Okay Joe, that makes sense. For some odd reason I was picturing it stuck just on one end and not going through the other end. That is why I mentioned putting the dowel in the one end.

Hi Micron

I've never had a stuck tapered mandrel!!! I wonder if this person is using a cylindrical mandrel in the tapered head?

Nope, I always use a tapered mandrel for the headjoints.

Otherwise, just hold the mandrel in the vise, grab the head with hand or hands, and "screw" it off...(snip)...

This is what I always do. I never had a stuck mandrel before either. The mandrel has finally been dislogded yesterday after I asked a strong am to wack it on a bench anvil. Before that he did try unscrewing it with his bare hands, then with the help of rubber. It would just not move. We then heated the flute, kept the mandrel cool. Didn't work either.

I think the problem arose because of a combination of factors; me not having strong arms and hands (I am a woman), me fearing to damage the headjoint and lip plate, glue residue in the headjoint, and the fact the headjoint is silver thus softer than what I am used too (student flutes) so I pushed it in the mandrel with way too much force.

After soaking in all those solvents, which probably achieve absolutely nothing...

The solvents were used at first for the stuck cork and it is the solvent that melted the glue away and let me push the cork out. This one was really stuck in there with glue! (I still can't imagine how somebody could have done somethign silly like that!)

I am so happy this silly problem of mine is behind. Today the headjoint is all set-up with its new cork and new undented shiny wall. This is the satisfying part of this hobby!

Dominique

<Added>

"...after I asked a strong am to wack it"

should read:

"...after I asked a strong MAN to wack it"

I thought it might be that just not enough force was used...

Well it's out...good!

Joe B