What is the difference between clay and composite poker chips? 

All-Clay poker chips sound and feel like casino chips. They typically last 5 to 6 years in casinos but can last longer with the proper care. Clay poker chips will round themselves out and have a vintage look after just a few months of use. Pure clay poker chips sound the best when shuffled or when hitting the pot and they feel the best to the touch. They are also typically the most expensive chips.

The most commonly used poker chips are clay composite poker chips. These are commonly reffered to as clay poker chips even though they are not 100% clay. They are made with a mixture of clay and ABS plastic for bonding and have a metal insert in them to add to their weight. Clay composite poker chips typically weigh between 11.5 and 13.5 grams. They last longer than pure clay chips but typically not as long as composite poker chips. The use of clay tends to make these chips sound and feel a lot like the all-clay poker chips. These chips are usually much more affordable than pure clay chips and sometimes less expensive than composite chips.

Composite poker chips are made from a hard compressed plastic material and can last a lifetime with proper care. They have a hidden metal insert to add weight to the chip. They tend to make more of a clinging sound when they hit against each other. With a few exceptions, composite poker chips tend to be less expensive and their material lends itself to better graphics. Composite chips are not necessarily inferior to clay poker chips, they are just different. Some of the top end composite chips are highly desirable.  

How do I build my own poker table? 

Building your own poker table can be very rewarding. You end up with a one of a kind table exactly matched to your poker room and often end up with a better table for less than the cost of purchasing a poker table.

Our intention was to use this space to provide detailed information on building your own poker table. However, After much consideration we found  there are plenty of free resources already available with detailed descriptions on building a poker table and since each table is unique each set of instructions is unique. We provide many of the supplies you will need to build a proffesional looking poker table such as cup holders, dealer chip trays, poker table felt, and toke boxes. However, we could never possibly provide a wide enough variety of instructions for building a table to please everyone. Here is the best resource we have found for free instructions on how to build a poker table. If you are interested in sharing your poker table instructions let us know. If there is enough interest we will consider adding a page or a forum for sharing your poker table experiences.