How Do I Unstick a Stuck Cobel Decanter Stopper

I posted recently about 2 Heisey Cobel decanters. One of the stoppers comes apart as it should, the other one won't budge. I've tried squirting oil around the inside, running the outer part under hot water, tapping the outer rim with a rubber mallet, and yanked on it, nothing seems to work. I was thinking about putting it in the microwave--not sure why, just frustrated.

If anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it!

Here's what it looks like as a unit and how it's supposed to come apart:

 

Try putting just the stopper in ice for awhile.
I don't think the microwave is a good idea at all.
Dry ice if you can.
It only has to reduce a few thousandths.

 

Heat expands, cold contracts. Definitely try the freezer for a few minutes

 

Alcohol

 

I've had success sitting watching TV with my hand wrapped around the outer portion. After half an hour, try some slow pressure, pulling the two apart. No guarantees.

 

That will make you forget about it.

 

Hi,
I agree with Terry. Pour some alcohol around the stuck top and if it evaporates just add some more. In a an hour or longer it should come off.
greg

 

Thanks, everyone! I'm starting with the alcohol. If that doesn't work, I'll work through the other suggestions. I'll come back and let you know what happens.

 

WD40 works better than alcohol.

 

Would Liquid Wrench work?

 

depends on what's causing the binding. is it just the stopper is jammed or is there a soluble content that has dried. seems like this is likely a jammed stopper. as Tom suggested warming the exterior fitting would cause that piece to expand and release the interior stopper which should be kept colder. If it is bound by soluble content then the release would depend on whether it is water soluble or alcohol, etc.

 

I have had success with a side to side wiggle but it can take a lot of wiggling.. This stopper is likely NOT microwave save safe.

 

I've tried the wiggling but it just annoyed and confused my neighbors....

~
I was thinking that striking around it lightly with a wooden object may work too.

 

Progress report: no success yet. I first tried alcohol, didn't work. Tried wrapping the lower outer portion with a paper towel soaked in nearly boiling water and leaving the alcohol on top, didn't work. Put it in the freezer, tried to loosen it after 30 minutes, then after an hour, didn't work. Turned it upside down, stuck a narrow wooden dowel through the holes and tapped it with a hammer, didn't work. I'm going now to try warming the outside with a hairdryer.

 

I don't believe it's glued in or anything. It may have been jammed in slightly askew. It's hard to determine, but the top appears to sit just slightly leaning to one side. I'm going for the hairdryer option momentarily.

 

The freezer will contract it all not just the stopper.
But, it may work sometimes just because.

 

The area furthest in is therefore the longest.
Perhaps concentrating on tapping it there may help.

 

Hairdryer didn't work. Tried heating it with hairdryer and putting alcohol around the inner sea. Didn't work. Tried the dowel/hammer approach on the part that looks to be further down--nada. Wrapped the bottom in terrycloth and tapped with a rubber hammer--niente. I'm out of patience right now but will try again later.

 

Have you tried turning it upside down in a bowl and icing just the stopper yet?
Wrap the bowl and the stopper in a heavy towel and let it sit for a bit and repeat if necessary.

 

Oops