Smooth vs. Textured - What's the difference?

Matt · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 01:23 AM

I will try my best to explain the difference between textured and smooth chips in this thread. I will add additional information as I come to think of it.

"Textured" Chips - Facts
* Weighs 10.4 grams each
* 39.4 mm in diameter
* ~3.3 mm thick (but slightly thicker than smooth chips)
* Linen surface texture

"Smooth" Chips - Facts
* Weighs 10.3 grams each
* 39.4 mm in diameter
* ~3.3 mm thick (but slightly thinner than textured chips)
* Satin surface texture

Textured Chips - Good Things worth mentioning
* Makes a nicer and more exclusive sound

Smooth Chips - Good Things worth mentioning
* Fits better in most chip racks

Textured Chips - Bad Things worth mentioning
* Gets dirty more easily
* Doesn't fit in most chip racks

Smooth Chips - Bad Things worth mentioning
* Doesn't make quite as nice and exclusive sound
* Becomes more shiny than textured chips after lot's of use

Textured Chips - FAQ
[Q] Are textured chips very rough to the touch?
[A] No not really. At least not in an unpleasant way, but they are more rough to the touch than smooth chips. The surface is covered with a grid of tiny pyramid-shaped bumps. Some prefer the feel of these and others prefer the feel of the smoother chips.

[Q] Does textured chips have more color bleed than smooth chips?
[A] No, not really. Atleast I find it hard to believe that anyone would be able to see a difference without strong light and a magnifier glass.

Smooth Chips - FAQ
[Q] Are they smooth like plastic?
[A] No. They are also textured but are more smooth to the touch than so-called “Textured” chips. The surface on a so-called “Smooth” chip is covered with a very slight mottled texture. Some prefer the feel of these and others prefer the feel of the linen surface chips.

[Q] Are they very slippery or do they not stack as well as textured chips?
[A] No, they are not more slippery when stacked. In fact, they stack just as well as textured chips.

[Q] Do they look very different?
[A] No, in fact you would probably only notice the difference if you pick a chip up and look at it very closely, preferably at a certain angle so that it reflects the light.

[Q] Is the surface slick so it reflects light like glass or plastic?
[A] No, not at all. Smooth chips only reflect slightly more light than textured chips.

General - FAQ
[Q] Which is your favourite chip type - textured or smooth?
[A] Personally I prefer the textured chips. The smooth chips does not sound as great and I like the feel of the textured surface.

[Q] Which would you recommend?
[A] I wouldn't want to recommend one or another. Some people prefer smooth and some prefer textured. However, if you aren't very picky about the details I'd say it doesn't really matter which one you order. The only thing I would strongly recommend you consider before ordering is whether you need to be able to store or transport the chips in chip racks. The textured chips doesn't fit in some of the tighter chip racks out there so this could be a concern.

Matt

jello-broom · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 02:06 PM

Good info Matt.
That's one thing I don't like about these textured chips ... they don't fit in chip racks (because of the added height the textured surface gives them).

Matt · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jello-broom

Good info Matt.
That's one thing I don't like about these textured chips ... they don't fit in chip racks (because of the added height the textured surface gives them).

They fit in all chip cases though

Matt

the3rd · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 03:47 PM

This was very helpful. I'm thinking of getting some custom ceramics in the next couple months. I have a question about wear. In H4tfan's review of ABC ceramics http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/poker-...ample-set.html, he really beat them up.

Quote:

While looking directly at the smooth faces I didn't see 'slide marks', but when looking from a hard angle I could see them.

How much do the smooth wear under normal conditions? I.E. Lots of shuffling, chip tricks and cutting stacks for hi/lo games.

Matt · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the3rd

This was very helpful. I'm thinking of getting some custom ceramics in the next couple months. I have a question about wear. In H4tfan's review of ABC ceramics http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/poker-...ample-set.html, he really beat them up. How much do the smooth wear under normal conditions? I.E. Lots of shuffling, chip tricks and cutting stacks for hi/lo games.

I have no idea whether smooth chips are worn faster. They probably wear diffrently i.e. their appearance changes in a different fashion but I think it's hard to test the amount of wear, and how it differs betwheen smooth and textured chips, properly. You would have to have one set of each and play with both the same number of hours. Also, I'm not sure anyone have actually had their chips long enough for the chips to be worn through normal play. Both should be very wear resitant however.

Matt

jello-broom · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the3rd

How much do the smooth wear under normal conditions? I.E. Lots of shuffling, chip tricks and cutting stacks for hi/lo games.

One can only assume the smooth MIGHT wear at a faster rate, than the textured ... the images on textured chips are sort of "protected" by the surface texture ... that being said though, the smooth should hold pretty well in the long run anyways.

Bano · #7 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 10:26 PM

Thank you Matt!

That information is very good to know. You answered, my questions without me having to ask. I was once considering purchasing a set of ceramics, but was never familiar with the details of choice. I am better informed.

duma · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 03:56 AM

is there any way to give us a picture of a stack of 20 textured next to a stack of 20 smooth? just to compare the height difference. thx!

Matt · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duma

is there any way to give us a picture of a stack of 20 textured next to a stack of 20 smooth? just to compare the height difference. thx!

Sure! A stack of 20 textured chips stands half a chip taller than a stack of 20 smooth chips ---> http://www.mrchip.eu/graphics/thickness.jpg

Matt

palmimports · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Sure! A stack of 20 textured chips stands half a chip taller than a stack of 20 smooth chips ---> http://www.mrchip.eu/graphics/thickness.jpg

Matt

They sure to- we learned this the hard way after running an order for text on edge only to find out the text was off on the smooth chips but not the textured.

I have to see how the chips fit into the chip trays we have- I have like three different manufacturers products here and they ALL have slight differences- I need to see if one works better then the other

As far as wear- I have no idea if smooth will wear faster then textured- I imagine the WEAR aspect would be the same- only it would probably be more noticable on the smooth-