[Mark S.]

I noticed my chips(chipco) have gotten pretty dirty and was wondering what you guys think is the best way to clean them up. my best guess was mild dish detergent, but figured i better check first. thanks in advance.

mark

[Cin0s3]

Thats how I clean my paulsons, I dont know if you could use anything that would hurt ceramics except acid maybe so i think soap and water should be safe enough.

[tomb1]

Just cleaned a bunch of grimy casino ceramics, and I used mild orange cleaner with some running water to get them wet and rinse them off. I've also used dish detergent, but the thick orange creamy stuff is easier to use undiluted.

The biggst thing that will help is an old soft toothbrush. That'll do the trick in no time. I usually rub the chip with cleaner between thumb and forefingers of both hands, then put it in my palm, pick up the toothbrush, and brush both sides. Quick rinse and they look great.

Actually, I tried something new this weekend. I usually oil my clay chips with mineral oil after cleaning. But the non-porous ceramics don't really need oil, I always thought.

However, after cleaning a bunch of Chipcos I rubbed them with an old rag that had some mineral oil on it from wiping off my clays, and it made the ceramic colors look much brighter. I wiped them off pretty well so I wouldn't have oily chips, and the colors were still better than before. Just something else to try -- I don't know if I'll do this going forward.

[hunterking]

any tips for cleaning clays?

hk

[tomb1]

Originally Posted by hunterking

any tips for cleaning clays?

hk

Exactly the same as above for Chipcos. Works like a charm. Just dry them well with a towel. Some chips like nearly-new ones I clean thoroughly, brushing all inside the mold indentations and getting out every bit of dirt. But for other chips I leave some of the charm and don't brush them quite so much, maybe just rub them between two palms with orange stuff and don't use the toothbrush.

But I always oil them afterwards, with only mineral oil. After a good cleaning, I want some protection on the clay and to bring out the colors, but still want them to wear naturally.

Happy cleaning!

[Edit] OK, I gotta tell this story. I played poker Saturday at Grand Casino in Gulfport MS (that's Mississippi for the rest of the country!), and culled through my stacks for 20 near-mint chips. Though they were beautiful brand new Paulson classic-style TH&Cs with sharp edges and nice inlays, they were still pretty dirty from play. http://www.chipguide.com/cgi-bin/sea....cgi?id=msgugc

So I go home and clean them, standing at the laundry room utility sink, water running lightly, with a towel on the washing machine to dry them off. As I have my hands full of orange stuff and reach for the toothbrush, I dropped one chip. When I reached down to get it I accidentally pushed it into the little drain in the bottom, you know, where the little plug goes?

Guess what -- that drain hole is EXACTLY 39MM IN DIAMETER. I mean EXACTLY -- you couldn't design it for any tighter fit! As I tried to get it out, I just pushed it further down in. So now there is a perfect seal, the water is starting to fill up, and my frickin' chip is stuck!

Well, after several minutes of cussing at the dog (the wife already went to bed after losing at blackjack), I decided there was no way I was gonna save the chip. So I got a steak knife and started digging at it. It still took a minute to dig out the clay edge and get the knife underneath, so I could pry it up.

So now I have one perfect Paulson chip that looks like it has a bite taken out of it! Oh well, just gotta go back for more!

[hunterking]

Originally Posted by tomb1

Exactly the same as above for Chipcos. Works like a charm. Just dry them well with a towel. Some chips like nearly-new ones I clean thoroughly, brushing all inside the mold indentations and getting out every bit of dirt. But for other chips I leave some of the charm and don't brush them quite so much, maybe just rub them betwen two palms with orange stuff and don't use the toothbrush.

But I always oil them afterwards, with only mineral oil. After a good cleaning, I want some protection on the clay and to bring out the colors, but still want them to wear naturally.

Happy cleaning!

thanks tomb

hk

[TomHimself]

yea tomb got some good tricks but i still want to try spoon oil lol it just sounds interesting

[Mark S.]

thanks for the replies. i'll give it a shot this weekend and see how it goes.

mark

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by tomb1

[Edit] OK, I gotta tell this story...

That was a great story!

[hunterking]

Originally Posted by tomb1

[Edit] OK, I gotta tell this story. I played poker Saturday at Grand Casino in Gulfport MS (that's Mississippi for the rest of the country!), and culled through my stacks for 20 near-mint chips. Though they were beautiful brand new Paulson classic-style TH&Cs with sharp edges and nice inlays, they were still pretty dirty from play. http://www.chipguide.com/cgi-bin/sea....cgi?id=msgugc

So I go home and clean them, standing at the laundry room utility sink, water running lightly, with a towel on the washing machine to dry them off. As I have my hands full of orange stuff and reach for the toothbrush, I dropped one chip. When I reached down to get it I accidentally pushed it into the little drain in the bottom, you know, where the little plug goes?

Guess what -- that drain hole is EXACTLY 39MM IN DIAMETER. I mean EXACTLY -- you couldn't design it for any tighter fit! As I tried to get it out, I just pushed it further down in. So now there is a perfect seal, the water is starting to fill up, and my frickin' chip is stuck!

Well, after several minutes of cussing at the dog (the wife already went to bed after losing at blackjack), I decided there was no way I was gonna save the chip. So I got a steak knife and started digging at it. It still took a minute to dig out the clay edge and get the knife underneath, so I could pry it up.

So now I have one perfect Paulson chip that looks like it has a bite taken out of it! Oh well, just gotta go back for more!

did the chip become soft at all after being submerged?...just wondering how long before the chips become soft enough so that scrubbing would destroy the chip...anyone?

hk