Question for chip collectors

Is it okay to clean chips and if so, what is the best way?
You aren't supposed to clean coins, if you do, it lowers the value.
Don't want to do that.

There are "professional" chip-cleaning systems offered to casinos for cleaning chips in bulk, but the chips in play in many/most places seem so grungy that I don't know whether any casinos really use the things. Several people on this forum have discussed their methods for cleaning chips in their collection. I just use soap and water or a household spray cleaner -- nothing particularly harsh -- and it seems to work adequately. I think that rdw4potus has used some stronger materials and occasionally had the chip colors bleed onto lighter sections of the chip. Can't recall now what experiences others have reported.

So long as you don't damage the materials, including not causing the colors to bleed, I don't think there should be any problem with affecting the chip's value. Of course, I am only talking about the kind of chips that you would find in play today. If you are talking about some kind of antique chip, then that's a whole other ball game.

I use windex and make sure I clean off the windex with a wet cloth. This cleans it really well and windex doesn't damage the chips at all.

Thanks. I've been buying chips when I come across them cheap. Some people seem to collect almost new ones, other seem to look for the dirtiest ones available.
Ten years ago, I remember you used to be able to use a one dollar metal chip from one casino in almost any machine that took them Is that still true today?

Quote: billryan

Is it okay to clean chips and if so, what is the best way?
You aren't supposed to clean coins, if you do, it lowers the value.
Don't want to do that.

I don't know what happens to the value when you clean a chip. The gunk on casino chips is not like the patina on a coin that results from the metal interacting with the environment. Some chips are so dirty with who knows what, that I think it may actually increase their value if you sanitize them.

You do have to be careful about the cleaning process. Many casino chips are clay composites or plastic polymers. Exposure to high temperatures will damage them. I think exposure to strong chemical cleaners has the potential to melt the plastic, fade the colors, or destroy the printing on the inset or "label". Some chips have gold leaf "hot stamping" that does not hold up well to scrubbing.

Dawn dish washing detergent, warm (not hot), water and gentle use of a "Magic Eraser" (rather than a scrub brush) should do the trick for most applications.

My wife has an ultrasonic cleaner that she uses for her jewelry. I am tempted to try it out on some chips, but I don't think she would be very happy with the "ring around the bowl" the sludge from the chips is going to leave behind.

I have heard some recommendations for spraying a preservative, or oil on the chips after they are clean to restore the color and prevent them from oxidizing. I don't know anything about that though. Has anyone else tried it?

I use a small amount of dawn in a large bowl. I dip them quickly and use a toothbrush to clean them, then dry them completely.

Does that work on tokens( $1 metal chips) as well?

I cleaned my tokens the same way as the chips. Now I am looking to replace all of my tokens with chips, because I think chips look better on display.

Chips definitely look nicer, although tokens seem easier to get. I've got a bunch of pre 1980 tokens, only a couple of chips. There are some whacky designs on some tokens.

This might seem like a wacky (speaking of) idea, but Silly Putty was originally created as a wallpaper cleaner, then someone discovered it's fun to play with. It takes off greasy fingerprints, gunk, stuff like that. However, it also takes newspaper ink off the page, or used to, but just the top layer (didn't affect the newsprint). The caveat is because newspaper printing has changed in the last 50 years, and the ink is different now. It might work ok as a non-water cleaner for your chips, too.

Quote: billryan

Thanks. I've been buying chips when I come across them cheap. Some people seem to collect almost new ones, other seem to look for the dirtiest ones available.
Ten years ago, I remember you used to be able to use a one dollar metal chip from one casino in almost any machine that took them Is that still true today?

Some tokens worked at diffrent places some didn't. Not as much on IGT because there was a Coin comparitor where they put in their personalized coin, If the coin going in didn't match the coin in the comparitor oftentimes it would fall through(not all the time of course). There was some gaming rule that sated the casino could only have so many coins and chips from other casinos.

For some reason the $25 tokens seemed to go in just about everywhere.

Look up Steve Wells he wrote a chip collectors price guide. He was also a very talented successful AP and a nice guy as well. Talk about an AP move, collect rare chips and then write the price guide.

Quote: billryan

Chips definitely look nicer, although tokens seem easier to get. I've got a bunch of pre 1980 tokens, only a couple of chips. There are some whacky designs on some tokens.

The big difference here is that I collect chips that I get in play in the casino (personal souvenirs) while you purchase the older specimens that may have significant not-just-personal value.

Quote: billryan

Ten years ago, I remember you used to be able to use a one dollar metal chip from one casino in almost any machine that took them Is that still true today?

I don't remember casinos still using them ten years ago. The last time I was in a casino before 2005 was in Reno in 1985, and back then, yes, you could - in fact, payouts in "metal chips" from any given machine tended to include coins from a number of casinos. "Technically," you could only cash them in at the casino that issued them, but I believe the saying is, that was "more honored in the breach then in the observance."

El Cortez had them more recently than that as did whichever Nugget is on the left side of LVB in North Vegas. I always confuse the two.

Quote: Doc

The big difference here is that I collect chips that I get in play in the casino (personal souvenirs) while you purchase the older specimens that may have significant not-just-personal value.

It's actually a mix, as I collect newer ones as well. Sadly, I will never be able to get a Sands or Landmark chip at the casino.
I have not yet done a dedicated chip run, but hope to get to Northern Nevada this summer.

Windex works relatively well to clean chips. So does fingernail polish remover. Silly putty works fairly well to get gunk out of the corners/edges of a tophat and cane design (or recessed wording/suits). the putty really only sticks if the chip is totally dry & even then success varies by what the surface of the chip is. if the center inlay is sealed and shiny, I had a hard time getting the putty to press on and stay well enough to clean.

Also, friendly reminder: many cleaning agents are dangerous in small enclosed spaces. Always clean chips in a large well-ventilated area. Only remove cleaner from its container as needed. Don't be like me and pour cleaner into a big tub in a little room & then have to crawl out to get air.