Taking Coins Out Of Slabs

It's not hard to do.Just use good judgment and stay away from the coin itself.Use anything that will cut all the way though the slab,dikes,band saw ,screwdriver,whatever.It will seperate.Just do it over a towel,where it can't roll off a table onto the floor....
Cheers,Brewzz

A Butane torch will simply melt all the plastic off the coin. Of course there will be a lot of dripping of plastic so do it over a table so the floor doesen't get all messed up.
If you use a Dremel type tool it should be the type with a variable speed control. Going through plastic at high speeds will usually make the plastic hot and remelt back together. Using pliers, hammers, etc are dangerous due to flying pieces of plastic and then too, those little pieces all over the place to clean up. Sticking a screw driver into one could also slip and hit the coin. Not good for coins you know.
I've opened many of them safely and with no pieces flying around. I use a variable speed saber saw with a medium toothed blade. To many teeth, metal cutting blade, will basically remelt the plastic similar to high speeds. Large toothed blades, Wood cutters, will do more in shattering than cutting. With the proper blade you can simply cut off all edges and no problems.
A Dremel type tool, Sears also has a similar one, is OK but really should be a variable speed one. There are several types of blades made for them in cutting. One looks like a regular circular saw blade. Those usually will get blocked up with plastic fast. There are circular blades made as if they were for cutting cement. Looks like a sanding disc but really hard. Those will work the best but those too usually will accumulate plastic. Those too should be used to cut off all edges.
DO NOT STICK SCREWDRIVERS OR OTHER TOOLS INBETWEEN TO OPEN.
Of course you could just drop them from tall buildings. If they hit edgewise, will open easily.

I use a bench vise to open slab. I put a corner of the slab in the vise and tighten until I hear a crack. Then I go to the next corner. I keep doing this until I am able to open up the slab. It's worked well for me.

My advice is buy inexpensive coins in all the TPG holders and experiment. Sometimes, as in the case of NGC or PCI (DGS) graded coins, a vise is fine. PCGS could be a little tougher. Most of all, be careful!

I have to admit I was skeptical but I tried opening a slab like in the video and it works like a charm.

ianmprice, I think I like your defibrillator method. I'll have to give that a try!

Sometimes the grading service provides a grade that is not accurate from the owners point of view - and grading changes over time as well. Some coins come back not graded, due to cleaning issues, and those may be removed especially if the owner does not agree as to the determination. Many collectors use albums, and have specified we break coins out of slabs before selling to them. We have never had the plastic damage the coin. It's similar to breaking up proof sets, you just have to be careful. Hope that helps.

Note on that video the uage of bolt cutters it is not mentioned how that cracking in the middle of the coin could have made a really nice mark on the coin. The worst part of using vise grips, bolt cutters, pliers, etc is all it takes is one small flying piece of plastic into your eyes and guess what. The people that suggested that will not take you to the hospital. Nor will they send you flowers at the hospital. Not even a get well card. So then it's up to you to now figure out how to see the world with one eye due to stupid methods of opening a slab.
If you must open one, use a Dremel type tool. Be safe, not sorry.