When did you first learn how to crack a slab?

kieferscoins

Ok, maybe it is not a big deal, but I had never done it until a little over a year ago. Interning at the ANA, I begged Brian Silliman who worked in the museum to show me. I brought the slab (common 1989 Proof Jefferson, NGC PR69UCAM) and within a few seconds in the vice it cracked around the seam and the slab opened. I was happy and still remember the day.

Who taught you? I know alot of people have asked this question on the boards (how to crack a slab) so I thought this would be a neat thread for those that have already learned.

Cameron Kiefer

dpoole

Ah, yes. Memories of my youth and my first time!

T'was two years ago. I got some hints from the guys on the Ebay board. I snuck out to the garage where my wife couldn't hear me. I took a claw hammer and an Accugrade-slabbed something-or-another, set it on its end, and *WHACK*, splinters of spent Accugrade slab spewed about.

I carefully pulled the dazed remains apart, let the coin fall lightly and softly onto a towel, and sent that puppy in for a regrade! (Bodybag: Color).

You never forget your first time!.

kieferscoins

I didn't crack mine to resubmit, but more of a learning experience. You should have worn goggles. Sounds like it exploded.

Cameron Kiefer

dpoole

Hey, man! It was my first time! We're ALL a little awkward...

MacCoin

I still waitting for the first time

pontiacinf

I TOOK a dremel to the top portion of a ike that has that circular haze color tning which was getting worse. Its now inside a velvet box with its old ngc cert which was pr68ultra cam.

pontiacinf

mac ill send ya a few bars of soap to crack

MacCoin

thanx Bill

kranky

I never cracked one.

TRADERBOBZ

the day i thought i knew more than the graders.....it came to me in a plastic holder...awwww i remember,i blasted it with a hammer and the coin came out with a scratch across the face

gmarguli

I believe it was an ACG Pilgrim commem back in probably 1986. They graded it AU58. Last I saw it was in a PCGS MS64 slab in a dealers case.

No one taught me how to crack it. I just used a hammer.

shirohniichan

I experimented with a hammer, too. I guess it was about 1 1/2 years ago to extract an 1873 gold dollar from its ACG tomb.

mr1931S

i've never done this...and i'm a newbie on these boards...

how is it properly done?

The PCGS slab must be the toughest one to crack.

gmarguli

The PCGS slab must be the toughest one to crack.

Nope. The NGC slab is harder. They use some sort of flexible plastic or acrylic. The SEGS slabs are the hardest to crack. ANACS and ACG are the easiest.

danglen

Don Bonser was teaching a course in Basic Grading at ANA Summer Camp a couple of years ago. He brought a bunch of slabs to class and cracked them open with a pair of bolt cutters. He gave us the different pressure points for each type of slab. As soon as I got home, I ran out and bought a nice set of boltcutters. My boltcutters and I have been cracking and resubmitting happily ever since.

Russ

<< <i>The NGC slab is harder. >>



The new NGC slabs are harder; earlier ones were pretty easy. Easiest of all (even easier than ACG) is NTC. If you breathe hard in the general direction of the slab it falls apart. PCI and ICG are also pretty easy. I've never tried a SEGS, but looking at them, they do appear to be a tough little sucker.



I use a hammer. Not only is it effective for cracking slabs, it's good for dissipating aggressive tendencies.

Russ, NCNE

mrcommem

I use a tablesaw with fine tooth blade. Cut off the top and bottom and the coin practically falls out. Never worry about damaging a coin this way.

dbldie55

I love peoples overkill powertool stories. Reminds me of "Tool Time" every time I read it (ust no pretty girls). The comedy effect is just as good too.

I just take a side cutter and chop the edges just under the insert. Comes right apart. Nothing could be easier. How anyone messes up a coin doing this is beyond me.

CarsonCityGold

My tool of destruction - vice grips! Nibble away the edges, then just open like a book. Be aware that in most of these methods flying plastic is a problem. Wear eye protection and stay clear of family pets (minor incident with the cat). Good luck, CCG

drsvenghali

I just use a vice. Keep cranking until it pops.

robertpr

I haven't cracked a coin slab yet but I think I will as soon as my latest PCGS submission arrives. Several FS Jeffersons that they forgot to put the FS designation on, apparently. Of course I'll look really closely at the coins to see if I could justify their grade first, but I don't think I can.

MrKelso

Just did this to a proof set over the weekend. Used a rotozip and a vise. Worked great. Wear eye protection and a dust mask.

leothelyon

When I dropped one on a car ramp parking lot outside of a coin show. It didn't crack out the coin but it did crack the case.
Once I bought and returned a proof coin because I could tell it had suffered a scrape from a crackout.
So be very careful, the plastic can splinter and snap the surface of the coin. I have used a vice to hold
most of the slab while breaking the one end off after I score both sides with a box cutter, side cutter for the outside thicker edge. Then take a wide clamplike vice grips to clamp onto one end and work it up and down slowly until the end breaks off. Then with a thin chisel and hammer, tap the chisel in between one side of the slab and insert holder and place a small piece of cloth around the end of the chisel so as it works it's way in there is some protection between the coin and chisel and work to one side of the coin if its a quarter and smaller. There you have it. If you have a band saw, that may work great also but never tried it but you would think the coin inside may be subjected to some severe vibrating. I wonder if a woodburning kit tool could cut a circle around the outside of the coin and then a toothpick could be used to pry out the coin from the inner holder. Use of a vac may help keep the fumes away from the coin. Hey, I have one of those, I think I'll go try it.

Leo

Leo

mr1931S

i've never done this as i said before...

i'm really tempted to remove one of my coins from it's ICG holder...

they severely undergraded it in my opinion...

my Craftsman belt sander is not the proper tool to use in this endeavour...

thanks to all for your helpful advice...