Simple question - I have two unopened proof sets from 1971 and 72 - they arent expensive and I want to open them to place the coins in an album. What is the easiest way to open the plastic cases - they are quite tough... Thanks
Please don't do that. If you do, make sure you use a real good pair of safety glasses. Possibly a construction hard hat also. :smile Just think of how a piece of plastic sticking out of your eye would feel. Vice grips, pliers, etc could make those little pieces of plastic fly all over the place. AND even if you don't go blind, picture yourself stepping on a piece of that someday.
Bilbo, if they are US proof sets. Boil a pot of water, put set in water and boil for about 10 minutes. The plastic will soften and you should be able to pry it open. Traci
No disrepsect intended Traci, but that's absolutely one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. I can only hope you were joking and forgot the smiley. Proof Sets are relatively easy to open. I've opened many with nothing more than my fingernail, but if needed use a knife inserted into the seam and just pry them open.
I don't know about boiling water. If any of it gets into the coins, it could cause some damage. Definately wear safety glasses with the vice grip technique.
I found a pliers and just nipped at the edges until they cracked then pried them open - seemed to work well with minimal shardage...
I open NGC, ANACS and PCGS holders by putting them into an old (clean) sock and then slowing squeezing the holder with the bench mounted vise in my work room until the inevitable CRACK is heard. The sock protects you from shards of flying plastic and also keeps the coin from escaping and rolling under the boiler. The same method could be used with proof sets I suppose.
I agree. Boiling is a very bad idea...first off the heat is not good for the coins. Secondly, who knows what kinds of chemicals will be leached out of the plastic as it softens and will then bathe the coins. The cases are easy to open and boiling is a very bad way to do it.
Gee that sounds almost as great as using a Butane Torch. Has anyone yet thought of using an ARC WELDER? I think someone else suggested dropping from a 20+ story building. :goofer: OF course that was a joke now wasn't it? You have to be carefull since there are always people that may think your serious and try that.
Actually not a bad idea. One small problem would be since you can't see the item, you could accidently go over and scratch some of the coins. If carefull, should work. I'll stick to a saber saw with medium toothed blade.
While you are at it, toss in a bag of rice and you can have dinner while you dry off the coins ....ROFLMFAO !!!!!
My technique is to first place the slab or proof set into a plastic sandwich baggie. I then squeeze the part in a shop vice until it "pops". I repeat the "pops" on another edge until the two halves are separated enough for me to pull the parts open like a clam shell & remove the innards. If the two halves are stubborn, then I may need to help the clam shell open with a screwdriver or other tool. ICG slabs are tough. I recommend either a hack saw or controlled nuclear fusion to open those slabs.
It's the simplest thing in the world, It's the simplest thing in the world, tap the edges all around with something, the handle of a knife works well then find a weak spot, insert a knife just a bit in that spot and pry open (moving down the seam as you go) like an oyster holding the set flat on a clean surface. A broken knife works very well, broken towards the handle - it makes the knife portion stronger to pry with. Tap out the coins if stuck using same knife handle on the back of set on to a clean well managed surface so coins do not hit each other. It's an amazing thing people would need instructions on this I guess but they do - it's probably the engineers that would require the most instructions. Sorry, I could not resist, my bad.
thanks everyone for the lively discussion - just checked in on this post after a week or two thanks again for your suggestions
