Chipco chips: why the white ring?

MisterShark · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 10:05 AM

I've been adding multiple new tricks to my chip flourish repetoire lately (I sit in front of a PC all day at work) and have recently acquired a sample set of Chipco Crystal Oysters.

My chip of choice when it comes to chip flourishes has always been my 4 Paulson Trademark samples and then more recently my sample set of Pharaohs NCVs, but I wanted to see if I could get my tricks going smoothly with my NJ Skulls for a clay vs. ceramic comparison from a flourish perspective.
To my suprise the ceramics worked out pretty well, requiring just a bit more of a 'break-in' period before I was able to get my grip going properly. After using those chips for 2 weeks straight, you should see how the color has faded; they look like I left them out in full sunlight for a month or two. That'll be a topic for another thread later (with pics included).
I'm tempted to submit my Oysters to the same rigourous 2-week trial period for color retention comparison purposes but those Oysters are so purdy and that sample set wasn't cheap.

I moved on to my set of Chipco Crystal Oysters (just for a day), looking to see how they faired against my NJs for chip tricks.
I found the Chipcos to be as good as the NJs in this regard, but found myself preferring the Oysters for the reasons already mentioned in numerous other Chipco-related posts.

superior graphic detail
slightly better feel to the textured surface
nice solid and slightly more substantial overall feel

...and here's the point of the thread (I know, it was kind of a long trip) and the aspect of it that has me posting this topic in this section of the forum instead of the 'Chip Tricks' section....

My only gripe is: how is it that Chipco has not figured out how to eliminate the white circle as Nevada Jacks has?

*note: I still love my NJ Skulls and regard them as a quality chip, but there's always going to be a 'better' and 'best'.

dammitjim · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterShark

My only gripe is: how is it that Chipco has not figured out how to eliminate the white circle as Nevada Jacks has?

After alot of table play ceramics tend to develop a white ring around the edge. I believe chipco does it by default so the chips don't look worn as quickly.

MisterShark · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dammitjim

After alot of table play ceramics tend to develop a white ring around the edge. I believe chipco does it by default so the chips don't look worn as quickly.

That would be a pro-active way to approach the situation.

I could imagine that being relevant to places like The Sands with a high chip utilization rate, but has anyone experienced the 'white ring effect' with their NJs or other ceramics when it comes to personal home game (or other non-casino environments) sets?

jello-broom · #4 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterShark

has anyone experienced the 'white ring effect' with their NJs or other ceramics when it comes to personal home game (or other non-casino environments) sets?

Yes. In a home environment the "white ring effect" can and will happen (I'm talking about Chipcos here) ... if your players are all constant rifflers/shufflers then it will happen sooner than later, but under regular use, you shouldn't see this effect until after many many games and many hours of use ...

I have a stack of 20 Chipco samples (all the same line of chip) that I've been shuffling daily for about 3 years now, so I've put ALOT of hours of use into those prematurely, and there IS some color fading beyond the Chipco "safety" ring, but it's NOT terribly bad, and imo it only adds more character to those chips that have it.

BPTDirector · #5 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:13 AM

The white ring is by design, not by mistake. Chipco's used to bleed their color all the way to the edge until they started using the 'white ring' effect to minimize the faded/worn area. It's a trait of Chipco chips that cannot be avoided. I have had my custom chipco's for 26 months, a tournament a month with 30 to 40 people during winter months, smaller games during the summer, constant riffling - all my chips still look as new with no fading around the edge.

BPT

Jambine · #6 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPTDirector

The white ring is by design, not by mistake. Chipco's used to bleed their color all the way to the edge until they started using the 'white ring' effect to minimize the faded/worn area. It's a trait of Chipco chips that cannot be avoided. I have had my custom chipco's for 26 months, a tournament a month with 30 to 40 people during winter months, smaller games during the summer, constant riffling - all my chips still look as new with no fading around the edge.
BPT

That is also my understanding. Chipco’s are slightly thicker around the outside edge, so that most of the wear occurs there, rather than the graphics on the face of the chip. The white ring is there by design.

I’ve been using mine exclusively since I got them last year, and haven’t noticed any wear yet. But as jello pointed out, they are pretty durable.

jello-broom · #7 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jambine

But as jello pointed out, they are pretty durable.

I couldn't give any sort of time frame of when Chipcos may start showing wear around the edges, because obviously it would be different for every owner ... that's why I said after "many many games and many hours of use" ... that could be several years.

The 20 samples that I've constantly been shuffling will obviously wear faster because I'm shuffling THE SAME 20 all the time, and that will certainly prematurely cause edge fading ... but otherwise, Chipcos ARE very durable in that area (edge fading).

Mike Sears · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 12:19 PM

I carried a sample set of NJ Skulls in my pocket for a month or two to show other people what they were like. This was two years ago when they were first issued.

After a while I noticed they were starting to fade from rubbing against coins and especially noticed a white ring around the edge on the face of the chip. Of course you wouldn't do this on a regular basis. I've played with my chips for almost two years and see no such wear such as I had with that sample set.

Deep Felt

MisterShark · #9 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 12:43 PM

You guys have gotta see the NJs I previously mentioned.
The 'victim-4' vs. the 'un-tricked' masses are like night and day.

I threw them back into general population on Tuesday night's game and every time someone got one I'd hear "hey, what the...?"

Stay tuned...

jldecarlo · #10 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jello-broom

but otherwise, Chipcos ARE very durable in that area (edge fading).

My theory is that the ceramics are the most durable poker chips, although I think I am in the minority in this. I have wanted to buy a rock tumbler and tumble 10-20 Paulson's, ASMs, NJs, Chipcos, TRKs, etc for about a week each and take pics every day to measure wear, but I haven't got around to it. I guess I'm just not the chip geek that lego and a few others are.

L