The REAL price of used Paulsons...

Tatdave · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2005, 11:30 AM

I was all excited to get a bunch of 'well used' casino Paulson chips. I picked them up for what I thought was a good price figuring I could quickly clean them up. They were to fill a gap where I was sorta thin on my other Paulsons so I could pull them out when I needed more chips for additional buy ins or having more folks around. Again, the price was right and the extra 100 chips would be a help.

They arrived and were very used, but in overall sound condition, other than the filth. The filth was impressive. The white on the inlay looked like a gray flannel color on the cleanest of the chips, charcoal on the worst. And then there was what I call, the toe jam. This was some grayish 'gum' type substance that was not sticky, but hardened onto the chips in various spots. Eons of shuffling and stacking had left this material embedded, hardened, and smoothed into the chips... and it did not want to leave.

Showing no fear, I grabbed 10 of the 100 chips and ran to the sink, Magic Eraser in hand... This had mixed results. While the garden variety filth was soon vanquished, the toe jam laughed at me. Still bold, I grabbed the old tooth brush and engaged. After a fevered battle, the jam was mostly gone and my hand were cramped. I eventually settled into something of a pattern, but it still ended up taking about 2 min or so per chip.

As I battled the goo, I realized it was not going to be quick work to polish up 100 chips. I thought of my options...quickly marry and impregnate my girlfriend so I could have a kid who I could make clean the chips, or try to sell 'it's therapy!' to my co-workers and make my clients clean them (I'm a psychiatric social worker). I debated the pros and cons of marrage VS malpractice as my hands pruned and cramped into hidious tallons. I eventually came to the conclusion that neither plan was actually viable. (Kids would take too long and cost to much, and visions of headlines with the words "The Socialworker's Sweatshop!" seemed unappealing.)

So I'm left with scrubbing. With each chip I scrub, the real price to me of these chips goes up and up. Hell, by the time I'm finished, these are gonna be the most expensive chips I own

Lime · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2005, 12:05 PM

Not to mention the pics you need to post!

MacGrad · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2005, 12:47 PM

Definitely! I'd love to see a picture of his clients, sitting in a row, doing their "therapy"...

JM · #4 (**permalink**) 11-06-2005, 02:10 AM

You should use the tip of a sharp knife to take most of the tough stuff off before you start cleaning. Get the majority out of the cane, hat and circles and then scrub and you'll find it comes out much quicker. I use a fingernail brush (like a toothbrush but alot longer) with some softscrub with bleach and it works wonders. And disinfects too!

Tatdave · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-2005, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the tip, will give it a try. Sadly, I'm beginning to wonder if I actully want these still. I've been using the 40 that I've cleaned so far and I'm not sure they do it for me. Oh well, if I continue to feel this way at least I can sell them clean to the next person.

cpiaaq · #6 (**permalink**) 11-06-2005, 10:28 AM

I clean that gunk off with the edge of a casino die. It comes off like cooled wax, and the plastic die isn't going to slice your chip (or your finger). Plus the corners are pretty sharp and can pop the gunk out of the canes.

Timinater · #7 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 11:09 AM

used a bit of dishwashing detergent and soak one chip while you are cleaning the next, i know exactly what you are talking about in regards to the hard gunk, you just have to scrub hard and it eventually comes off

Nanook · #8 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 06:56 PM

I'm starting to wonder if it is worth it too.

One thing that I have found to work well to get the grime out of the canes grooves is a push pin. If you just run it thru there lightly it will scrape that grime right out of there. It still takes a long time to clean a lot of chips though.

AB

Tatdave · #9 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 08:54 PM

With all the time I've been scrubbing, I've been thinking about how it's work to do this. Then I think about how much I actually get paid for working, and despite not making much, it's definately made these over priced for me. Oh well, live and learn. Not hurting as much from this as I've been over my pocket aces losing to someone who was UTG and raising me twice with J7o and then the flop comes Q77.

ilyu2 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatdave

I was all excited to get a bunch of 'well used' casino Paulson chips
They arrived and were very used, but in overall sound condition, other than the filth. The filth was impressive. The white on the inlay looked like a gray flannel color on the cleanest of the chips, charcoal on the worst. And then there was what I call, the toe jam. This was some grayish 'gum' type substance that was not sticky, but hardened onto the chips in various spots. Eons of shuffling and stacking had left this material embedded, hardened, and smoothed into the chips... and it did not want to leave.

Showing no fear, I grabbed 10 of the 100 chips and ran to the sink, Magic Eraser in hand... This had mixed results. While the garden variety filth was soon vanquished, the toe jam laughed at me. Still bold, I grabbed the old tooth brush and engaged. After a fevered battle, the jam was mostly gone and my hand were cramped. I eventually settled into something of a pattern, but it still ended up taking about 2 min or so per chip.

As I battled the goo, I realized it was not going to be quick work to polish up 100 chips. I thought of my options...quickly marry and impregnate my girlfriend so I could have a kid who I could make clean the chips, or try to sell 'it's therapy!' to my co-workers and make my clients clean them (I'm a psychiatric social worker). I debated the pros and cons of marrage VS malpractice as my hands pruned and cramped into hidious tallons. I eventually came to the conclusion that neither plan was actually viable. (Kids would take too long and cost to much, and visions of headlines with the words "The Socialworker's Sweatshop!" seemed unappealing.)

So I'm left with scrubbing. With each chip I scrub, the real price to me of these chips goes up and up. Hell, by the time I'm finished, these are gonna be the most expensive chips I own

Ok so lesson learned for me since I'm just starting to buy chips for home games and collecting. Hire some 1 to clean them for me!!! I never thought of the fact that years of handling would cause such a hardened mess on the chips. Thanks for the info