Cracked my 1st cards out....

[tab]

I have recently decided to start a t206 stlouis cardinals raw team set in a binder. A couple of the cards I bought graded 1 psa and 1 SGC to crack out. This was my first attempt at cracking out graded cards. The psa was kinda tough to crack out. I tried a screwdriver with no luck. Had to start it with a knife then screwdriver. Part of the slab cracked and besides the crack there is evidence of it being opened up.

The SGC slab was a differant story! It came apart with ease and goes back together with no evidence of being tampered with. Makes me wonder if any cards have been switched out to fraud people of there money. Anyone else have the same results?

[tiger8mush]

Congrats Travis!

However, on the SGC slab, if you were to put the two pieces of plastic back together, you'd notice it was frosted, instead of the original clear, indicating the slab has been opened.

[Sean1125]

I'll make a video some time.

Take pliers and crack the top right corner of the slab about 3/4 of an inch in. Take a flathead screwdriver and shove it into the flip leveraging up as you go to the opposite (horizontal) end of the slab. This will pop up most of the gaskets and let you lift the card open with your hand rather easily. Slightly modified for SGC, new PSA, and BGS slabs.

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by Sean1125

I'll make a video some time.

Take pliers and crack the top right corner of the slab about 3/4 of an inch in. Take a flathead screwdriver and shove it into the flip leveraging up as you go to the opposite (horizontal) end of the slab. This will pop up most of the gaskets and let you lift the card open with your hand rather easily. Slightly modified for SGC, new PSA, and BGS slabs.

I have cracked a ton of slabs over the years, and this is the exact technique I use.

[tab]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

Congrats Travis!

However, on the SGC slab, if you were to put the two pieces of plastic back together, you'd notice it was frosted, instead of the original clear, indicating the slab has been opened.

I guess I didn't look that closely. I'll have to check for frosting.
Thanks

[pclpads]

PSA slabs are a breeze to crack . . . unless you are using a Phillips SD or a fat flat head. You need about a 4" long FH SD with a square end about 1/8" wide. Just hit the seam at the top corner and gradually work it along the top edge. Wear gloves, in case the blade slips and you stab your hand. No problemo!

[tab]

After looking closer at the cracked SGC slab I put back together I can see a little evidence of it being opened. Mainly down one side the seem has what looks like bubbles where it was cracked. About the best way to describe it. Guess I need to inspect the rest of my SGC graded cards better.

[ZachS]

PSA and SGC are a breeze to crack. Now those GAI holders are a different animal. I usually have to use pliers and crack all the way around to break them open.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by tab

I have recently decided to start a stlouis cardinals raw set in a binder. A couple of the cards I bought graded 1 psa and 1 SGC to crack out. This was my first attempt at cracking out graded cards. The psa was kinda tough to crack out. I tried a screwdriver with no luck. Had to start it with a knife then screwdriver. Part of the slab cracked and besides the crack there is evidence of it being opened up.

The SGC slab was a differant story! It came apart with ease and goes back together with no evidence of being tampered with. Makes me wonder if any cards have been switched out to fraud people of there money. Anyone else have the same results?

With a little practice both PSA and SGC slabs can be cracked open and resealed with little to no evidence. It is why I never buy graded cards. To me it is much easier to hide a altered card in a slab than raw.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by bnorth

With a little practice both PSA and SGC slabs can be cracked open and resealed with little to no evidence. It is why I never buy graded cards. To me it is much easier to hide a altered card in a slab than raw.

Travis, the more you crack, the better you get at doing it which seems to result in some sharp sgc cases...I just shatter the psa cases, but I reuse the sgc cases for my displays and I have had several w/o evidence of tampering after I did my deed.

[wolf441]

All methods listed above seem to work well.

I find the easiest method is to take the case (PSA or SGC) into the garage (concrete floor), have my son hold it upright in the middle by the left and right sides, and then gently use a hammer and butter knife to split the case open from the top. Once you get the blade in, you can just apply a little leverage and it will usually snap right open (or at least enough to extract the card).

It also has the added benefit of keeping the holder intact in case you decide to sell the raw card down the line. You can include the holder when you sell as proof of its former grade...

[sycks22]

Old PSA cases are a breeze, not the new ones

[Bpm0014]

I find the easiest method is to take the case (PSA or SGC) into the garage (concrete floor), have my son hold it upright in the middle by the left and right sides, and then gently use a hammer and butter knife to split the case open from the top. Once you get the blade in, you can just apply a little leverage and it will usually snap right open (or at least enough to extract the card).

It also has the added benefit of keeping the holder intact in case you decide to sell the raw card down the line. You can include the holder when you sell as proof of its former grade...

100% agree. It's exactly what I do. Start to finish takes under 10 seconds.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by wolf441

All methods listed above seem to work well.

I find the easiest method is to take the case (PSA or SGC) into the garage (concrete floor), have my son hold it upright in the middle by the left and right sides, and then gently use a hammer and butter knife to split the case open from the top. Once you get the blade in, you can just apply a little leverage and it will usually snap right open (or at least enough to extract the card).

It also has the added benefit of keeping the holder intact in case you decide to sell the raw card down the line. You can include the holder when you sell as proof of its former grade...

If you forget the PSA slab, this sounds like a neurosurgical procedure........

Hold you son upright in the garage and split him open from the top with a hammer and a butter knife.......

Or child abuse.

[wolf441]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

If you forget the PSA slab, this sounds like a neurosurgical procedure........

Hold you son upright in the garage and split him open from the top with a hammer and a butter knife.......

Or child abuse.

It's all about spending time with the kids Frank!

"Here, hold the card...HOLD THE CARD!!! I'm not going to miss and hit your hand with the hammer like last time!!"

Just good family memories!!