Opening action figures

[Leonardo19]

Does anyone have a good technique for opening TMNT action figures? I want to display my figures loose but also keep the packages as mint as possible. It seems everytime I open a figure I tear the cardback of the package horribly.

Thanks

[TheCloneRanger]

Pocket knife around the edge of the plastic...you're left with what is actually glued to the cardboard, but once you get good enough at it, it is completely smooth.

[OA]

Yea, I tear chunks off all the time even though Im tryin gto keep as much of it intact as possible...good suggestion...

[E-money]

Another option is to possibly take a sharp rzor edge or blade and lightly slice along the outside edge of the bubble in order to keep the tearing of the paper to a minimal.

Or maybe try the old steam/tea kettle opening mail trick, heheh.

-Errol

[TheCloneRanger]

Originally Posted by E-money

Another option is to possibly take a sharp rzor edge or blade and lightly slice along the outside edge of the bubble in order to keep the tearing of the paper to a minimal.

Or maybe try the old steam/tea kettle opening mail trick, heheh.

-Errol

I thought of that...but I'm pretty sure the moisture would make the cardboard seperate, wouldn't it? I've never tried it to find out.

[tmntman]

I use either a pocket knife, box cutter or utility knife. You can place the blade flush to card and go around the edge of where the bubble first extends from the card. This allows the card to remain undamaged, though it will still have a ring of plastic from where the bubble was glued. But I save the cards and toss the plastic bubbles and trays.

Another version of this trick for people who really want to save all of the packaging is to cut along the sides and bottom of the bubble where it meets the card, but leave the top untouched. This way you can remove all the parts and put them back later.

[Leonardo19]

Thanks for all the advise guys. I will definetly give these techniques a try.

[OA]

Or you can just rip into and say the hell with it....

[BigApple3AM]

Or buy 2 of each. I tried to using steam to loosen the glue, it does work but only to a certain extent. It'd be less riskier to just use a knife around the edges which is what I usually do when I'm not lazy.

[TheShowstoppa]

I was going to say the exact same thing Ectocooler did... except, I was going to say, Don't be a cheap ass and buy them two at a time! That's what I did!

[GK Punk]

Originally Posted by TheShowstoppa

I was going to say the exact same thing Ectocooler did... except, I was going to say, Don't be a cheap ass and buy them two at a time! That's what I did!

That's usually what I do. I'm about to go back and buy all the Winx Club dolls a second time, and I've done that for most of the TMNT toys I've bought from the new series.

'cept Karai and Usagi, I haven't found seconds of them yet.

....Oooooh but when i do.... when I do....

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

If you look at my posts in the collection photos thread, you'll see that I use the pocket knife method and then slide the tray back under the bubble afterwards. Those boxes in my closet are ALL empty.