removing shanks from butts

[ed miller]

List,

I am about to rebuild a set of hammer butts, and put in new shanks and 
hammers. However, I can't get these pesky shanks out of the butts. I have 
done everything I've learned..... breaking away the collar, soaking the 
shank/butt joint with wallpaper remover, even applying some steam to help 
loosen the glue (it is hot hide glue).

I've only tried it on shanks that have hammers already broken off. So I've 
been using a shank clamp as the end point for the shank/butt remover to push 
against. The clamp keeps sliding up the shank before the shank/butt joint 
will break loose (and I've tightened it really hard, to the point where the 
shank is pretty smooshed).

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ed

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