Should I clean my chips?

mothmandan · #1 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 01:00 PM

I have a question for the collectors out there. I have been following the "newbie post of the day" and have read a ton of stuff on the club website and I just want to know where the chiptalkers stand on the issue of cleaning chips.

My collection right now only consists of currently circulated casino chips. These chips are on the tables (I can't get chips from the cage) and of course some look like hell but I think they are decent chips beneath the grime. I think that some casinos do occasionally clean their chips so for these current chips (not obsoletes of any type) would it be a bad idea if I put them into some Diamond Chip Cleaner and cleaned them up a bit? I would leave the traders alone, and let the new owners decide this for themselves, but for chips I want to keep do you think it diminishes value or takes away from a collection.

I am curious, because there are so many schools of thought on this and I am still trying to form an opinion.

Thanks

Dan

P.S. I put my cheque in the mail this week for my CC&GTCC membership, and should have a website with the small number of chips I have up in a few days.

deputyfl · #2 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 01:16 PM

I clean chips that are in my collection if they need it. I do not clean my hot stamp chips though. I use a soft vibrating toothbrush with a very little soap and water. I then pat dry them. This has always worked for me with no problems so far

There are some who dont clean them at all. My opinion is that if ya can get the dirt off saftley then i do it. I dont try to remove material that may harm the chip if i try and remove it like paint or something. Im shure others have other methods and opinions though.-von

NoFear · #3 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 02:09 PM

My though is if you going to play with them YES.

For collection, yes and no. Up to you.....

noelsarchs · #4 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 02:16 PM

If you have highly collectible and valuable chips, don't clean them. Purist collectors don't want anyone messing with the chip. You never know what kind of donks are out their cleaning their chips with all sorts of experimental methods.

If your chips are current casino chips or home use chips, or chips with no real collector value, clean away.

My only advice with clay chips is to clean them quick and not let them soak in cleaning solutions like many do. Then dry them thoroughly, let them air dry as well after wiping, then oil them and remove the excess oil right away. Again, let them all air dry and not stack them back into a case or racks until the oil completely absorbs into the chip.

jamby · #5 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 03:45 PM

Only clean (very carefully if you do) chips that:

a} you never intend to get rid of
and/or
b} aren't highly collectible

Gaming Ore · #6 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noelsarchs

... then oil them and remove the excess oil right away. Again, let them all air dry and not stack them back into a case or racks until the oil completely absorbs into the chip.

Sorry, but I just can't agree to oiling, ever, for several reasons.

To my knowledge, oiling does nothing for a chip, except make it look better for a while, i.e., bring out the color(s). But aside from that, it does not help preserve the chip, does not make playing a game easier, does not improve condition and can certainly hurt condition. In my mind, oil serves no value-added purpose

Furthermore, oil transfers to cards, your hands and the table playing surface and while oil may not attract dust particles, it certainly holds them, thereby causing chips to get dirty quicker and then needing a bath more often.

While a chip may be able to stand up to a single cleaning, I can assure anyone that with each and every wash, more and more of the chip gets cleaned away. It's been said before, cleaning a chip does not improve it's condition and if done wrong or often, it can only negatively impact condition.

Now, having said that, just keep in mind that it is just my opinion and from time to time, I'll clean a chip (clay and otherwise) with 50/50 diluted Blue Diamond cleaner and water. I'll towel dry the chip, but not oil it.

Respectfully,

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

noelsarchs · #7 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 04:22 PM

Well, I actually agree with you 100% to a point where I feel like making a complete retraction.

I know that when I've oiled my chips, they did actually get dirtier much faster as a result.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaming Ore

Sorry, but I just can't agree to oiling, ever, for several reasons.

To my knowledge, oiling does nothing for a chip, except make it look better for a while, i.e., bring out the color(s). But aside from that, it does not help preserve the chip, does not make playing a game easier, does not improve condition and can certainly hurt condition. In my mind, oil serves no value-added purpose

Furthermore, oil transfers to cards, your hands and the table playing surface and while oil may not attract dust particles, it certainly holds them, thereby causing chips to get dirty quicker and then needing a bath more often.

While a chip may be able to stand up to a single cleaning, I can assure anyone that with each and every wash, more and more of the chip gets cleaned away. It's been said before, cleaning a chip does not improve it's condition and if done wrong or often, it can only negatively impact condition.

Now, having said that, just keep in mind that it is just my opinion and from time to time, I'll clean a chip (clay and otherwise) with 50/50 diluted Blue Diamond cleaner and water. I'll towel dry the chip, but not oil it.

Respectfully,

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

mothmandan · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the input so far everyone. There is no simple answer and I appreciate each response.

- No oil was an interesting point. I won't do it.

- I think I will take cleaning the chips on a case by case basis, and had only planned to do it to chips I won't trade or sell. Some of the chips I picked up have so much grime that the H&C mold is filled up, or white inserts on a BJ chip have turned yellow (they were white once, I dealt there on opening night) and I think I would like these chips to at least look decent. Other than the grime the chips look to be in pretty good shape.

- Jamby, I am not sure how one would define "highly collectible". I would think any obsolete chip would be in that category for someone somewhere. My main interest in cleaning chips was for the ones that are in circulation that I could get at any table. I have yet to acquire anything more than that.

- Does anyone think that the Diamond Chip Cleaner from Jim at thechiproom.com would be a safe product to use? If I spent $20 on the big bottle it would probably last for an eternity.

Thanks again for the input

Dan

jamby · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 05:02 PM

Probably should have phrased it as 'highly valuable to collectors' as you'll find that many obsoletes are not since they are in plentiful supply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothmandan

- Jamby, I am not sure how one would define "highly collectible". I would think any obsolete chip would be in that category for someone somewhere.

deputyfl · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 11:07 PM

Heres why i clean my chips. Same sides of the same chips shown before and after cleaning
This is just a cheap trader..
before....

After....

This one i just added to my Bahamas collection..
Before...

After....

I would rather have the chips clean because i think they look better. I even clean my expensive chips as long as im confident they wont be harmed by doing it.