Removing Card From Graded Case

[mjmj1966]

I gotta ask this question. I buy all graded and pay a premium over the raw version as I'm sure everyone does. Does it bother you for example to take a graded card that you paid say $30 for out of the slab and now its worth say $15? I have wanted to bust mine out for sometime and have been told to keep them in the slab and buy a raw version. There are cards I want that I can't seem to find graded so I wanted to make everything raw. Any advice?

[ALR-bishop]

It's all just a hobby for me and being able to display my sets and having easy access to them are my most important goals. I buy ungraded if possible...and bought or put together most of my sets years ago. If I have to buy a graded card ,I usually will not pay the premium for a 9 or 10 if I know I will be busting it out.

Have I ever lost money in the process, probably, but I will probably never know and my heirs won't care

[Volod]

Originally Posted by mjmj1966

I gotta ask this question. I buy all graded and pay a premium over the raw version as I'm sure everyone does. Does it bother you for example to take a graded card that you paid say $30 for out of the slab and now its worth say $15? I have wanted to bust mine out for sometime and have been told to keep them in the slab and buy a raw version. There are cards I want that I can't seem to find graded so I wanted to make everything raw. Any advice?

Yeah, it does annoy me to pay a premium for slabbed cards and even more to sacrifice that money to get the things out of the plastic. I would never buy the graded cards, except that I wanted to complete some scarce sets and the only way I could do that was to buy the slabs. But, to me, the cards are more aesthetically appealing in raw form, or perhaps a thin mylar sleeve. In a slab, it's almost as if you're really collecting the big, clunky pieces of plastic for their monetary value, instead of cards for their emotional impact.

[ALR-bishop]

Steve...that would seem to work fine, but take a little longer if you are impatient...like me

Al

[bradmar48]

I decided this morning to remove the cards from their graded cases. I first tried the Dremel tool using a plastic saw blade. My opinion is it's not the way to do it. The saw blade gets very hot and melts the plastic causing the two pieces of the case to melt together. I damaged this card trying to remove it.

Using a hacksaw and sawing off the top left corner and then using a small chisel
to crack open the case worked perfectly on both PSA and KSA cases.

Keith

[zliebowitz]

Campyfan39- I had some graded cards that I've wanted out of their cases for a while, didn't know how to do it. Used the hammer method, and it worked perfectly every time. Thanks a lot.

[Zach Wheat]

I use a miter saw. I have an expensive powered miter saw with fences bolted to my work bench. It easily cuts through any case, even the more difficult BVG cases. I have always been worried about the plastic card sleeves binding and creasing the card when taking out in another manner...or having the tool accidentally slip and cut the card.

I've liberated about 20 cards this way and have never had any problems. This has worked real well for me.

ZWheat

[7nohitter]

I guess I'm a bit more 'uncivilized' when it comes to freeing cards. i place the case on the counter with only the upper right corner hanging off. I hold the case down with my left hand, and with a hammer break off the corner...then I slip a small flathead screwdriver into the case and separate it. Has worked every time.

Though, I totally agree about WEARING GOGGLES...that plastic FLIES!