Slab cracking

Collecting
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I ventured into the slab cracking thread, and loved what I saw, but I have some questions:

Do you have any tips on cracking slabs? It seems like a lot of us favor the top right corner? Sometimes it’s cut straight across the numbers though - does the angle depend on the grading company?

Also, what tools do not work to crack them open?

I have a PSA 8.5 German Alakazam that I’m on the fence with. I guess we’ll see how things develop. But waiting on a PSA 4 Gyarados and Charizard and I feel like those guys are too powerful to be cased up.

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Here’s what I use:

  • Crescent Tools Crescent Z5428CG 8" Z2 Dual Material Diagonal Cutting Pliers

  • Flathead screwdriver

Here’s what I do:

  • Snip both top corners off
  • Snip the top edge off if you’re working with some newer PSA slabs especially because there is more flex in them
  • Pry the slabs apart with the flathead screwdriver
  • When cracking slabs, try to do it inside of a bag to catch the plastic shrapnel (eye protection is a benefit)

My observations by company:

  • BGS slabs are the most time-consuming because the materials are thick
  • Old CGC slabs are extremely easy to pop apart with one corner cut off
  • Newer CGC slabs require both corners and sometimes the top edge
  • Old PSA slabs are easy to pop apart with two corners cut off
  • Newer PSA slabs are really hard to pry apart because the material is more malleable - they have a higher rate of fracturing on the front surface, which can lead to cards getting scratched or indented if you’re not careful
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~90% of people are right-handed :hand_with_fingers_splayed:

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I prefer using Lineman Pliers over regular Cutting Pliers. The latter works, but it’s not as comfortable to use in my experience.

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Nothing beats Bolt cutters. There is no ricochets, doesnt hurt your wrist or hands, and is one smooth slow motion.

Slice the top two corners, wiggle a flathead screw driver in there and rotate to op open, easy.

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New psa slabs i get a chisel and break the outer rim off of the slab.
It takes a while, but after damaging a card, i dont muck around with them anymore

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Is the benefit that the chisel doesn’t bend the case?

Not to scare myself but to prepare myself: it would also be helpful to understand any one-off cases of accidental destruction. And alongside that, id enjoyed reading some of the last posts in the slab cracking thread so if anyone has anything they want to say about the psychology or enjoyment of this that is also cool and would be appreciated as well, I’m sure by not only myself.

In my head I visualize that possibly cutting too far off the corner would bend the case most? Or do I want to cut off as little as possible?

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I believe you want to cut off past the points in the slab where the two pieces of plastic are sealed together. I watched a few videos regarding cracking new slabs and the most successful ones cut all the way around the edges, not just the two top corners, before trying to pry it open. It seems like the main source of damaging the card is trying to retrieve it too early in the process, leading to plastic shattering across the card or just scratching/denting while retrieving it.

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@rtas mentioned to me once he prefers to use an awl in lieu of a flathead driver. I think it’s a good way to do it

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Chiseling the outside off makes it that the sonic welded section it exposed so that i can just pull it apart.
It is barbaric af, but i damaged a psa9 unlimited wcp card trying the other way on a new slab, and in turn damaged my soul

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when in doubt, drill it out

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Yup! End cutting pliers to cut off corners or the entire edge on newer slabs and an awl to pry it open. I just feel more precision with the awl.

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I prefer to avoid cutting my fingers while doing it, but some include the manicure as a bonus.

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I’ve gone pretty deep into the hobby in just a matter of days so it’s helpful to know the different prices one would pay or not pay

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solid indeed, saw this on discord

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Jesus C, that thing would do anything to pop out