Crack Them Slabbed Cards Open

gobuffalo2331 said:
Well if you have something like an insert or a patch card graded a 9.5 it's not a big deal if you break it considering the value isn't much different if any at all.

This topic comes up every 3-4 months search for the thread here on the hobby talk there's all sorts of options on it to bust open. Me personally I cut the overlap off from the back and than pry it up with a paint chipper.
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If it's a low numbered insert or hard to find item the value does go up over time. a 9 or under ok i get it but at the same time if it's for PC or future sale/trade its better Encased . I have a handful of graded items 8.5 and 9 for sets i'm building and i feel better just because they are in cases .
 
I use, of all things, an old-fashioned can opener. The blunt end, not the pointy one. Busts off the lip at the label end, then in goeth the flathead screwdriver.
 
Always a risk busting a case but bgs does put the cards in thick plastic sleaves, which add protection.

Why bust a 9.5? That typically doubles the value over an undressed card and the odds of getting a 10 are low.
 
9.5's are significantly more valuable than the raw copies of pretty well most cards. Only cards at a 9 or below should be considered as "bust-out worthy." Why even bust out a 9 when many 9's probably get at least equal value to their ungraded counterparts?
 
cburt said:
9.5's are significantly more valuable than the raw copies of pretty well most cards. Only cards at a 9 or below should be considered as "bust-out worthy." Why even bust out a 9 when many 9's probably get at least equal value to their ungraded counterparts?
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For me I'd rather have the card in a magnetic. It fits better into my collection as all my high enders are in magnetics and it fits better into the box. I do have a few BGS10s obviously I will never open those and a few 9.5's that looks sharp slabbed.


Ok, next questions, how about opening an ETOPPS case? Anyone bust one of these? I have a couple that look like they were dragged across gravel they're so scratched it really takes away from the card. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks
Seth
 
JoelCarry said:
There are multiple videos on youtube but here is a link to one i like. Hope that helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjz9IbO0CfI
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I used this video to free a card out of a BGS holder for my first time today. I was truly scared that I would damage the card, but this technique worked perfectly. The only thing I did different is I put the slab into a graded card team bag first to keep any plastic shards from flying around. It took me 10 seconds to free the card, no joke, easy and painless.


STEP 1 - Got my trusty old school rusty heavy duty wire cutters handed down from my dad:





STEP 2 - Put the cutters at the top edge in the middle above the label and applied slight pressure, and the holder split perfectly in two.





STEP 3 - Carefully slid one side of the holder away from the card.





STEP 4 - Remove sleeved card from the other half of the holder. Card was in perfect shape and the team bag trapped all the little plastic pieces. Cut one edge of the sleeve with scissors and the card was free.





STEP 5 - Apologize to my little Ewok for waking him from his 5th nap of the day, he gave me the classic WTF look when I snapped the holder. A tasty treat later and he forgave me.





So I was really curious how this card graded a 9, with it in the holder it looked dead nuts perfect.




It got three 9 subgrades which I just couldn't believe, so I decided to bust it out of the holder to see if I was missing something. Once out of the holder I got out the bright light and heavy duty magnifier. I could not see a single imperfection in this card, it is absolutely 100% perfect in every regard. This makes me have even less trust in grading companies, I will never pay to grade, or buy a graded a modern card. All I can think is the person at BGS was having a really bad day, or he had something against whoever sent this in for grading. It is gem mint perfect and happy to be freed from it's plastic hell.

Anyways, hope this helps the next person who wants to bust open a BGS slab. It's very easy and takes less then 30 seconds start to finish. Good luck. :beer:
 
As with a few other folks on this thread, I have used dremels with cutting wheels with great success on all manner of slabs including BGS and eTopps. I did it to get them signed in person. The cutting wheel allows precision cuts. Easy, quick, ans safe.
 
Just broke this card out of its slab recently ...



I chipped away at the case before eventually using a flathead screwdriver to crack the top two corners up before carefully sliding the card out. Man, these slabs sure do protect that card :D

Oh well, I think cards look better displayed in binders and/or one touch magnet holders.

Great thread!
 
Breaking open a GMA holder

Hi guy's! I know the subject of jail breaking graded cards has come up many a time before, but I have never done it before myself, nor have wanted to. I love my PSA and BGS graded cards and would never dream of breaking cards out of those holders, especially mint grade or higher cards. Anyway, I got several GMA graded cards in a deal off eBay recently and well, condition wise, seriously no issues. Very nice cards, but I don't care for GMA, nor do I want them in slabs. I am doing a set that I need all cards in toploaders, so these bad boys are getting busted out. What are some of the methods that people use to do this? And has anyone busted out cards from GMA holders? I imagine a lot of people jail break these things.

Thanks,

Collin
 
Here are two successful methods I use:

1. Pliers and pry
-snip off a corner (top above label)
-slip a flat head in between the plastic and pry
-sometimes 1 or 2 prys the whole case breaks open

2. Dremel - only do this if you have total confidence - I once used this method on tuukatimes multi thousand dollar card haha
-add the cut bit
-cut along the top edge quickly; if you are too slow the plastic will start melting
-you can choose the cut the whole edge off and the card will slip out or you can start prying with a flathead after you cut off 2-3 cam

There's are many ways, but both these have worked for me on many different cases bgs, psa, ksa, sgc and so on
 
How to unslab (crack open) PSA holders

I think there was a thread on here years ago on how to do it, but I cannot find the thread, I tried.

Anyways, I have 2 cards that are in PSA holders that I want out of the holders, without wrecking the cards. Both cards are 1973-74 unmarked checklist's and are graded 6, I have no intention of re-grading, I want to put them in the binder with the rest of the set I'm building.

Thank you for moving my thread to here, the cards are now free and don't look any worse than they did in the PSA holders :)
 
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Prison Break: An Easy Step-By-Step Guide to Crack Cards Out of Their Plastic Cases

Hey guys,

Hopefully this isn't too much self promotion, but I just wrote something that I think other collectors might be able to benefit from, so I figured I'd post it up.

Fair warning.... Yeah, I'm a slab cracker (gasp!).

I cracked another slab today and this time around I decided to write about it on my very own hockey card blog: Beyond The Crease.

I've been cracking slabs for years, but I remember how nervous I was the first time around, so I decide to provide you guys with some step-by-step instructions on how I do it.

Hope you enjoy! Please let me know what you think!

Link:

https://creasecollector.weebly.com/...-of-their-plastic-cases-bgs-psa-itg-slabs-etc


image2_3.jpeg
 
Nice stuff. I’ve been using the mitre saw. Quick and easy.
 

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