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The LordM "No Tools" slab crackout technique. Simple. Primitive. Effective. Safe.
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
My crackout technique is ridiculously primitive, but effective, and safe enough for coin and person alike if done with reasonable common-sense precaution.
No plastic shrapnel in the eyes.
No hammering.
No ... tools.
(*German shepherd and housecoat optional. Shoes highly recommended.)
Sure, if you have a vise and workbench and all that good stuff, more power to you. But I came up with this quickie technique on the fly, when I needed a fast crackout during one of the FUN shows and had no tools handy.
And I've used it ever since, on the rare occasions I do any crackouts.
This can be modified somewhat to use a heavy door in a metal doorframe instead, if you don't have any porch boards with a wide enough gap handy.
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Comments
Housecoat? I'm looking for your smoking jacket
Do you mean housecat?
Nice method! I can see where it could lead to a lost coin under the deck, but assuming that doesn't happen.....I like it!
Plenty of housecats, too. They just didn't make it into the scene.
Yes, fall-through is something to watch out for- I had it happen once. But mostly the porch board gaps I use are just wide enough to accomodate the slab, and no wider. And since you're pushing it sideways rather than down, it will usually not fall through the gaps.
Actually, the one fall-through I had was just a careless drop when I picked the coin up, not from going through the gap. I fumbled and dropped it and it fell between the steps. No harm done, though it took some rummaging through the leaves under the porch to find the coin, which was still safely ensconced inside half of the broken slab.
This was the first outtake. It was unsuccessful because I did not have the slab far enough down in the gap to provide a proper fulcrum, and I didn't get a clean break. It just popped out of the slot.
I inserted the slab a little deeper into the slot on the second attempt, and got a good crack, which you see above in the OP.
Ideally, you want to have the upper third of the slab (the label part) down in the gap, and crack it right between the label area and the coin area of the slab. Since you're not shattering the plastic that's directly around the coin if you get a good break, it reduces risk.
Once you have broken it around the top label part, you can usually pry the inner insert of the slab (with the coin) right out. Sometimes you have to pop the halves of the remaining plastic outer shell apart, but sometimes you can slide the insert right out of the shell with no additional prying, as seen in the second animated GIF in the OP.
That final removal part of the process is where you do need to exercise a little caution with sharp plastic edges. I did give myself a minor finger puncture once during this stage, by not being careful enough around the jagged plastic. But with minimal caution there, you'll be OK.
Great looking technique. Thanks for sharing it @lordmarcovan!
Interesting, I may try something like that, thanks for sharing !!!
A thick rubber band around the slab would keep it from falling through and ensure the point one wishes to break it. I habe use a similar method. but use my hand. Crude, but effective.
Interesting technique. I'm curious. Why did you crack out that ancient Roman Republic coin? Looks like a nice coin.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
I would be concerned that I would generate a really sharp shard of plastic one day that would pierce the shoe and my foot.
I just wrap a rag around my slab and have it vertical in a vice and give it a wham 🤷🏼♂️ But then again I have tools and have only done this with a few coins. Don’t bash me 🤣
I'm sorry, but I need to post this again here in case LordM doesn't have a deck available.
@lordmarcovan
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I wanna see you do that with a SEGS holder!
LordM. Good to see you!
I don't have a porch.
See my video above if you have no porch
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Always wondered what the TPG's use? Probably some complex, ridiculously expensive....porch.
Really a good video lesson, thanks. Never thought of that way.
It IS a nice coin.
But the NGC slab was suffering from that awful "trapped gas" bloat problem. Several of my NGC slabs swelled up as if they were dead dogs on the side of the road for two weeks in summertime. Looked like they were about to explode. Totally unstackable, even. So that one would have had to be replaced. IF I were replacing them, which I've decided not to.
I have instead decided to bow to the traditionalist majority and go back to keeping my ancients raw. You see, ancient coin collectors hates 'em some slabs, maybe even worse than EAC people do! I mean, seriously. Take a closer look at the design on that fella's shirt!
Nooo! Been there, tried that! SEGS is kryptonite! Say what you will about their grading, but I always liked their capsules. That hard-rubbery plastic of theirs is tuff stuff, too. I've cracked SEGS slabs, but it ain't easy!
Brilliant.
How about a Ferrari?
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore...
That looks like an excellent method.... have not tried that system... I have done hammer, vise, dikes, and band saw... Now I must try porch/foot.....
Cheers, RickO
Whatever works LordM!
Knowing my luck, the slab would likely slip just as I'm transferring my weight onto it.... resulting in a bent coin!! ..." if it wasn't for bad luck..."
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
impressive and great looking fingers coin.
That looks like an excellent method.... have not tried that system... I have done hammer, vise, dikes, and band saw... Now I must try porch/foot....
I use Dremel with cutting bit. I keep the slab and insert (which look great after coin is removed) as proof the the coin graded whatever the label says by TPG.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
cool coin
Did you just put a big gouge into your wood deck?
My luck the slab would fall all the way through the crack! haha
Nice! Usually those pop open for me as soon as I look at them funny.......with a hammer!
This porch method frightens me for three reasons:
If I'm cracking out an NGC slab, I'd recommend hammering the edges with a rubber mallet until it cracks and then calmly opening it like a clam shell.
You're welcome.
Coin Rarities Online
1) Highly unlikely. Ever tried to scratch a metal coin with a piece of acrylic? Sure, it could probably be done if you picked the shard up and furiously scribbled at the coin with it. One (unlikely), casual hit? Not likely to happen, and not likely to do much if it did. I will grant that it isn't totally impossible. Just not very likely.
2) Also unlikely, especially with a thick-flan ancient coin, unless the metal were crystallized or something.
3) OK, not totally impossible. No gravel under my deck, though. And my coastal town will likely be underwater well before 2336.
4) As mentioned, this is a quick method for when there are no tools handy, including rubber mallets and such. Like I said in the OP, if you have a vise and a workbench and all that good stuff, more power to you.
5) Is "medal detecting" the hunt for medals? If so, I've been there, done that.
I remember seeing coin dealer Bill Nagle back in 1988 crack open slabs by slamming them on the hard bourse floor behind his cases. Can't recall if he let go of them or held them through the process. It was impressive. I use a hammer and tap methodically around the edges. Not a fan of splinters than can eventually scratch the coin. It only needs to happen once a $3,000 gem UNC seated half. Haven't cracked a coin in over 10 yrs.
go visit the neighbor with a six pack
With my luck the coin would fall underneath the porch and get lost.
Interesting technique.
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
The hair stands up on the back of my neck just viewing this!!
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I do it so seldom that I take my time with a couple of stout pliers. Requires patience but haven't had a scare yet.
Haven't been to many shows lately, but back in the day I would see a number of young hotshot dealers busting slabs on the bourse floor, usually around quitting time, They made quite a thing of it. I found it offensive somehow.
If I remember correctly, it was a $20 gold piece you first tried that on. PCI slab?
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
You have a superb memory, sir, and were there to witness history in the making. FUN 2006, I believe it was. The one where we Darksiders stayed in that condo (the front steps of which provided the slabcracking fulcrum). Also the time where you and/or @spinaker2000 shot video of my snoring on the couch (my sleep apnea had not yet been diagnosed then).
Yes, it was a 1904 $20 Lib in a PCI green label MS62 holder. I had bought it for around melt at the time (~$400-ish), so when I cracked it and submitted it to PCGS at the show and it came back PCGS MS64, that was a nice little cha-ching. Netted me nearly a grand in the subsequent flipping, as I recall.
Possibly my finest cherrypick to date, at least in terms of monetary dividend.
This one, from a bulk bag of Wheaties that same year, was my second-best.