Crack Out

FilamCoins · November 1, 2005 11:39PM

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but how does one crack out a coin from a slab without damaging the coin? Have 2 or 3 lovely NZ and Fiji pieces that I'd like to see in my date set folder. Many thanks!

gxseries · November 2, 2005 12:00AM

Heard a hammer would be suitable...

<- Like the one in my avatar

Not too sure though, I heard some use kitchen cleavers to crack them up but I know there are some who did crack slabs before.

Preussen · November 2, 2005 12:02AM

It’s not as difficult as it might seem, but opinions and methods vary. I’ve placed them on edge on the garage floor and tapped with a hammer to split the seam, and I’ve also squeezed in a vise to do same (cover with a cloth to protect from potential flying plastic). Others have mentioned using pliers to crush the edges, snips to cut edges, dremel tools to cut the seams, etc. Just be careful & take it easy. – Preussen

3Mark · November 2, 2005 12:10AM

<< <i>It’s not as difficult as it might seem, but opinions and methods vary. I’ve placed them on edge on the garage floor and tapped with a hammer to split the seam, and I’ve also squeezed in a vise to do same (cover with a cloth to protect from potential flying plastic). Others have mentioned using pliers to crush the edges, snips to cut edges, dremel tools to cut the seams, etc. Just be careful & take it easy. – Preussen >>

Preussen:

I like the vise best, but I have heard of using a power saw also.-3Mark

Millertime · November 2, 2005 12:29AM

<< <i>It’s not as difficult as it might seem, but opinions and methods vary. I’ve placed them on edge on the garage floor and tapped with a hammer to split the seam, and I’ve also squeezed in a vise to do same (cover with a cloth to protect from potential flying plastic). Others have mentioned using pliers to crush the edges, snips to cut edges, dremel tools to cut the seams, etc. Just be careful & take it easy. – Preussen >>

The hammer is the method I used. Cover the slab completely with a towel, lay it on it's edge and give it a couple of good smacks. Hit it closer the middle of the slab or the corners can break off instead of the slab cracking open. I've managed to get the slabs open with 2 good smacks.

Millertime

drjules · November 2, 2005 1:44AM

I recently cracked my first slabs (PCGS). So here are a few tips

1. Work in a safe area, garage is good, and wear safety goggles and gloves. Bits of slab that fly off (and they really fly) are sharp
2. Working under a towel or a newspaper is good but I found it better just to hold the slab in a reasonably sized cardboard box, that way you can see what you are doing and the shards just hit the sides of the box.
3. Large snips work very nicely for taking off the edges of the slab, just work down the sides and across the lower border and the slab opens up like an oyster shell.
4. I didn't try the vice method but that sounds like an all or nothing job, one more turn and a big snap. It is popular from what I hear though
5. By the third slab I could have one open in less than a minute
6. Remember to smile - you are freeing the coin from its tomb!

Dr J

Bailathacl · November 2, 2005 1:46AM

Some wag once said that if you put an ACG slab near a polygraph, the coin will jump out of the slab on its own....

ccrdragon · November 2, 2005 1:49AM

I have used a vice, a hammer, pliers and a band saw. The band saw is the most efficient and has the least chance of damaging the coin in the process and it creates less mess than the other methods (it also works on all slabs - the vice and the hammer never worked for me on SEGS slabs because the plastic is too soft to crack decently).

ajaan · November 2, 2005 2:00AM

I once heard lordmarcovan placed the slab between two porch floor boards and then kick the slab to split it open. It worked on the PCI slabbed $20 gold piece.

1jester · November 2, 2005 3:11AM

Where's Cosmic with his "Front for the Liberation of Slabbed Coins" how-to manual??

nicholasz219 · November 2, 2005 11:20AM

I'd like to officially nominate the vise method as the "Joe Pesci Method". Any Goodfellas reference should make us more cool.

Nick

sellsatan · November 9, 2005 5:50PM

Crack Out

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