spot.
 
As long as someone (with the same OCD level) cleans them for me, I love 'em. I don't own an electronic cleaning doohickey watchamacallit so man I hate cleaning these things by hand...sort of a been-there-done-that-and-don't-have-any-desire-to-do-it-again type of feeling. I do love the slightly rounded edges though.
 
Ain't nothin' wrong w/casino-used chips, and in general I prefer them. The only thing about used chips is the cleaning. If they come to you in a dirty state, you either need an ultrasonic machine, or a scrubber & elbow grease.

The Empress chips are some of my fav's, and when it comes to casino-used, they are my #1 favorite that I've found in quantity.
 
I just ultrasonic'd 450 cali bell $1s this past weekend. They were grubby, now they are very clean. It took about an hour to clean that quantity. Now oiling on the other hand... I need to find a refined process for that... It takes me about an hour to do 100 chips.
 
Shaggy said:
I just ultrasonic'd 450 cali bell $1s this past weekend. They were grubby, now they are very clean. It took about an hour to clean that quantity. Now oiling on the other hand... I need to find a refined process for that... It takes me about an hour to do 100 chips.
Click to expand...

Just cleaned 300 bells 1s over the weekend as well! (y) :thumbsup:
Ultrasonic did a great job, but there are still some chips with grim in the grooves. Going to have to take a sharp pick to them ... and then i'll oil.
 
Weckedy said:
Just cleaned 300 bells 1s over the weekend as well! (y) :thumbsup:
Ultrasonic did a great job, but there are still some chips with grim in the grooves. Going to have to take a sharp pick to them ... and then i'll oil.
Click to expand...

yep.. same here. I used an exacto knife backward in the grooves. It doesn't cut in, but is narrow enough to fit in the grooves. This process is what adds to the oiling time. Probably 1/4 of the chips needed additional picking.

Also of note... there was a bit of color variation on these that I don't remember on prior Cali Bells. Almost to the point of a definite different color being used between versions (blue base).
 
Shaggy said:
yep.. same here. I used an exacto knife backward in the grooves. It doesn't cut in, but is narrow enough to fit in the grooves. This process is what adds to the oiling time. Probably 1/4 of the chips needed additional picking.

Also of note... there was a bit of color variation on these that I don't remember on prior Cali Bells. Almost to the point of a definite different color being used between versions (blue base).
Click to expand...

Hmm, haven't noticed a color variation, but then again i haven't taken a closer look. Maybe they will all match once they are oiled?
 
Funny it looks like we all love a good set of used chips with rounded edges... yet in the classifieds I swear it's all about mint secondaries, lol
 
GoStumpy said:
Funny it looks like we all love a good set of used chips with rounded edges... yet in the classifieds I swear it's all about mint secondaries, lol
Click to expand...

Well for me at least, i have my "collector" set, and then i have my "play" set.
Collector sets are minty fresh, and will remain that way if i have anything to do with it ...
Play sets are just that ... for play.

For example, i have a "collector" set of Outpost Casinos which are mint and will probably never hit the felt, then i have a "play" set of Outpost Casinos which would be considered VG condition, which i use for home games.
 
I prefer slightly broken in casino chips. When the edges are rounded, or the chips too thin from wear, then they gotta go.

My VG condition chips come into play for my 4 - 8 H.O.R.S.E. cash game. Bigger stakes = better chips.

My mint sets stay in the bird cages for the most part. However, I've been known to break them out for my wife's poker tournaments ... I need all the leverage I can muster up when it comes to convincing her to allow me to buy more chips!
 
Psypher1000 said:
Blasphemy!

I don't diss people for doing that, but I definitely take the opposite approach - play'em if ya got'em!
Click to expand...

I agree with this for sure. I have all my chips in the regular rotation. If a set is finding its way out of the rotation, it is time for me to pass it on to someone else. I presently only have about 7 sets in the rotation.;)
 
Different people collect differently, for sure... there are definitely lots of people that have their collection on the shelf taken down to admire and clean only, thusly preserving maximum value and 'mintyness'...

Others take them out of the box and have a good time with them, irregardless of potential 'lost value'
 
Its not that im afraid of potential 'lost value' from playing with the chips, more like i dont like the feel of playing with sharp mint chips.
I LOVE the look of mint chips, don't like shuffling and playing with them though ...
 
Last edited:
FWIW, I really like them worn. I don't think I'd ever pay for MINT just to put them in play. ...by the way, it's high-time @72o gets himself an Ultrasonic cleaner.

Tim
 
I like both so why not both in the same set?

Oak Tree Cut

Oak Tree Cut

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I knew the less than a year old Oak Trees were exactly what I wanted in a used casino set; a little wear and cheap.

Not a lot of cleaning needed (still haven't cleaned them all) and came with a bonus - a lot of the $25 - $500 are near mint.
 
Mint chips in stacks and in racks = winner

Used chips for shuffling and careless splashing of pots = winner

I say you cant miss. Better be safe and buy both....
 
GoStumpy said:
Funny it looks like we all love a good set of used chips with rounded edges... yet in the classifieds I swear it's all about mint secondaries, lol
Click to expand...

Maybe that's because none of us with used sets want to sell them. (y) :thumbsup:

When I started collecting chips I actually didn't like the casino used chips too much, but they kind of grew on me. Especially after seeing how nice they looked after a good cleaning. I now have some used Empress, PCA, and Aztar chips, oh, and some Cali Bells. (I traded away a veey nice barrel of mint $500 chips to start that Cali Bell set, too.)

I also came to the realization that the only place someone would ever have the opportunity to play poker with clean used (Paulson) casino chips is at a home game of a fellow chipper.

At casinos chips are clean and brand new when the casinos open, but they quickly become old disgusting dirty chips when the casinos get older. I have never seen clean, old, (Paulson) casino chips at a casino game!

Best of luck building your used set!
 

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