Cracking graded cards
 

I was wondering what kind of tool the grading companies use to crack open a graded card? I'm sure they don't do it the way I do with a screwdriver and a hammer ! Also wonder how other member do it ?

the reason I crack open my cards is that I store and display them in binders.

A couple of years ago, I did a quick cracking out video tutorial. It's only about 3.5 minutes long. Check it out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynvzyfNcIVM

Jolly's tutorial is how to do it.

I've cracked all my graded cards, and like you, I store and display mine in binders.

Sgc I just use a spoon or box cutter old sgc you can sometimes do with no tools
At all . PSA I clip off a corner and use a screw driver. Same with Beckett.

On SGC and older PSA slabs I use a knife in the corner and they pop apart easily. On the newer PSA slabs I break most of the outer lip off and then pry apart. The first couple of the new PSA slabs snapped apart easily with a few twists.

For your original question, I would assume they use a machine to open the slabs, but what kind or method is a trade secret.

Pretty much the same for me.

I leave a few pre-war cards in slabs since they are not part of sets and I don't want any more damage/wear than they already may have. For my sets ('57->'80) I always popped them and put them in binders. Always.

Can PSA tell now if more recently graded but cracked out cards have been graded before?

I think we always wonder about that.

At the same time, given their demonstrated capabilities when it comes to actually delivering their core service, it’s hard to imagine that they’ve figured out how to really discover if they’ve seen a card previously.

Yes they can and they always accurately grade cards. I believe both are urban myths.:eek:

What raulus said... +1 to that.


I doubt they'd figure it out if I sent a liberated card back in to be entombed again, and with the card I sent a "before" picture showing the card in the slab, along with the slab bits and the grade slip.



I have wondered if they do or one day will put a uv number on each card they grade for future reference... but that would be damaging / altering the card, wouldn't it??

Another worry I have is when a graded T card's slip misidentifies the back. Did they really make that obvious mistake, or might there be two T cards stacked together there... and if it's the latter, is the back of the top card damaged and the front of the bottom card damaged.

Methinks too many people put way too much faith in grading companies.

My guess would be it's technologically possible, either by a super detailed scan with the database making the match, or some invisible harmless mark. But I am guessing.

I'm having an existential problem. My entire collection is raw, but I finally finished my 1952 low number set with a PSA 1 Mays.

Do I crack a $2,600 card to make it raw and get it right with my binders? Or do I keep it sealed?

Crack it! That's a good thing about ones, you're never gonna make it less than a one.

I cracked mine for the same reason as you and never regretted it. I cracked a Jackie and Campy 52 Topps as well. Crack away!

I opt to set many of my entombed cards free. I use a combination of heavy duty cutters and a small flat blade screwdriver. I snip off the top corners and then work the screwdriver into the escape holes and tweak the plastic apart.

It is great to see a card take its first breath of clean air after all that time being cooped up.

Open it up and let him rightfully join his spot in the binder.

JMHO

Darren - respect! Gotta hand it to you, that was fun to watch.

Wow - cracked a '68 Topps Mays PSA8!

I'd be so paranoid of screwing up a card like that.

The saddest part of it all is, after wiping away the wax/gum gunk (which took merely seconds and didn't cause any damage), I sent it off to PSA in Bobby's group sub...and it only came back a 7!!!!!!!!!! The same exact card, but slightly 'better,' got a lower grade!!!!!

This whole grading thing is witchcraft!!!

No, they cannot. I crack and resubmit cards every month. I almost never get the same grades. Even cards with very recent certs.

You should expect every card with an old cert to regrade lower today. At least by 1 grade, and often by 2 full grades or more.