Upside/downside for various chips (or Meridian rambles on) |
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Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:37 pm GMT by MeridianFC
My artist friend finally finished the art for the custom chips I've been hankerin' to get made. I'd gone back and forth between the various makers that I'm aware of and am sort of stuck now. I've got quotes from ASM, TRKing, and ChipCO. Folks hereabout seem to know their cheques so I thought I'd solicit some opinions. I want to get folks take on the various upsides and downsides for the vairious markers out there.
I have strong opinions myself (Gimme clay....er I guess ceramic is ok) and I'm a bit more for the old school than some (don't need multi color edge necessarily but like mulit numbered edge option) but there doesn't seem to be any maker that does it all.
For tournaments I'm fine with any of the fantasy chips out there, since they're just potential value and you're less likely to get someone running in a chip in a tournament (not impossibe, just less likely) and if they do, well you've got another tourney chip don't ya? But my cash game, it's got to be more secure (read unique). If I'm paying off on those cheques at the end of the night, I don't want any Thomas, Richard, or Harold able to order and handful of greens off of eBay or what have you. This alone seems to justify dropping some serious coin on chips.
So some of this is to help my decision and some is to just see what people think.
So anyhow this is what I've got at present:
Paulson
Pro - Classic, Great feel, weight, color, quality
Con - even though they're coming back I've been informed they won't do any custom under 250,000 pieces, limited color options, some of the body designs are butt ugly, and as far as I can tell you still can't deal with them directly, not made in the US.
ChipCo
Pro - very good chip, lots of graphic potential, open to just about anything as far as design, edges, etc., good feel if a bit different, and "full" weight.
Con - not really clay, it seems to me the corners and edges wear out a bit, art fees very high, resale value seems comparatively low, while it doesn't bother me many folks don't like the fact that the edge spots don't line up
Atlantic Standard Molding aka Pokerchips.com
Pro - Great cost for custom jobs, high qulaity chip with usually good quality control (?), I find the colors very attractive (nice and dark yet robust...it's Folgers mountain blend...er...sorry), variable molds
Con - slightly lower weight, no flexibility or variation in edge spot number, long (though understandable) turnaround time
TR King
Pro - Full weight, seem to be open to more body/edge styles, old school maker, very friendly fast customer service
Con - Chips may be slightly undersized (rack issue?), very expensive unless large quantity ordered
Blue Chip
Pro - Relatively cheap clay chip, stock bodies seem ready for inserts, from the "Paulson family"
Con - customer service may be a bit slow/off, home market chips slightly under weight, colors a bit light/chalky/off, feel a bit off, full custom not an option (?)
RT Plastics
Pro - they do custom
Con - they only allow one body style custom, in the end they're just plastic chips, albeit very nice ones.
I won't bother with Bud Jones, B&G, or Dolphin since all they do really is make (very nice) plastic chips that aren't available to the public anyways.
So thoughts.
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Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:48 pm GMT by MeridianFC
Some of the good stuff:
The variety and style of edge spots is really good on these, unfortunately I think the Crytal Oyster logo is crap (ChipCO)
This old school style design is shit hot. Unfortunately they (nor anything like 'em) are made anymore. Nor apparently can be made anymore (ASM)
There's some potential there, as long as they're not too thin and I can order enough to get the chip price down under $1.50 (TR King)
| Quote: | | Custom with printed center and edge spots. Minimum total order 300 chips. Black printing standard. Color printing is $50 extra. Mold designs available: Horsehead, A-mold, and Roman Border. Price 95 cents each |
95 cents for custom clay, that my friends is a good price. To bad you only get the one edge spot option. (ASM)
Nothng feels like this. Shame they don't make 'em custom for mere mortals (Paulson)
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:56 pm GMT by slowplayray
| MeridianFC wrote: | There's some potential there, as long as they're not too thin and I can order enough to get the chip price down under $1.50
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They're definitely not too thin - same thickness as Paulson, Blue Chip, Chipco, etc. - but they are a little smaller in diameter, for sure. And for that matter, ASM are a little bigger than the rest. I do not have a set of calipers on me, so I can't measure them, but I'd say the difference is easily under 1 mm. It is noticeable, but completely tolerable once it's what you're used to.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:45 am GMT by PaulsonChips
I would go with ASM without a doubt. Even though on the threads they have been getting low marks on quality. In my PAST experience, they are the best, the only thing you gotta make sure is that you are okay with the weight and the edge spot restrictions.
Chipco would have clearer images, but Chipco does not wear well at all. You dent/chip them, they stay that way. If you go to the lowe class casinos you can see all the Chipcos are white from the wear.
Blue Chip- DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
TRKING-If you can get over the high price and the dull edgespotting, and the smaller size.
But like I said earlier! ASM!!!!!!
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:43 am GMT by Teekan
ASM totally, I've bought a custom set and still love them just as much as I did when I first got them. I have pictures of my chips on here as well, just search for it on here and you'll see.
The only downfall if it really is a downfall is they are a little big lighter, but it's not one of those noticable things. Like for instance if you hold the chips, you wouldn't say... damn these are light!
Go for the ASM pokerchips 
I also added some Paulson chips to my set and lover them as well.... to bad they don't do custom anymore. If they did I would say paulson, but I'm not Mr. moneybags and can't get a 250,000 set. Until then ASM pokerchips are just as good baby 8)
I also do chip tricks and ASM chips are great for shuffling and doin other tricks. (just some extra info)
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:42 am GMT by Grumbler
I went through a similar process and picked ASM from PC.com. I received them on the 11/24 and have played with them in one game. I was using 11.5g chips and the players noticed they were lighter, however, everyone loved the chips. I actually like the lighter chip.
They stack, sound, feel, look, and play great! I catch myself just going over and looking at them all the time. Then I have to pick a couple up and start messing with them and then I want to play and then...........
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:12 am GMT by MeridianFC
Yeah the ASMs are a bit lighter but it's really the edge spot thing that kills it for me. I mean if you're going to drop $1-2K for some chips, you'd sure like to get as close to what you want as possible.
I really like ChipCOs even though they're not clay, but I have a sample stack from 4-5 years ago that had been sitting in a drawer all that time that I just rediscovered. The edges on those have really worn down and that's from just sitting in a drawer that gets opened maybe once every other month.
I've got some more investigating to do on TRKing, which for some reason many folks are down on.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:14 pm GMT by slowplayray
| MeridianFC wrote: |
I've got some more investigating to do on TRKing, which for some reason many folks are down on. |
I think it's mainly the pricing, which is indeed high for small quantities. The smaller size, as I mentioned, is pretty much irrelevant once you only have T.R. Kings in front of you with nothing to compare else them to. I forgot to bring some chips in to work to measure, but I will try to remember to bring a set of calipers home tonight to settle the size question once and for all.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:17 pm GMT by agentjack
I saw MeridianFC posted a single green paulson chip. I acutally have a 550 chip set of these same paulson chips. I bought them for $200 on ebay a few years ago. I am kicking myself for not buying more when they were available.
Here are some pictures.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:10 pm GMT by warewulf619
I also REALLY like ASM chips. The only thing stopping me from getting a set is also the edge spots. How freaking hard would it be to offer 2-3 different varities of spots? Geez! Ok, if they're not going to offer multi-colored edge spots, maybe vary the number of spots -- a choice between 2-4 would be enough for me to order.
Chipco is good if you want a modern chip and have really cool artwork. These chips have no character w/o the artwork.
TR King is my current favorite. I started cleaning my Casbah Club chips last night and they do look brand new! I'm going to play with these for a few weeks to see if they grow on me even more. I think the size issue is only a problem if you use racks to count them. Once they're on the table, the size doesn't matter. I like the old school look and feel of these. I especially like the mold which I compare to ASM's A mold. You're right though -- unless you start a huge group buy, TR King is really expensive.
Blue Chip -- I'm not crazy about the weight/customer service.
I really do think that by this time next year there will be a lot more options for chips. Paulson is already making home chips, although I can't stand the home mold with the PAULSON CHIPS on the top and bottom. Couldn't they do initials or something not so obnoxious?
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:24 pm GMT by MeridianFC
| warewulf619 wrote: | | I also REALLY like ASM chips. The only thing stopping me from getting a set is also the edge spots. How freaking hard would it be to offer 2-3 different varities of spots? Geez! Ok, if they're not going to offer multi-colored edge spots, maybe vary the number of spots -- a choice between 2-4 would be enough for me to order. |
'Zactly. I know it's their business and they must have their reasons, but it's so frustrating to have almost at your fingertips what you're looking for. Well actually I have some of the Palmas Club chips by my desk, but I digress. I even tried to price out 10,000 chips from them and they wouldn't budge on the spots. As I've mentioned before I've never even seen the plain multi number spotted chips in any casino/cardroom.
| Quote: | | I think the size issue is only a problem if you use racks to count them. Once they're on the table, the size doesn't matter. |
This is of some concern to me as I usually do use racks to cash people out quickly. I've heard both that the chips rack full/even and that they rack loose. Anyone else have any experience with this. Unfortunately I only have about a dozen TRKings so I can't really tell.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:04 pm GMT by Grumbler
The TRKing chips are slightly smaller in diameter but I don't know if they are any thinner.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:22 pm GMT by slowplayray
| warewulf619 wrote: | | TR King is my current favorite. I started cleaning my Casbah Club chips last night and they do look brand new! |
How difficult are you finding it? I mean, how long do you think my set of 1000 take me? Mine are due in tomorrow...I was hoping for a surprise and have them come in today, but UPS is always dead on with their delivery estimates. Darn.
Posted Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:01 pm GMT by warewulf619
| slowplayray wrote: |
How difficult are you finding it? I mean, how long do you think my set of 1000 take me? Mine are due in tomorrow...I was hoping for a surprise and have them come in today, but UPS is always dead on with their delivery estimates. Darn. |
Not difficult at all, just a bit time consuming. I'd say 30-45 seconds / chip. I was also talking on the phone and had other distractions though. The darker the chip, the more you can tell it needs to be cleaned. The $500 chips are white so you can't really tell. The .25 cent are yellow, also can't tell much, but will probably be more shiny after cleaning. All the other colors are pretty dark and look obvious that they need cleaning. I need to finish cleaning enough for games this weekend. 1000 will probably take you a few hours. I'm guessing 3+ hours.
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