How would you improve slab boxes? aka another project for my 3D printer

Not a bad idea. I don’t have my slabs in plastic sleeves, though I suppose I could use some of the slab-sized ziplock poly bags I have (just dunno if I have enough).

So far I haven’t done that, and the slabs are naked in the divider-less boxes. When they’re in the safe deposit drawers. But they don’t get moved around much, because the boxes only come out of safe deposit a couple times a year and don’t get moved around much.

When I do travel with my coins, I have two aluminum 100-slab briefcases with carrying handles and foam dividers.

 

My travel briefcases are similar to that, except they have carrying handles and foam dividers (notches) between each slab slot. They will fit any standard sized slab (even the thick PCGS/NGC, because the foam notches “give” a little bit). Old small ANACS would be loose in there. But I no longer own any of those anyway.

 

If those are the same height and width as a standard slab (only a bit thicker), then yes, I think they should fit, albeit pretty snugly. I have a couple of thick PCGS slabs that go into those carry cases with the foam notches. Gotta push ‘em down rather firmly at first, but they go in OK.

Edit: oh, wait- you showed a pic of a five-ounce coin. That’s more than just a thick slab- it’s an oversized slab. Oversized won’t fit, because… well… they’re oversized. But there are some PCGS slabs with the usual dimensions- normal height and width, but extra thickness. Those will fit.

 

I agree with all your points 100%, those are the major downsides of any slab holder without individual dividers/slots for each slab.

 

I have to do the shuffle / reorder game every so often when I add a new "type" to my 8080 type set or buy new coins. I usually have a "temp" 20 coin slab box for new purchases that I use as a holding tank, and then when I have 3-5 new coins, or a couple of new types added to my set goal, I do the master reordering and reorganizing of the 3 x 50 coin coin slab boxes. I would say I do this 1-2 times per year max. I actually usually enlist the help of my wife, as she reads and confirms the coin for each slot and I then make the move. (basically the only time she is involved in my coin hobby)

Sort of a pain, but sort of fun too. Its means I found a few new "keeper" coins for the collection.

 

I do this EXACT thing.

Its scary / cool how many similar in ways that you and I collect and approach parts of the hobby.

 

This sounds like a good idea until you encounter the CACG slab boxes. Darn thing is a royal pain to open, even when you do it using the approved method squeezing in a specific spot. It just becomes a fight, partially due to the height of slab box and sort of how awkward it is in the hand. If I were a dealer or needed to open slab boxes regular, I certainly would not want to fight it every time.

Well sealing and easy to open? That I can fully support, if such a thing were to exist.

 

I use the same / similar case that holds 50 coins each as my primary slab box.

I am able to jam all slab types into the foam dividers, including CACG and NGC fatty holders without needing to kitty corner them. Helps that I most have PCGS slabs, so normally in my collection there are not multiple NGC fattys in a row.

These are the ONLY slab boxes I have found that are commercially produced, readily available, and hold ALL slab types I have tried and own including old and new PCGS slabs, all generations of NGC slabs, and even CACG slabs. (The possible exception being PCGS "rattlers" as they are both thin and narrow). The foam allows for holding thicker and thinner slabs (within reason) without them sloshing around like hard plastic.

 

Great post and a worthy project, not sure how I missed in back in January.

I do desire a universal plastic slab box that would fit everything while not being a height/ length monster and hard to open like the CACG slab boxes. I believe one of the original goals of the CACG slab box was to be the "one size fits all" but in reality I have never seen one (ever) in a dealer inventory. The other downside of the CACG box is how loud it gets with all the thinner slabs sloshing around due to extra thickness each section is.

I do have some suggestions and observations, I am glad to share in the hopes they help you in your pursuit. This is from a collectors point of view (not dealer).

• What are the biggest issues with today's designs, and how are you addressing them now?

No plastic slab box I own holds all the common slab types without serious drawbacks. I get around this by using the aluminum slab boxes with foam dividers. Example:

• Ideally, how many slabs should a box hold to best meet your needs?

20,25, and 50 count slab boxes all make sense to me. Smaller than 20 seems silly, and bigger than 50 seems unwieldy for general use.

• Would you want your boxes to be personalized, like with your company name or name?

I personally don't have interest in this, but I can see some people loving it. I like to just use white labels to number each box, and sometimes a small description like "cents through 25C" Since these change, I like to make the writing something I can replace (like a sticky label)

• Interested in having me ship out a prototype for you to test out?

yes, I am willing to be a guinea pig.

 

Looks like I missed the boat! That's what I get for being 4 months late to the party.

I am going to mention one key thing that I don't believe anyone in the slab box game has solved. It's something many of us do, and @lordmarcovan mentioned it. Storing coins inside slab boxes, and those inside a bank Safe Deposit Box.

Too many boxes are slightly too wide, and then you downsize the slab box, and you waste tons of box real-estate you are paying for.

Since MANY banks use the same standard size "large" box, which is dimensionally 10x10 inches (height & width) by 20-21 inch length, and many collectors store coins in said 10x10, it seems to me more boxes would "right-size" their dimensions for such as space.

From my own measurements, across multiple banks, 10x10 SDB seem to have around W 9.5" x H 9.25 interior useable space. You need to accommodate a hand sliding down each side and grabbling the slab box, so assuming 1 inch on each side, max external coin storage box dimensions would be like 7.5" x 9.0" and then the length would be between 15" long to 18". Reason I say 18" is that most 10x10 SDB lids are only 50-75% of the length (it folds up but does not complete come off). I know 15" fit great but I think likely 18" would work nice too with room to drop it in at an angle. More than 18" I think there could be problems.

So if we say exterior dimension are: width = 7.5 inches, height = 4.5 inches, length = 18 inches. You then stack 2 of these units into a single 10x10 SBD.

No idea how many slots you can fit into these dimensions, but likely a lot. My current collection needs of 130 coins (~150 when complete). In the slab storage boxes I prefer means I need two paid 10x10 SDB! Not so much the cost, but getting in and out of 2 SDB every time I go is a royal pain for me and the bankers!

I am thinking a 3d printed box utilizing similar dimensions to the above, would get a lot more coins into a single SDB.