Update-Slab question and does anyone have a cheapo card in a GAI holder for me to practice on (UPDAT

Justacommeman

I'm going to break out an expensive Vintage card from a GAI holder. I've done a lot of Googling without getting a lot of info.
So far the only thing that came up is:

a) GAI cards are tougher to crack then PSA
b) Snip an upper corner and then work the rest of the card with a small flat head screwdriver

Can anyone offer up any other advise? TIA, MJ

pclpads

They are truly a challenge, but doable. What makes them tuff is they are a back inset and not a seam butt-joint of the two pieces, like PSA or SGC holders. So, pretty much tamper free. My best efforts came by hacksawing off the complete top end, side-to-side, by first locking in a vice with only the top 1/4 of the holder exposed. You sure don't want to bend the card when sawing. As for depth of cut, make sure you cut into and across the back inset. After completing the cut, then slowly start working a small 6" flat edge sd down each side, out of the vice, laid flat, pinning the holder with one hand - wear a glove in case the sd slips! - whle slowly working the sd with the other. Even doing all that, sometimes the case cracks. So sometimes I've also had to nip the two bottom corners off, or cut the bottom as above, to help free it up. Cutting off the bottom is extremely hazardous, since your margin for error is super thin. This would certainly be easier and quicker, if you had access to a bandsaw. I don't. Be very patient. Take your time. I effed up a couple of GAI cards in the beginning, not knowing WTF I was doing. If you have a small $ value card in a GAI holder, practice your cut on that - no great loss since GAI is now undesired - before whacking on a high dollar card with your first attempt. Great luck!

Justacommeman

Thank you for taking the time to answer. That was awesome of you! Now I need to buy a cheapo GAI card to practice on.
The one I'm attempting to liberate is a 10K to 20K card depending if and what it crosses at.

If anyone has a GAI card on the cheap that I can buy for practice on................. please pm me!

Thanks, MJ

vladguerrero

whats the card?

for a big card I snip around the entire slab until there's no edges left, if it's a card with as much value as you're talking about I would hacksaw every edge for a clean/safe cut (will take a while but it's not a race).

Justacommeman

An early 50's Mays in nr-mint-mint.............Thank you for the response................MJ

Downtown1974

MJ, PM me your address, I'll send you a GAI holdered card.

Justacommeman

PM sent and you are very kind to reach out. MJ

Justacommeman

Well, I was sitting at my desk with said card nearby and I figured I would just try inserting the tip of my super sharp swiss army knife into a seam on the reverse just to see. I figured I could always abort the mission as I really didn't have any intentions of going all the way. Sounds like a love novel so far. Anyways to my surprise the swiss army knive pryed the seam easily and I was able to effortlessly work it down each side. 90 seconds later it opened up like a clam and Operation Free Willie was a success! Whew.........

The only tool I used


Free Willie. I thought I saw him actually smile for a brief moment on the completion of the breakout. I forgot how great these cards looked out of plastic. I may keep him neeked for awhile.


And if today couldn't get any better a card I've been chasing for 15 years showed up today. I'm stoked!


Thank you all for the help and Downtown your offer was truly appreciated. Very cool of you. Beerson me whenever we meet up. MJ

Dboneesq

Good luck with your submission ... let us know how it turns out.

Justacommeman

Will do Doug. I have to decide when, IF and to who whom first. The biggest reason I had to crack this was that some foreign sustance got on the slab. I used Goo Gone and other methods to try to get it off. It only got worse and it spread to the back of the holder. I finally "pulled" off the gunk with packing tape. However, the holder was less then perfect at that point. Actually it was ugly.The whole ordeal was a pain in the a$$ and it took up an entire weekend. I was then left with a Mays in mucked up undesirable holder. My choice was made for me. Free Willie must happen. One of my favorite cards will remain naked or he may take a trip to the Jersey Shore or to catch some tasty waves outside of San Diego.

Ill pop in to let you know the final outcome. Thanks, MJ

Downtown1974

Glad to hear it went well Mark! That Mays is off the charts. As is the Gordie. Good luck and like Doug said, keep us posted on the outcome.

HAMMERFAN44

Good luck man...you got some stones to crack that Mays!

1954

big stones.....very big.
Good luck!
Shane

Dboneesq

<< <i>Good luck man...you got some stones to crack that Mays! >>



Man ... I was thinking the same thing ... except when I tried to type in the words I was using the site would not allow such language. LOL

MCMLVTopps

my 2 cents...

Using a knife, screwdriver, saw, pliers, etc, is IMO asking for a potentially unpleasant experience...one slip and your card is toast.

Try this:

All slabs have a tiny groove where the two halfs are snapped together. I put a slab I want to crack into a vise...YES, vise. Place the lower third of the card sandwiched between two scraps of small wood that only cover the lower third. Tighten the vise to the point that vertical pressure does not loosen the slab from the vise. Now, using a chisel and hammer, place the chisel in the left or right edge groove and begin to tap until you have some form of separation. I keep about one half of the chisel blade outside the slab and begin gently.

Once you have a bit of opening, place the chisel on the other side and do the same. The chisel is beveled, which applies pressure to the slab and forces it open as you proceed downward. The bevel also prevents any "slips" into the card as long as you hold it tight enough and continue in a vertical, downward motion. The slab should pop open enough to remove it from the vise and secure the card without any damage.

Of course, practicing on a junk card is the best way to go. The key to this process is the beveling of the chisel which aids in pressuring the slab to turn loose. A knife, screwdriver or anything else that you continue to use pressure on can easily slip and ruin your card.

Frozencaribou

That Howe is amazing. Great work. Not many 8.5's out there. Oh yeah, the Mays is nice too.

-FC

Bosox1976

Couple of monsters there!

Mickey71

You don't have stones...you have boulders. Cracking any GAI like that could very well be dissapointing. There's normally a reason it's in a GAI slab.

Was it your card when it was sent in to GAI?
Good luck with the submission.

Justacommeman

The back story.

1) Yes high risk high reward

2) It was bought in the GAI awhile back

3) GAI holders stigma has gotten worse since I bought the card

4) I did have someone that is a top five set of eyes view the card for me before I bought it. He loved the card. He also told there was almost no way a high value GAI card like this would cross in the holder. It also factored in how much I paid for the card. No doubt there is pre-determined prejudice towards GAI slabed cards and I understand and agree with it in principal. It's a scarlett letter, damning but does not necessarily mean the card is messed with at all. It's the same in the rare coin market. You can't see everything when it's in the holder. I didn't buy the grade to crack. I did however, grow tired of the only GAI holder in my collection. It was an aestetic thing as stated above. Willie hated the holder. He looked sad.

5) One day I will probably send this in to PSA/SGC. I think it's all there and a TPG can get a really good look at it. Im cool with that.

6) As for my unorthadox cracking method.............. I do have a steady hand. I wasn't that nervous when I did it. It was rather easy. However, after reading all the comments above I'm scared and shaky.. Whew

7) If anyone has further advise for submitting I'm all ears and I would appreciate it! Any good luck chants or anything please send them my way

Thanks for the well wishes. I will post the results good, bad or ugly IF I submit it. I'm in no hurry........

MJ

Dboneesq

MJ ... You may want to try this before sending in Mr. Mays.

Justacommeman

I memerized it. MJ

MBMiller25

Both the Mays and Howe are georgous cards. Let us know how it turns out when you go to resub that Mays. Good Luck

Justacommeman

<< <i>Both the Mays and Howe are georgous cards. Let us know how it turns out when you go to resub that Mays. Good Luck >>



Well it's entombed again. While it's not in the 8/88 holder I would like it to be this is where I am. The head of grading at SGC feels it's right at the 86/88 cusp FWIW. Regardless, this is staying in my personal collection for the time being. MJ

Dboneesq

Man ... that's an AWESOME looking "7.5". I guess the chipping around the black box knocked the hell out of the grade. Too bad.

Justacommeman

Doug that's EXACTLY what they said. Close but no cigar. MJ

ddfamf

Still a beautiful piece for your collection. Congrats!

Downtown1974

Congrats MJ! It looks great in that holder. I love those sgc slabs.