What Is The Best Way To "Crack Open" A Slab?

I was trying to sell or trade an ICG coin and a PCGS one, having upgraded to better coins, and dealers etc. wouldn't even look at the coin or make me an offer on the ICG one at all - while they all at least offered on the PCGS one. It seems the "buy the coin not the slab" mantra only comes from one side of the counter!

I've only cracked 2 coins out... one an icg, one a pcgs. They were the same IMO, here is what I did:

1- hold the slab all the way across and just above one side of the coin with a large pair of channelock pliers...12" or bigger if you have them. These big pliers shield the coin from any stress while cracking.
2- take smaller pliers, I just used plain slipjoint ones, and crack away bits of the plastic on the side of the big pliers away from the coin. Be sure to crack away so no plastic flies at you...wear safety glasses.
3- once you get that side off, move the big pliers to shield another side of the coin 90 degrees around to one side & then continue to crack bits away with the small pliers.
4- once you get those 2 sides off, I was able to let the coin slide out without damage. The ICG had a little rubber insert that held the coin in.

It is pretty easy really...

jbuck's method does sound safer than mine...
Note that while both of my coins were $700+ coins, they were gold and almost all of the value was due to the gold content. If I had a coin with well over $100 of numismatic value, I guess I may take the time to dremel instead of my pliers method...just in case.

I've had success with bolt cutters, but the dremmel option is probably better.

As for ICG, I think it depends what kind of coin you are talking about. I think they are fine for older coins in circulated grades, but they don't fare as well with moderns or top grades. For example, I recently had an ICG 1959 Lincoln MS67RD. The coin had lots of marks and probably would not have made MS65RD at NGC or PCGS. It sold for $8 on ebay. I also had an ICG 1973-D Lincoln MS67RD. It was a much nicer coin and it could have made MS66RD at PCGS or NGC. It sold for $4.25 on ebay.

On the other hand, I recently had a very nice ICG MS63 Walking Liberty half dollar that I thought was undergraded; however, I would be hesitant to spend big money on an ICG MS65 or MS66 Walker.

Thanks for all the input. I'm not exactly Bob Villa when it comes to having power tools. I was chatting with a dealer who has an amazing collection of coins at the coin show Saturday and he told me he'd cracked open at least 4,000 slabs to-date and never damaged a coin. He said he takes a hammer and gives the bottom center a good whack then less hard whacks on each side and almost all slabs open that way for him - no matter the TPG.

It took me quite a few whacks, as I was still worried about damaging the coin but it did work. I have an NGC certified coin on the way that I'll also be cracking out!

Though I did buy a coin from that dealer, I am leary of dealing with him now a bit. Mainly because he MOSTLY deals in raw coins and hearing that he has cracked that many out my "take" is that it is in order to re-grade/label them at a higher grade to re-sell. Kind of the antithesis of those that "sell the plastic". I got a decent deal on the one I bought but I think he probably overgrades and he is one that sticks pretty strictly to the grey sheet ASK price based on his grades. He does have loads of MS65+ gems in many coin types though! Most are out of my budget range anyway.

Thanks again!

I just use the Hammer / towel method.

I like buying ICG coins. I usually get good deals on nice coins because every discounts them so heavily. I've seen a few ICG slabs that are spot on, but a few that were not even close.

Buy the coin not the holder, amirite?

You are right.