Breaking cards out of slabs?

[Balticfox]

What's the best way to break a card out of its plastic coffin without damaging the card? Suggestions?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

What's the best way to break a card out of its plastic coffin without damaging the card? Suggestions?

Depends on the slab. The old PSA and SGS slabs pop apart by just sticking a knife blade in a corner and twisting the knife a little. I have had the new PSA slabs fall apart from a slight twist. If not just break off the edge and stick a screwdriver in there and pop them apart at the top.

[Belfast1933]

It's a little nerve wracking to be sure - but I found a You Tube video that worked for me... I just used heavy duty clippers (sheet metal, I believe) and clipped the upper 2 corners far away from the card itself.

Once that was done, I pry the slab open using a flathead screwdriver, again, far away from the card.

I think I've only opened 2-3 slabs in total so I'm hardly an expert - but this worked well for me. Good luck!

(btw, the outcome for me was a bummer - I was SURE that my 56 Hank Aaron was incorrectly graded! And I was RIGHT! It went from a grade 4 slab into a nice new 3.5 slab )

[Balticfox]

Oh I won't be regrading anything. If and when I absolutely, positively need that one certain card to complete a set and a slabbed one seems to be the most reasonable (and reasonably priced) option, I want to be prepared.

[perezfan]

Here's a recent video we did on the topic. You can see the step by step procedure we used....

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

We will be filming again tonight, and may break out T206 cards of Cy Young and Walter Johnson. It will be a last-minute decision. The only thing I may do differently is to use an everyday kitchen knife instead of a screwdriver to pry it apart. The knife blade is thinner than a screwdriver, and is thus, a bit more maneuverable.

[JollyElm]

I threw this video together a couple of years ago. Pretty straightforward:

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

[campyfan39]

I agree with all that has been posted. I have cracked our hundreds.
I have only damaged 2 cards. Only one was creased, and the other had a small indentation.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a fairly large collection almost all of which is ungraded. I almost always break cards out if I buy them graded and have done so for years. But I am an impatient person. I use a bolt cutter then a irrigation screw driver. No issues but might not be for the faint of heart

[NiceDocter]

I was breaking into a cold sweat just reading this thread….. too nerve wracking for me LOL

[Snowman]

Yikes! You guys are giving me a heart attack with these cracking slab videos.

I've cracked thousands of slabs. This is how I do it. I crack an SGC and a PSA slab in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBkTYF05UI

[perezfan]

And what was so different about it, vs. the other two?

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by perezfan

And what was so different about it, vs. the other two?

Well, I didn't jab a screwdriver and fumble it all the way up and down each edge, millimeter by millimeter for one lol. That's a sure way to wreck a card at some point. Also, you guys were wrestling with separating the top from the bottom. I'm watching it going up and down, up and down, about to pull my hair out. You're going to get shards of broken plastic wedged under the top of the slab and it's going to indent the surface. But damage issues aside, it's also just much faster.

[Zach Wheat]

I have cracked out numerous cards from most of the grading companies. I use a miter saw, securing the card with clamps etc. BVG cases are the hardest cases to crack. With other methods mentioned above, I was always concerned with a portion of the case tearing or marring the surface of the card. A miter saw allows you to completely cut the sides off, separating the front and back.

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Yikes! You guys are giving me a heart attack with these cracking slab videos.

I've cracked thousands of slabs. This is how I do it. I crack an SGC and a PSA slab in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBkTYF05UI

I've done 100 or so without issue, using pliers and flathead screwdriver around all side. Your way is much better. Thanks!

[SleepyWill]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

What's the best way to break a card out of its plastic coffin without damaging the card? Suggestions?

What is the cert number? Some of the newer PSA slabs from last year are a newer form of plastic and are next to impossible to crack without damaging the card.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Well, I didn't jab a screwdriver and fumble it all the way up and down each edge, millimeter by millimeter for one lol. That's a sure way to wreck a card at some point. Also, you guys were wrestling with separating the top from the bottom. I'm watching it going up and down, up and down, about to pull my hair out. You're going to get shards of broken plastic wedged under the top of the slab and it's going to indent the surface. But damage issues aside, it's also just much faster.

Nope, never happened. Hundreds cracked out with no issues whatsoever.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by SleepyWill

What is the cert number? Some of the newer PSA slabs from last year are a newer form of plastic and are next to impossible to crack without damaging the card.

Don't have any right now. This thread is just to help me decide whether I might consider a slabbed card at some point if I really need/want that card to complete a set.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by SleepyWill

What is the cert number? Some of the newer PSA slabs from last year are a newer form of plastic and are next to impossible to crack without damaging the card.

It’s still possible but not as easy as it used to be. Just need to be gentle and take your time.

[Kutcher55]

I use wire cutters to chip off an edge on top, where the grade is located. I recommend you wear eye protection to avoid a catastrophic injury from flying plastic. Also probably best to cover the area with your hand when you’re pinching off an edge but also make sure you don’t inadvertently slice a piece of your hand when you do this. This happened to me once and I suffered a minor injury. Coulda been much worse! Once I get enough of an edge off I use a paint chistler rather than a screwdriver to pry open the slab. The wider surface helps prevent slippage. This is the part of the process that requires tons of patience. Often times the slab doesn’t willingly part and you can get stuck in spots. The top slab can begin to have spider veining. At this point you should “pull out” and reassess your options. Perhaps work the other side. Perhaps chip off more of the top with the wire cutters.

This is an exercise in patience. I have never damaged a card with this process but I have had plenty of tense moments and as mentioned I did pinch off a chunk of palm that required a bandage for a week or so, no stitches.

Note I have never tried this with a BVG slab. They are supposedly the toughest.

[drew40820]

I was feeling heat inside while reading this thread.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here's a recent video we did on the topic. You can see the step by step procedure we used....

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

We will be filming again tonight, and may break out T206 cards of Cy Young and Walter Johnson. It will be a last-minute decision. The only thing I may do differently is to use an everyday kitchen knife instead of a screwdriver to pry it apart. The knife blade is thinner than a screwdriver, and is thus, a bit more maneuverable.

Please don't break those 2 beauties out. They look great the way they are. They aren't getting 10's like you. Why bother. They were undraded for so many years, not you want to start chasing grades. I personally feel it's idiotic. Maybe you can damage the card and get it on video for us!!!!!!!That would be funny.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

Please don't break those 2 beauties out. They look great the way they are. They aren't getting 10's like you. Why bother. They were undraded for so many years, not you want to start chasing grades. I personally feel it's idiotic. Maybe you can damage the card and get it on video for us!!!!!!!That would be funny.

Funny for y'all, hahaha. Nah, I probably will leave them as-is, based on feedback from the other thread.

Appreciate your input.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Nope, never happened. Hundreds cracked out with no issues whatsoever.

You must be cracking a lot of T206s then. Because if you try this same approach with cards that have less space inside the slab like a 1952 Topps, you'll eventually damage one. That screwdriver will slip as you try to navigate its way around the edges of the slab. Once you free open the top, you should be able to just pry the entire slab apart with your hands without needing to run the screwdriver all the way around the perimeter. Also, clipping off both of the top corners, as opposed to just the one, will greatly reduce the likelihood of the slab splitting as you pull it apart.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

You must be cracking a lot of T206s then. Because if you try this same approach with cards that have less space inside the slab like a 1952 Topps, you'll eventually damage one. That screwdriver will slip as you try to navigate its way around the edges of the slab. Once you free open the top, you should be able to just pry the entire slab apart with your hands without needing to run the screwdriver all the way around the perimeter. Also, clipping off both of the top corners, as opposed to just the one, will greatly reduce the likelihood of the slab splitting as you pull it apart.

Yes, a lot of Tobacco cards, but plenty of larger cards too ('53 Bowman/'52 Topps, etc.) Never had an issue either way. I try to limit the corner clipping to just one cut, as I can easily envision the crack going awry.

But will try it your way for sure... the less finagling around the perimeter, the better. Thanks for the input.

[ALR-bishop]

With the bolt cutter and irrigation screw driver mentioned above it takes me 10 seconds start to finish. Have done a bunch and not lost one yet, including a lot of 52s ( but not the 52 Mantles )

[MorrellMan]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

With the bolt cutter and irrigation screw driver mentioned above it takes me 10 seconds start to finish. Have done a bunch and not lost one yet, including a lot of 52s ( but not the 52 Mantles )

Al - I was setting up at a show a few years back; I don't remember which one. I was there, Marty was there, Anthony was there - before the show started Marty was walking toward my table fidgeting something in his hands - turns out he was hand-cracking a '52 Mantle.

I was flabbergasted, he was nonplussed.

That's when I learned the meaning of the word nonplussed.