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 Replies: 22 / Views: 5,604 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
I have found letting the kids play with the slab worked pretty well.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
My suggestion is to either us a Dremel or a saber saw with average teeth. The Dremel is basically great if a variable speed type. The excessive speed on others will simply melt the plastic back together. Pliers, metal cutters, squeezing in vise all work also, but you really MUST remember to wear safety glasses. One small plastic piece in your eyes will make this a lousy Christmas and a still horrible New Year.
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not sure if that person has the proper supervision in the mental hospital he may be in. 1. That is really taking a chance on the plastic scratching the coin at the location. 2. Again, one small piece of platic in his eye would stop this process. 3. Should always save those little stickers that say what the coin is or in this case WAS. 4. Note the excessive finger handling of that coin by that idiot. Now finger prints all over those coins. 5. Also, remember that there are now sharp edged pieces of platic in your garbage can. And the same with that cloth used to break out the coins. This is the problem with those types of web sites. Way to many believe them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
Actually Carl, I use this method and have not had a problem, yet.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Actually Carl, I use this method and have not had a problem, yet.
Old saying: There is first time for everything. Or better to be safe than sorry. As I said though, if you scratch the coins doing that, now what? One small piece of plastic in your eye, and then too, now what? All those little peices of plastic in that cloth, garbage can, etc are a little sharp thing looking for someone to stick. There are those that do all kinds of things with slabs and the hospitals welcome the buisness. And why not attempt to lower the quality of your coins with scratches. That just makes all mine worth more.  ratman4762: I've seen that one before and I still stare in horror every time I see it. I sure wonder how many people see stuff like that and think it's for real and then try it. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1534 Posts |
I finally tried to crack two PCGS slabs. I laid a small towel down, put on safety goggles, and got to work. I tried to use the pliers I had in my original post, but after that didn't work, I got annoyed and hacked at it with hammers.  Probably a bad idea, but it worked, and the slab popped open easily, with no damage to the coin. Next time I'll be more careful, but I'm happy I cracked them out. |
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Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Believe it or not, I use a hack saw if I ever need to remove a coin from a slab. I cut up toward the paper insert, on each side, until it actually get to the insert. Be sure you are cutting at the same place on each side. Then I care fully line the saw up with each cut and I cut the front and then the back so the cut lines up all the way around. Eventually I get the whole top off. Then I use a flathead screwdriver and gently pry each side until the seam splits on each side and I remove the front. Then the coin comes right out with the rubber insert, or whatever the grading service uses to hold the hold inside.
Haven't lost or damaged anything yet!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
A bolt cutter works well too.
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Valued Member
United States
272 Posts |
I have seen the bolt cutter video on YouTube also. Looks like it works pretty good, although I have desire to crack any of my slabs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Thanks to all that posted. I'll try the pliers again next time, and the hammer seemed to work pretty well.  Oops, I forgot to post the remains of the slab. Here it is:  |
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Moderator
 United States
188560 Posts |
Freedom!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Believe it or not, I use a hack saw if I ever need to remove a coin from a slab. I cut up toward the paper insert, on each side, until it actually get to the insert. Be sure you are cutting at the same place on each side. Then I care fully line the saw up with each cut and I cut the front and then the back so the cut lines up all the way around. Eventually I get the whole top off. Then I use a flathead screwdriver and gently pry each side until the seam splits on each side and I remove the front. Then the coin comes right out with the rubber insert, or whatever the grading service uses to hold the hold inside.
The use of any saw blade is so much smarter than anything that creates small fragments of platic all over the place. As I keep saying all it takes is one small fragment in the eye and that is the end of that process. Also, the end of an eye. Thy not just throw a slab off a tall building? Melt the plastic off with a torch? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
hacksaw. wear safety glasses.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 5,604 |
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First Page
Posted 12/24/2009 09:32 am
