"China Clay" poker chips: AVOID THEM

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KingZilla

KingZilla

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I see another online retailer is offering a new line of what we know as "China Clay" poker chips. In this particular instance they refer to them as "pure clay" Phoenix Cardroom chips. Some examples are: Pyramids Casino, Casino Da Vinci, Dunes (replicas), Pharaoh's (also replicas), Majestic Cardroom, Bank, Royal Cardroom, Milano. There may be more.
I have extensive experience with this type of chip. Short story is: Avoid them.
Expanded story is that I was an original "fan boy" of these type chips going back to ChipTalk days, approximately 2007. It took a while, but I eventually learned that they are no good.
When new, these chips felt as close to a Paulson chip as I had ever experienced in a budget chip. There were labels, not inlays in the center, but for the price I felt they hit the sweet spot. After a few years, the chips started physically degrading: flaking, chipping very easily. I think the compound used to make the chips feel so close to clay was also it's downfall. Of course, they are not compression molded and the substance dries out over time and results in said decay. It's also useful to mention you can break one of these chips in half with your bare hands. Heard enough?
I had a buddy order some "new old-stock" chips and they starting coming apart during the first use. These things may look good and are temptingly priced. But at any price, IMO, a waste of money.
Would oiling these chips slow the process of drying out/decaying? I don't know, but would you want to HAVE to oil each chip in the hope that it MIGHT work?
 
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My CPS chips have been in use for years on a monthly basis with minimal issues (y)
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I wouldn't avoid them because they might fall apart or break. I would avoid them because there are better options out there for the price.

This coming from a guy who has an 1800-chip set of the China Clay Royals with custom labels. So I've got quite a bit invested in my CCs. More than I would ever recover if I tried to sell them. I've had no durability issues at all, and my players loved them ... until I got my CPCs. Even those neanderthals could tell the difference in quality.

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Himewad said:
I wouldn't avoid them because they might fall apart or break. I would avoid them because there are better options out there for the price.
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IMO the best value in a low cost quality chip is ceramics, like your River Rats (ceramic hybrid).
 
Yep, the best value for sure is the ceramic hybrids. Some really cool molds out there right now, including our very own cap dash (scrown). Tough to beat ~50-cents per chip for a fully custom, labeled chip.
 
The original/older china clay chips -- spirit molds (Pyramid Casino, Casino da Vinci), TCR's Pharaoh's Club, Dunes Commemoratives, and Desert Palms, PGI's greek key molds, and Milanos all contained silicates and other additives to achieve that 'chalky' clay feel. It also lead to them often later drying out, becoming brittle, and crumbling. PGI supplied their manufacturer with virgin raw materials, because the factories otherwise utilized recycled materials with little quality control or repeatability.

The CPS chips (imported by PGI) were the first to take a step backwards, towards using less additives and producing a more stable chip (but also one with a more plastic feel). Subsequent china clays (revamped Pharaoh's and Dunes, plus Apache's Majestics, Royals, and Bank) have all followed this 'less additives, more plastic' approach. I have not evaluated the Phoenix chips, so cannot address what formula they may be using.

Nobody's figured out how to totally eliminate the stench, however.
 
BGinGA said:
It also lead to them often later drying out, becoming brittle, and crumbling.
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This has been my experience with them. I have wondered if the manufacturers in China would change the compounds they use in making these chips. Hobbyphilic on YouTube just evaluated the Phoenix chips. Too new to know if they'll dry out and break down but he did take a brand new chip and snap it in half with his hands. Not confidence inspiring.
 
KingZilla said:
snap it in half with his hands.
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I don’t really see this as a ‘bad’ thing as I’m pretty sure you could snap a Paul-son chip by hand as well….. same with dropping them on hardwood floors, it’s a problem for all chips IMO…..
 
nitzilla said:
I don’t really see this as a ‘bad’ thing as I’m pretty sure you could snap a Paul-son chip by hand as well….. same with dropping them on hardwood floors, it’s a problem for all chips IMO…..
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No, I've never been able to snap a compression molded clay chip in half with my hands (it took two pairs of pliers). Try it bare-handed and let us know how you do. If you're able to snap one with your bare hands, I'm staying on your good side. 🤪
 
I got some of the phoenix chips to see and they are Tina chips. Was disappointed but should have known
 
So I oiled these in the ongoing look at these chips and the color evens out and they look pretty good. While it doesnt take too much to snap them in 1/2 you still have to be intentional about it. they're actually not the worst chips I've handled but far from great. Gonna put them in the tumbler and see how they hold up, i don't have much hope but we shall see.
 
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