Differences in slab plastic

Compa

I have many PCGS slabs and a few from other companies ... In particular I've noticed that ANACS slabs seem to be a bit more scratch resistant than PCGS slabs. Any one else ever noticed a difference between the plastics used?

Also ... any trick to breaking out ANACS slabs

(it is holding my new Canada 20c piece prisoner!)

Aethelred

I sliced my thumb wide open breaking an ANACS slab not long ago!

Compa

I don't notice any warning stickers on these slabs advising people not to crack them open, that it may be hazardous ... lawsuit ?????????

GoldCoinLover

<< <i>
Also ... any trick to breaking out ANACS slabs
>>



Sliced your thumb open? Ouch. I did something similiar. I was washing stuff down the garbage disposol in the sink and I switched it to on and serrated knives and forks got stuck in and were swirling around real fast. Mistakenly, I reached it and attempted to grab them out (without turning it off). The knife sliced underneath my nail and made a gash halfway underneath my nail .

As for breaking the ANACS slab open, take a steel hammer and break it apart?
??

1960NYGiants

My technique for breaking slabs is to use a hammer. While firmly holding the plastic between thumb and fore finger over the coin "window", rest the slab on edge on a cement floor (garage floor), then gently tap the slab along the seam edge. [Picture standing a box of playing cards on edge.] Rotate and repeat on all four edges. The plastic halves will come apart without shattering. All you have to do is unstack the layers. I've done this with ANACS, NGC, ICG, SEGS, and PCI - yet to try a PCGS slab.

HTH,

Gene

Placid

I use pliers on the corners to crack them. Then use a flat tip screwdriver to pry it apart.

mongoose

I use a 14" pair of bolt cutters on corners, then the slab comes apart easily.

historygeek

<<I use a 14" pair of bolt cutters on corners, then the slab comes apart easily. >>

I use the same method!

1jester

In my experience, a tiny bit of C4 at one corner does fine. The only problem is that it's sometimes hard to find the coin afterwards.

tbirde56

I like that one Jester! I'll have to try and remember it if I ever get a slab.

ajaan

If you have a bench vise your that. Squeeze the slab a little and it breaks apart very easily. No flying pieces also.

rhound1977

I've seen some one take the slab outside a hotel room to the wooden deck, stick it between the decking boards, and stomp on it to open the slab....

HMM, who was that?

wybrit

I sliced my thumb wide open breaking an ANACS slab not long ago!

No blood on the coin, I hope.

I use pliers and wear safety glasses (no joke, glad I do!).

Aethelred

<< <i>I've seen some one take the slab outside a hotel room to the wooden deck, stick it between the decking boards, and stomp on it to open the slab....

HMM, who was that? >>



I don't recall that at all, was beer involved?

rhound1977

<< <i>

<< <i>I've seen some one take the slab outside a hotel room to the wooden deck, stick it between the decking boards, and stomp on it to open the slab....

HMM, who was that? >>



I don't recall that at all, was beer involved? >>



As quoted from another thread, yes there was beer, but no they don't drink....... Must be one of them Georgia 'CoinCrackers"
Monday March 22, 2004 6:31 PM (NEW!)

Yup. Remember the coin put between the boards of the porch and cracked out with my shoe while we were in Orlando for the FUN show? That was a PCI.

PCI green label MS62 1904 USA $20 Liberty. PCGS slabbed it MS64. I had $450 in it. Just sold it for $1,260. Cha-ching.

PCI cracks out real good.

MacCrimmon

My guess is that all slabs fall within the polycarbonate family of plastics. Maybe condor knows. Some could use acrylic. Actually, even the polycarbs could be coated with an extremely scratch resistant coating which would keep the slabs looking good even with quite a bit of abuse.....

Cracking? I use a bench vise. PCGS tend to be more resistant due to the profile.