Cracking open a CGC case? 0

[FSF]

So I got the book extricated from the outer shell.  But now I'm left with a semi-rigid mylar thingy that could get real ugly if I try to pry open any further.  Best I can think is to try and scissor the top edge.  Any better ideas?

[ADAMANTIUM]

2 minutes ago, FSF said:

So I got the book extricated from the outer shell.  But now I'm left with a semi-rigid mylar thingy that could get real ugly if I try to pry open any further.  Best I can think is to try and scissor the top edge.  Any better ideas?

there are a couple of ideas in this thread, but yes i think scissors...

 

[ADAMANTIUM]

there are a couple of videos...

Edited September 2, 2019 by ADAMANTIUM

[porcupine48]

27 minutes ago, FSF said:

So I got the book extricated from the outer shell.  But now I'm left with a semi-rigid mylar thingy that could get real ugly if I try to pry open any further.  Best I can think is to try and scissor the top edge.  Any better ideas?

Careful!I've used a scalpel,because the plastic was SO close to the book.Nice hard surface,flat,and cut on three sides to open out like a bread box.It was really in there.

[comicquant]

15 minutes ago, porcupine48 said:

Careful!I've used a scalpel,because the plastic was SO close to the book.Nice hard surface,flat,and cut on three sides to open out like a bread box.It was really in there.

This is highly recommended (cutting all 3 sides).  If you don’t you can easily tear the book on the plastic.  Also, I’ve never used scissors.  I’ve always used a scalpel with a metal ruler as a guide.

[lizards2]

I cut the top off the inner well, then tamp the book down to the spine side, then carefully cut the whole open edge side away, then carefully pull the book out, while spreading the flaps .  Never have messed with cutting away the spine side. I use a sharp pair of rigid scissors.

I have not, to my knowledge, damaged a book yet.  Probably done about 200 + books.  Maybe 300 +.  I've got about 10-15 new victims tomorrow.  

[FSF]

Thanks for the ideas.

[RockMyAmadeus]

24 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

I cut the top off the inner well, then tamp the book down to the spine side, then carefully cut the whole open edge side away, then carefully pull the book out, while spreading the flaps .  Never have messed with cutting away the spine side. I use a sharp pair of rigid scissors.

I have not, to my knowledge, damaged a book yet.  Probably done about 200 + books.  Maybe 300 +.  I've got about 10-15 new victims tomorrow.  

This is exactly what I do. I'm up to about 500 by now.

Watch out when the heat seal is close to the book!

[kav]

Bah I just rip with my teeth then yank the book out.

[lizards2]

4 minutes ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

30 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

I cut the top off the inner well, then tamp the book down to the spine side, then carefully cut the whole open edge side away, then carefully pull the book out, while spreading the flaps .  Never have messed with cutting away the spine side. I use a sharp pair of rigid scissors.

I have not, to my knowledge, damaged a book yet.  Probably done about 200 + books.  Maybe 300 +.  I've got about 10-15 new victims tomorrow.  

This is exactly what I do. I'm up to about 500 by now.

Watch out when the heat seal is close to the book!

Yup - three beer maximum, then it's time to wait for tomorrow!!!

[James J Johnson]

2 minutes ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

This is exactly what I do. I'm up to about 500 by now.

Watch out when the heat seal is close to the book!

There's usually some play to move the book's edge away from the seal, creating a larger gutter/margin to cut than when the edge is butted up against it. Scissors in general, anything cutting with a shearing motion are not advisable for these close cuts as the actual cutting of the plastic very close to the where the book rests will twist/warp/deform the book with the twisting pressure of the shearing motion. Like some have stated, a very sharp (fresh) blade and straight edge are best.

[James J Johnson]

5 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

Yarp - tardd in the house!

Geek in the house, more like it. That's how the geeks extricate the book from the well, tearing through the well and everything else with their teeth, right before they bite the head off the chicken to complete the sacrificial phase of the de-slabbing ritual.

Edited September 2, 2019 by James J Johnson

[RockMyAmadeus]

2 minutes ago, James J Johnson said:

Scissors in general, anything cutting with a shearing motion are not advisable for these close cuts as the actual cutting of the plastic very close to the where the book rests will twist/warp/deform the book with the twisting pressure of the shearing motion. Like some have stated, a very sharp (fresh) blade and straight edge are best.

Disagree completely.

I've watched people lose control of blades and cut the book...multiple times. If you have sharp scissors and cut very small sections at a time, the shearing motion doesn't bother the book.  I've yet to harm any book this way.

[lizards2]

1 minute ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

6 minutes ago, James J Johnson said:

Scissors in general, anything cutting with a shearing motion are not advisable for these close cuts as the actual cutting of the plastic very close to the where the book rests will twist/warp/deform the book with the twisting pressure of the shearing motion. Like some have stated, a very sharp (fresh) blade and straight edge are best.

Disagree completely.

I've watched people lose control of blades and cut the book...multiple times. If you have sharp scissors and cut very small sections at a time, the shearing motion doesn't bother the book.  I've yet to harm any book this way.

I would agree.  I can control scissors completely, but straight razors?  Count me out.  Maybe it is what you are comfortable with, but it is scissors for me.

Ever since my wife had me fixed.  

[porcupine48]

4 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

I would agree.  I can control scissors completely, but straight razors?  Count me out.  Maybe it is what you are comfortable with, but it is scissors for me.

Ever since my wife had me fixed.  

[James J Johnson]

11 minutes ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

Disagree completely.

I've watched people lose control of blades and cut the book...multiple times. If you have sharp scissors and cut very small sections at a time, the shearing motion doesn't bother the book.  I've yet to harm any book this way.

Of course you disagree. No surprise there. Maybe if whoever you saw sliding the straight edge all over the well had exerted a little downward pressure on the straight edge, they wouldn't have misplaced their cut. When you pick up tools, a slight bit of mental awareness, manual dexterity, and control might be advisable so as to not louse something up that shouldn't require much effort at all. .

Edited September 2, 2019 by James J Johnson

[James J Johnson]

10 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

I would agree.  I can control scissors completely, but straight razors?  Count me out.  Maybe it is what you are comfortable with, but it is scissors for me.

Ever since my wife had me fixed.  

A box cutter type apparatus, a handle that holds a blade is extremely sturdy in the hand, unless the blade isn't loaded correctly or the handle is broken.

[James J Johnson]

15 minutes ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

Disagree completely.

I've watched people lose control of blades and cut the book...multiple times. If you have sharp scissors and cut very small sections at a time, the shearing motion doesn't bother the book.  I've yet to harm any book this way.

is this at a meeting of a slab crackers club? With members who have never picked up tools before? Do they meet regularly?

[lizards2]

3 minutes ago, James J Johnson said:

23 minutes ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

Disagree completely.

I've watched people lose control of blades and cut the book...multiple times. If you have sharp scissors and cut very small sections at a time, the shearing motion doesn't bother the book.  I've yet to harm any book this way.

is this at a meeting of a slab crackers club? With members who have never picked up tools before? Do they meet regularly?

yeah - we weren't invited to the Known Tools club.  

[Cliff R.]

I've never cracked a slab, but if @lizards2 can do it after having 3 beers, how hard can it be?