Chip Carrier using PVC Pipe?

[Yeti Jones]

I have been off this site for a long time but decided to stop by and post this idea.

Anyone ever think about using 1 1/2" PVC schedule 40 pipe for a poker chip carrier? A 39-40mm diameter poker chip fits perfectly inside the pipe. Don't believe me? Stop on by Home Depot or Lowes with a couple of your chips and try it.

I have some ideas about building a couple of 500 chip carriers and possibly using them to make a custom tray inlay and cover it with felt.

Wondered if anyone else thought of the idea?

YJ

[jriffel]

"Just because you can do a thing, doesn't mean that you must do that thing." (Probably mis-quoted by a word or two.) Being a woodworker, the idea of using PVC pipe is abhorent. Pipe, no matter what material it is composed of, is butt-ugly. Why would you put anything other than dice-chips in a pipe (other than to flush them away). Buy a good carrier and trays for your chips. If you must make something with your own hands, build a great (wooden) chip chest, or better yet, have Sven build one for you. Putting this pipe idea onto paper (computer) shows that you can think "outside of the box". You have simply gone in a bad direction to the dark-side and need a little guidance back to acceptable thought/behavior. It you even secretly try this pipe idea, you will quickly see the error of you ways and throw the experiment out. Don't waste you time and money.

[abby99]

PVC is known to damage chips. I wouldn't trust it even if lined with felt. Sorry...

[noelsarchs]

Originally Posted by Yeti Jones

Anyone ever think about using 1 1/2" PVC schedule 40 pipe for a poker chip carrier? A 39-40mm diameter poker chip fits perfectly inside the pipe. Don't believe me? Stop on by Home Depot or Lowes with a couple of your chips and try it.
YJ

Can't help it, but this could be the beginnings of a new thread called the "Fugly poker chip carrier" thread.....besides the "Fugly poker table" thread could use some company....

[Yeti Jones]

Well that's interesting input. And I'll have to look for the "fugly poker table" thread. I've seen a few on some other sites including Craigslist. How about this one?




As for the asthetics of a PVC carrier my first rendering does have something to be desired but I was going more for function than looks. And my chips are not the pro chips, but ones that I use for tournament play so they do get some abuse and I don't care too much about it.

Though I am not convinced about the PVC damaging chips. Ridged ABS and PVC have almost the same Rockwell hardness levels, and I believe those clear acrylic trays are slightly harder. Anyone complain about those tray materials causing damage to chips?

Yes "just because it can be done doesn't mean you should." There are some engineering challenges to my design that may be hard to overcome without adding additional "fugly" accents as well. I too am a part-time woodworker and like to experiment. I am always looking out for different ways to make things out of different materials as well as trying to find inexpensive alternatives so I don't discount anything until I've thoroughly soaked in all the info. I agree if my time to build something out of plastic would be the same if built out of wood it may not be worth that effort. Whatever I build won't look like something Mr Haney sells from the back of his truck.

I have also seen some of the work done by Oz woodworking and he has made some very nice items. When I can afford pro chips they will be in a more suitable showcase.

So maybe some simple wood trays may be a better option as I may needing something to hold more than 2000 chips now. So ... back to the drawing board....

[abby99]

Originally Posted by Yeti Jones

Though I am not convinced about the PVC damaging chips. Ridged ABS and PVC have almost the same Rockwell hardness levels, and I believe those clear acrylic trays are slightly harder. Anyone complain about those tray materials causing damage to chips?

Oops, I should have provided some context. It's not the texture of PVC but the fact that PVC can react with other materials, such as coins (especially copper) and chips (mostly dyes). PVC is often added to vinyl in order to make it softer. Collectors are advised to avoid storing chips and coins in materials that contain PVC, and my guess is that a PVC pipe contains lots of PVC. Confirmation that materials containing PVC are dangerous for long-term storage of chips and coins can be seen at the following locations, among many.

http://www.ccgtcc.com/faq/chipfaq_storing.htm

Flips or binder pages made from vinyl that contains PVC can be destructive to some chips. PVC is added to vinyl to make it more supple and less brittle, however, over time (weeks? months?), it can react with the dyes in some chips and absorb them into the vinyl. As the chip rotates slightly in the flip or page over time, this dye can be transferred back onto the chip in other areas of a different color.

Coin Collecting Supplies, Coin Supplies, Coin Holders, Casino Chip Holders

These coin capsules are hard, crystal clear acrylic, and contain no PVC to damage your coins.

I don't know for sure whether a PCV pipe might interact with my chips in the long run, and maybe it's risky only when combined with materials found in vinyl. However, I am not willing to put my chips at risk in order to find out. I know we have a few chemists on this site and maybe even an expert in materials science. It would be nice if one of them chimed in.

[Yeti Jones]

It's not the texture of PVC but the fact that PVC can react with other materials, such as coins (especially copper) and chips (mostly dyes)

Ahh, well that is point taken.

Then to plan B. Wood trays sound like a plan.

[mtl mile end]

I've often considered using ABS pipe for chip transport. ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) is a thermo plastic resin - I'm thinking along the lines of bakelite, but softer. Every time I see a van with PVC pipes attached to the roof or sides as storage I think "that would be better looking (black as opposed to white) if they used ABS". ABS is also quite a bit thicker (and tougher and more expensive) than PVC.

The major advantages of using prefab plastic tubes for chips would be the low cost and ease of attaching pipe to pipe (just a little glue and you're set).

The disadvantages seem to be many:
-the damage to chip dye factor (one I had not considered and may not (?) apply to ABS)
-the obvious potential for fugliness
-the difficulty of loading chips into pipes if they are only open at the ends

The first disadvantage is obviously a deal breaker, but even if it doesn't apply to ABS, if you cut slots in the tubes for chip access and glue them all together like a Turn-It Frankenstein, your fugly potential is high. If you put caps on the ends that screw on and off in order to use it as a transport tube, you would have to do a magic act to get 50 - 100 1.5" chips into a 1.5" tube.

I thought about slicing a pipe in half lengthwise, hinging it, and using the threaded ends (glue on before cutting the pipe) as the fasteners. I'm sure this would hold the necessary length of pipe securely. But the idea of a cavity search at the airport because of my "pipe bomb" dissuaded me from this one.

[BGinGA]

Flips or binder pages made from vinyl that contains PVC can be destructive to some chips. PVC is added to vinyl to make it more supple and less brittle, however, over time (weeks? months?), it can react with the dyes in some chips and absorb them into the vinyl. As the chip rotates slightly in the flip or page over time, this dye can be transferred back onto the chip in other areas of a different color.

I've actually had this happen -- the chip ink from ceramic chips transferred to PVC plastic playing card faces simply from constant direct contact over time, and then color-transferred back to the chips. Essentially ruined both the cards and the chips from an aesthetic viewpoint. Luckily, in my case it was both sample chips and sample cards.

I don't think this could happen during normal play conditions, but certainly could (and did) under the right heat/humidity storage conditions.