I was fortunate enough to pull a Rip Card out of one box of 2021 Allen & Ginter last week. I could never leave the inner contents unrevealed, but how to preserve the outer card and still get to the mini inside? Watch and learn!
I've never believed in destroying cards if they are in presentable shape, even if they're 1990 Donruss or something. And with Rip cards, I figure there has to be a way to get the mini out of the middle without tearing up the outside card. These are thick enough that you should be able to slice the edges and keep the outer card whole, right? But how to keep the blade aligned?
So I found that an old Donruss puzzle piece is about half the thickness of a Rip card. This should make a good base.
- Lay both the Rip card and the puzzle card on a flat surface.
- Place a razor blade on the puzzle card so the end only protrudes about half an inch or less. You don't want to cut any farther into the Rip card than you have to.
- Push the Rip card up against the puzzle card.
- Hold down the blade firmly in one hand while guiding the Rip card along the edge - sorta like running a board through a table saw.
- Repeat for the two short edges
This should split the Rip card enough to get to the mini inside.
And your Rip card is still in presentable condition!
I got a metal Manny Machado in mine. (Say that 3x fast). There are apparently only three of each metal mini. It's the Mini Exclusives Extended Metal #386.
Here's a better look at the finish on the metal.
Backs are white.
Anyway, hope that helps you preserve your Rip cards and not slice up your fingers!
I've never gotten a rip card, not surprising because I think I've opened like three packs of A&G ever, and the thought of one always bothered me because I don't like the idea of having to make that choice. This looks like a very good solution!
ReplyDeleteYes. A clean and logical solution, but could be a little risky. Some people are not too smooth with using razer blades/exact knives. I don't know if it is the best solution but if it works WHY NOT? I would think that maybe just slicing one edge of the rip card might work. Say just the bottom edge and maybe the inner mini will come out like a card coming out of a penny sleeve?
ReplyDeleteSince the mini basically sits in a frame, you have to open it up far enough to get it past the edge of the inner frame.
DeleteNice post, and cool Machado!
ReplyDeleteGood work on the cardboard surgery. Too bad it wasn't his teammate Tatis, but still a solid Padre.
ReplyDeletei have a 2021 double rip tatis jr/machado 13/25. no luck trying to sell on ebay... had $400 on it. if i try to sell again and it doesnt sell, should i rip it?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to pull a rip card one day. I'd 100% rip it, but at least now I know that I won't have to completely shred the outer card to see what's inside.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. Never pulled a rip card... but I'll try to remember this information if I ever do.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Congratulations on pulling a rip card!
DeleteHaving never even seen one of those little metal cards, let alone hold one, do they weigh any more than in average mini? Or in other words, could you tell that there was something other than a regular mini inside the outer card?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the rip card and the successful first-time surgery!
ReplyDelete