... Archie -- and, in the process, missing (or misinterpreting) my meaning.

>> If there are chippers who do not know the difference between a hobbyist attempting
>> to remove a cigarette burn from a chip in their personal collection ... or cleaning their chips ...

Apples -- and both perfectly acceptable, IMO.

>> ... and a CHIP DEALER placing custom made orders for ficticious color chips ...

Oranges -- and not what I was talking about, as that would not be "repairing" a chip; rather creating a whole new chip.

>> ... and for repairing holes in chips or concealing holes underneath center inlays ...

Apples, sort of. It's not entirely clear to what you object here. Is it only if this is done by a "CHIP DEALER", or do you also object is this is done by a "hobbyist" to his own chip?

>> ... in order to sell them to unsuspecting buyers ...

Big time Oranges. I have said (repeatedly) that I consider deception in the repairing of chips and/or the sale of repaired chips to be a violation of the club's code of ethics. And I would have no problem saying that anyone who repairs chips "in order to sell them to unsuspecting buyers" -- or who knowingly sells repaired chips without revealing their true nature to the buyer -- should be expelled from the club.

>> ... then we are so far apart on this issue that NO amount of bulletin
>> board post explanations are going to satisfy anyone.

My position on this is simple, Archie. What I do with my chips is my business (whether I do it myself or have someone else do it for me). What you do with yours is yours. As long as we don't deceive someone else about what we've done, no one has any basis for complaint.

----- jim o\-S