Cracking graded cards

[garymc]

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.

[JollyElm]

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

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by garymc

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.

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.

[glynparson]

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.

[bnorth]

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.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by glynparson

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.

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.

[Peter_Spaeth]

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

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

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.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

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

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

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

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

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

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by garymc

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.

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