Chip labels

[UnluckyKyle]

Ok, so im a cheapass. I've been looking at buying up some of the screwups from 5stardeal seen here:

http://www.5stardeal.com/deals/10Expand ... =10-115BAD


My idea is this: I have seen a few vendors on ebay selling sets of 1000 "stickers" that can be placed on the chips to add a custom designed logo.
Example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEBWA:IT

So, why not buy the messed up hot-stamped chips and throw on one of these labels to cover it up? Has anyone tried this? What would be the pros/cons of using a matte vs. glossy finish? Is this something i can print myself (with a decent printer, of course)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

[Drew]

Ok, so im a cheapass. I've been looking at buying up some of the screwups from 5stardeal seen here:

http://www.5stardeal.com/deals/10Expand ... =10-115BAD


My idea is this: I have seen a few vendors on ebay selling sets of 1000 "stickers" that can be placed on the chips to add a custom designed logo.
Example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEBWA:IT

So, why not buy the messed up hot-stamped chips and throw on one of these labels to cover it up? Has anyone tried this? What would be the pros/cons of using a matte vs. glossy finish? Is this something i can print myself (with a decent printer, of course)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

A big problem with ordering those chips is you don't know what type / color chip you will be getting.

[UnluckyKyle]

true, when ordering via the internet. I figured a simple call to 5star would clue me in as to how many of what screwups they had.

Also, if i can track down someone with a good enough printer i may just print up my own labels. If anyone else wants to give this a shot on their own chips i suggest this website:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol1025.htm

you can pick up 100 sheets of 1" diameter circles (63 per page) with different qualities; matte, gloss, weatherproof, colors, etc.

So for 23-50 bucks (plus ink) you could label up to 3150 chips (labeling both sides). Not a bad deal if you ask me.

[ORGrinder]

one someone gives this whole label thing a shot... please post the results. my initial thought is that it's not going to work too well. labels inevitably will peel and come of or get sticky goo on theo ther chips.

i'd rather just expect my players to be smart enough to remember what colors = what value.

jmho tough.

[UnluckyKyle]

The issue really isnt that my players cant remember the denominations. That's what the chip color is for. I'd just like to have my own logo put on the chips for a personal touch.

And no, i wont be putting these labels on expensive (>.15 per chip) chips. Most likely just the messups or cheap 8g diamond chips (a la the 1000 hold'em set from 5star).

[Drew]

true, when ordering via the internet. I figured a simple call to 5star would clue me in as to how many of what screwups they had.

Also, if i can track down someone with a good enough printer i may just print up my own labels. If anyone else wants to give this a shot on their own chips i suggest this website:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol1025.htm

you can pick up 100 sheets of 1" diameter circles (63 per page) with different qualities; matte, gloss, weatherproof, colors, etc.

So for 23-50 bucks (plus ink) you could label up to 3150 chips (labeling both sides). Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Heh.. people keep finding all of these sites that I missed in my label tryout days...

That site looks nice. I saw one place that actually makes a transfer product but I don't know. I like how these are already cut out.

[UnluckyKyle]

just did some quick calculating on the cost of labeling (per chip) for a 3150 chip set.

I'm unsure as to how much ink it would require and ink prices vary so this is just for the chips and labels alone.

CHIP LABEL COST
11.5g chips

[Drew]

just did some quick calculating on the cost of labeling (per chip) for a 3150 chip set.

I'm unsure as to how much ink it would require and ink prices vary so this is just for the chips and labels alone.

CHIP LABEL COST
11.5g chips

Haha. I was reading your name as UnkleKyuckle for some reason

Kyle, do you have AIM? Send me a message at Apothecary007 if you wouldn't mind - I've been working on this and I think with our minds together we could come up with a good solution.

[Guest]

gah, stupid roadrunner... anyway as i was saying(typing) before:

WEIGHT__$/Pc___label_______total
11.5g_____.13_____.009_____.14 per chip
11.5g_____.13_____.017_____.147 per chip
8g_______.06______.009_____.069 per chip
8g_______.06______.017_____.077 per chip

[/list]

The different prices on the labels are for the basic (matte) and the weatherproof label.

Both prices include shipping, but with 5star i'm assuming a $100 order with the buyer using the free shipping code.]

So anyway, to me this seems like a low-cost alternative for getting that custom chip look on a college student's budget.

[Tex]

I saw a post on a chip collector's site talking about the "cheap stick-on labels". I think they are decent option, however, long-term they may not look great. Eventually the label glue will dry out and labels will peel or otherwise be damaged... Imagine the way 5-year old scotch tape looks... beautiful and clear when you put it on, but yellow, cracking and untidy five years later.

Of course, compare that to foil hot-stamping which quickly wears off too.

I'm not saying stickers won't work, just cautioning. I'd be interested to hear how it goes for someone who has tried them.

[UnluckyKyle]

The idea for using the labels was to find a quick and cheap solution to having a "custom" chip set that is "secure". Security is a key concern for hosts, especially when they have new players that they dont personally know. For me, i cant afford a new chip set at .85-.95 cents a chip... but, i can afford a .10 chip and put a label on it for another fraction of a cent. Will these chips last five years? probably not, i'm sure i'll end up selling or giving them away at a minimal loss considering the use i got from them.

I have spoken with a few other people about the labeling idea and the following issues have come up.

1. Go with the matte label, especially if you're going to label both sides of the chip. The glossy labels have a tendancy to stick to each other (alot of friction).

2. The labels make the chips a bit difficult to stack due to the added thickness of having 2 labels in the center of each chip, unless the label covers the whole face.

3. Make sure you put the label on so that there is no overlapping of the center. Many chips have a "raised" center and this must be covered or the label can be pulled off.

4. Put the label on so that it is flush with the chip face. Creases and bubbles are a pain to remedy.

5. Make sure you have extra chips! Unless you're a labeling pro, you're bound to mess one or two up during the labeling process, not to mention any other possible mishap during the chip's use.


All in all, labeling is a cheap way out of getting a custom set if you're at all concerned about having a secure personal chip. For me, the set is intended to last until i can afford something of much more value and durability.

Note: I would not do this to expensive ( >= .35 per chip) chips as it will most definately diminsh the value of your set and it would be a lot more wise for you to just fork over the extra few bucks and pick up the custom or used casino chips.

[ORGrinder]

have you looked into an iron on transfer. that would solve the thickness issue. however... i'm not sure how well they would stick (since as far as i know they're designed for shirts) or if you'd have to have yoru iron so hot that it would melt the chip itself.

might be something to check into anyway.

[UnluckyKyle]

heat would definately be an issue with the transfers. I spoke with someone who tried to use a plastic dye to add their own edgespots... and the dye melted the chip.

the idea here is to keep costs low. Aside from buying Testors' model paints and adding an edge spot, i'm not all that certain that they're a viable option either.

[Guest]

look on ebay, they sell 1000 label sets for like 30 bucks

[UnluckyKyle]

well, since i have a good enough quality printer, and my girlfriend does graphics design all i really need are the sheets of labels.

They sell for around $20 for 100 sheets at 60 labels a page.

So, that's 6,000 labels for 1/3 the cost of mr. ebay.