Give your pickle fork a rest

This comment is true. Was not expecting the loud bang and flying parts.

I got one out without the dramatics: Got the separator tool pretty tight, then a nice tap on the ball joint with a hammer. Came out relatively gently.

The other was gnarly.
Yes, the tool could seriously hurt you if you are not careful and prepared. But that’s not a good reason to not use one.

A pickle fork is so cave man and smacking your hands with the hammer sucks as well.