[TrivialPiper]

ok, I have been reading your forums for the past 3 days and I am already hooked! You guys are awesome. I love having so many different points of view to consider. Here is where i am at: I play poker once every couple of weeks. I have a cheap 11.5 gram 500 suited set. Believe it or not, my wife has gotten into poker as much as I have and we spend many a late night playing head to head (sorry Mom, no more grandkids.....). I actually convinced her that, since we both enjoy poker so much, we should invest in a nice clay set. I am looking at the paulson classics, getting a 400 chip set with denoms from $10 to $1,000 (only because I love the color of the $1K chip). The only concern I have is reading all this stuff about oiling the chips, and how they nick and scratch over time. Now, as cool as my wife is about poker, she is still a woman and wouldn't be able to resist busting my balls about how such an expenseive set of chips needs so much maintenance and wears so poorly. With this kind of limited use, are the chips going to wear that fast or will they stay looking nice for a long time to come? Thanks!

[Wylecoyo]

Welcome to CT, I am very happy you decided to join us.

As far as quality clay chips, such as the Trademark or classic Paulson's you have mentioned (I have 1,400 of them by the way so I favor your choice), they will wear over time but not in any bad way. Keep in mind these are made the same way casino chips are and they can survive 5-7 years in constant use so your home use will be no problem for them.

As far as oiling and chipping goes, I have never oiled mine and they look just fine. It is more of a personal preference - some swear by it but others don't think it is worth the time and effort (I don't). Your chips may develop some small nicks or wear with use, but nothing to the point you will not be able to use them. Again, this is common in casino chips and they work just fine despite the wear (some people love worn chips because they have character) but your chips will see nothing close to casino abuse.

I think you will be very happy with them if you decide to buy them.

[hachkc]

Welcome to the board.

You do not need to oil the chips though some folks like to do that as the colors are more vibrant. Over time, the natural oils in your hand will soak into the chip and you'll be fine. Most clay chips actually get stronger over time.

For the typical home game (twice a month), the chips should last you quite a long time in normal use. This means don't throw them at people, walls, floors, ceilings unless of course some b*$t*rd catches runner, runner over quads to beat your flopped quads. Some clay chips are a bit more sensitive then others. ASMs tend to be a bit more fragile depending on who you ask while TR Kings are actually a bit 'softer' and easier to knick. Paulson's seem to get dirtier through color transfers than other chips from shuffling especially the blue ones. I personally own about 1000 custom ASMs for the record. Any chip will wear somewhat with use and none except 11.5 Dice chips are indestructible though some can survived being baked better than others

gl

[bmwguy525]

As was said before me, if you're only playing once every couple weeks and heads up with your wife, then you shouldn't have to worry about Paulsons wearing down at all. Although I would suggest getting a set of faux clays to have on hand at all times

[WolfPack]

Faux Clay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TrivialPiper]

Thanks for all of the replies. I am just waiting on my samples to arrive before I take the plunge. I figured I would handle them for a week or so and see what happens. I am not much of a shuffler and neither are the guys I play with (I guess compared to other people on here I am REALLY an amatuer!) so color transfer shouldn't be an issue ( until I master it and do it obsessively!) As far as the oiling I guess I'll just play it by ear when I get my full set. I am looking to buy them from UltraPoker Supply as they have a 400 chip set for $395 plus shipping. Has anyone done business with them?

[Wylecoyo]

Originally Posted by TrivialPiper

I am looking to buy them from UltraPoker Supply as they have a 400 chip set for $395 plus shipping. Has anyone done business with them?

I have never heard of them, but for $85.00 more you can get a 500 chip set INCLUDING SHIPPING from one of our CT Sponsors:
http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/person...-anywhere.html

I have purchased about half of my 1,400 chips from there and my only regret is I didn't know of this price earlier so I could have gotten them all there.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by TrivialPiper

I am not much of a shuffler and neither are the guys I play with

Welcome to the board and congratulations on the convincing of the wife to buy real clay poker chips. There is an article section, perhaps you could contribute?
: )

As far as the shuffling goes, you aren't that good at it/into it because you are using dice chips. Once you get the clays you will be shuffling like a pro in no time. Once you are good at it, all the other guys will try harder to learn as well, because it will make you cooler than them. Still, you shouldn't worry too much about chip wear.

Mike

VIVA FAUX CLAY!

[nzt]

I agree with you trivial. I've been lying low for the past little while just reading, and I must say this is an awesome community. Everyone is mature and extremely helpful. Anyways, thats my spiel.

[JM]

Brittle, not fragile.

Cold steel is brittle, china is fragile.

Originally Posted by hachkc

Some clay chips are a bit more sensitive then others. ASMs tend to be a bit more fragile depending on who you ask