Are you kidding me?

Stevo · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:43 PM

Ok, so I have 400 hot-stamped Paulsons that I thought I would clean and label. I have another 100 on the way so the whole set will be 500 chips. I'm thrilled. I read all (and I mean all) the posts about cleaning chips etc. I try the non-acetone nail polish remover with the toothbrush on the hot stamp. I rinse and use mild detergent and water for the cleaning part. Use my good old Armond Hammer special sponge. Rinse, dry, repeat. Wait. Crap my pants as my edgespots fade into Bolivian as the chips dry. Calm down a bit as I rub mineral oil on them and the color comes back.

Frustrate(can I use this word this way? I say nay!) to no end as the chips, when all is said and done, look only marginally better than when I started.

40 minutes. 12 chips. I have 488 more. You have got to be F&$(*#% kidding! Who does this? How do you do this? Please, please tell me there is something I can pour on, rinse off, and make my chips look good.

Anyone? Anything? Thanks for listening.

Wylecoyo · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:46 PM

Check out the "Diamond Chip Cleaner" under the "accessories" tab on this link (I would send you there directly but the site doesn't work that way): http://www.thechiproom.com/

I have not used this product myself, but I have seen many favorable comments posted here concerning it.

AgentVic · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 11:23 PM

Heheh, I bet your heart was about to pump out of your chest.

I also hear good things about the diamond cleaner. I've been meaning to get some.

RadixLecti · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 06:48 AM

I've used regular washing detergent.

When you think about it, most of the grime on chips are organic fats from hands handling them.
Detergents contain enzymes tailored to attack these same fats.

Soak for a few minutes in slightly warmer than luke warm water, then if needed, a few quick strokes with a tooth brush. That's all I've ever needed.

ebae · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadixLecti

I've used regular washing detergent.

When you think about it, most of the grime on chips are organic fats from hands handling them.
Detergents contain enzymes tailored to attack these same fats.

Soak for a few minutes in slightly warmer than luke warm water, then if needed, a few quick strokes with a tooth brush. That's all I've ever needed.

I agree. Use Tide. Soak in warm/hot water and Tide for 10 minutes or so, and the chips clean off very easily. Also cheaper and worth a try before trying Diamond Chip Cleaner, which I am sure works great also.

jamby · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 10:38 AM

Diamond Chip Cleaner works GREAT!

word.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebae

...Diamond Chip Cleaner, which I am sure works great also.

calculator · #7 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 01:06 PM

I got it down to about 30sec-45sec per chip using this exact method:

1. Mix some laundry detergent(non-bleach), some kind of degreaser spray (lysol, oxyclean, or another mild degreaser spray), and some laundry stain remover (shout, etc.).

2. Add water (using warm water is a gamble because of the affect it can have on the chips).

3. Mix the water and the cleaning products together.

4. Add the chips, allow to soak for at least a few hours.

5. The BIG KEY here is the length you allow them to soak. The longer they soak, the easier they will be to clean. Some will be more difficult to clean/remove stamp than others. Some I've had to soak for 24hrs, some only a couple hours.

6. Attack them with Magic Erasers

7. Rinse

8. Dry

9. Oil if you care, and enjoy.

ebae · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculator

1. Mix some laundry detergent(non-bleach), some kind of degreaser spray (lysol, oxyclean, or another mild degreaser spray), and some laundry stain remover (shout, etc.).

As a former Chemical Engineer, I don't recommend randomly mixing household chemicals together...