Stop the Bleeding! (paulson JB's shedding)

[JohnnyJersey]

just got my paulson jb's the other week. Feel - fabulous...stacking - incredible....colors - luscious. Yet...the chips' colors bleed on each other, which ticks me off somewhat. This trend seems to be slowing down somewhat as they get more broken in...but will it ever stop completely? A little bleeding is ok, but sorry...but don't convince me that the bleeding colors add to their "character." - Johnny Jersey

[TomHimself]

they should stop bleeding once they get broken in. http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143 interesting about the "spoon oil" post

[JohnnyJersey]

wow...interesting idea about the spoon oil. Anyone else ever try spoon oil? NASA may be getting a call next...

[tomb1]

[From another posting...]

I'm a supporter of oiling clay chips. Especially the new Paulson JBs, if you think they are too "dusty" or if the darker chips are rubbing off on the lighter chips. Oiling will stop this, in my experience.

Of course, everybody has their own technique with clay chips. Here's mine.

I take a drop or two of oil on my fingers and rub into each chip for about 5 secs. I can usually get 2-3 chips done before getting a few more drops of oil. I like to make sure I get some oil down into the indented/molded parts (the hats & canes or letters or horseheads or whatever). I set the chips down for a few minutes while I get through a dozen or so, then go back and wipe them lightly with a paper towel, especially wiping the inlays (which don't need oil).

After a big batch is done, I rub them around in my hands/fingers to finish the job. I leave them out loosely for a few hours (sometimes) then put them back in racks. I might wipe off the inlays again if they seem oily at that point

I like the blue paper shop towels from Home Depot or Lowe's, they're much better than regular paper towels.

As far as oiling them immediately or playing with them a little bit, I've done it both ways without much difference. However, if your chips arrive pretty dusty, I would rub/wipe/shake/blow this off before playing with them or putting them away.

I'm the impatient type so I don't let them "soak in" for 24 hours like some people suggest. It's probably a good idea, I just don't have the patience. (And I mean soak in the oil applied by hand, NOT let them soak in a bath of oil for 24 hours!)

BTW, I have always used pure Mineral Oil with great success. I notice that NightOwl suggests "spoon oil" and I may give that a try. But I will test it first because I'm a little concerned about the beeswax in the spoon oil. I like to keep a "porous" surface on the clays, and not really "seal" them. I like the way they wear and would be concerned about a harder wax seal. But NightOwl makes some good points about shine on the colors and durability, plus a little sound difference, so I'll probably give it a try.

[JohnnyJersey]

so by merely using the mineral oil...i can decrease the color bleeding aka shedding?

[tomb1]

so by merely using the mineral oil...i can decrease the color bleeding aka shedding?

I can't say for sure since I don't have a full set of new JB Paulsons. But based on a few JB samples AND based on lots of other Paulson chips I've collected over the years, I'm pretty sure mineral oil will help a lot. (Plus I think that using spoon oil would seal them up even more.)

But maybe there's something different about the Paulson home chips that makes them "shed" more, and nothing will help. Maybe it's the material in the edge spots. I guess that's what lots of people are wondering about.

Sorry, that's the best I can do. Maybe somebody else has more live experience with oiling these exact chips.

[JohnnyJersey]

thanks man...appreciate it. One more question however...does mineral oil make them slick? hopefully, it does nothing...i am definitely considering using it now...

[tomb1]

thanks man...appreciate it. One more question however...does mineral oil make them slick? hopefully, it does nothing...i am definitely considering using it now...

I don't think it makes them anything like slick. The oil soaks into the "clay" and retains most of the original feel.

Now, an oiled chip probably has a little bit more of a finish than a fresh, dusty chip from the factory, but I still wouldn't call it slick.

(Of course, you don't want any oil remaining on the inlays or they will be slick. So wipe them off.)

Try it on some, play with them, and see for yourself. Then let us all know!