How can I unjam my flan cases?

[PeteXXX]

Stuck together like **** to a blanket!

 

[classic33]

Warm water round the larger one, cold(ice) in the inner.

One expands slightly, the other contracts.

 

[jefmcg]

Best post title ever!

For an answer. No real idea. Some thoughts: soak them in water; soak them in warm water; put them in the freezer; put them in a hot oven; put them on a hot surface (to expand the bottom case); olive oil; lever.

Ugh. You want the larger one to expand a little, and the smaller one to expand less or shrink but without cracking. Eventually I would heat something in the oven (like a tile or a pizza stone) and put them on it and then put ice in the top. May very well crack on or both, but if you have run out of other ideas ....

 

[PeteXXX]

Problem is that they've been put together slightly on the wonk and then had several glass bowls stored on top of them for quite a while.

 

[jefmcg]

Problem is that they've been put together slightly on the wonk and then had several glass bowls stored on top of them for quite a while.

Yeah, got that. Hence "no real idea"

(the people who are asleep now are going to have better suggestions. Best wait for them )

 

[PeteXXX]

Yeah, got that. Hence "no real idea"

(the people who are asleep now are going to have better suggestions. Best wait for them )

How can people sleep when there's problems to solve?!

 

[jefmcg]

How can people sleep when there's problems to solve?!

Yes! and I am with you through the flan crisis. Sure, I "may" have problems of my own to solve, but I am ignoring them until your flan cases are separated.

 

[PeteXXX]

[QUOTE 4899788, member: 76"]Or hit the bottom firmly with a pin hammer, then only make one flan at a time?[/QUOTE]
Or hit the top one and make a larger flan? Hmmmm decisions decisions..

 

[classic33]

Problem is that they've been put together slightly on the wonk and then had several glass bowls stored on top of them for quite a while.

You need the expansion & contraction to seperate the two.

The greater the difference, heat wise, the better your chance of seperating them.

 

[slowmotion]

Use a tile drill to make a hole in the lower dish, put a compressed air line into the hole.

Please wear eye protection.

 

[PeteXXX]

I'm uncertain of the coefficient of expansion of ceramics, but am certain that someone here has the answer.
If it helps, the top and sides are glazed, but the underneath isn't.

 

[classic33]

Use a tile drill to make a hole in the lower dish, put a compressed air line into the hole.

Please wear eye protection.

Compressed air wouldn't work. It'd leak out the side of the patterned dishes. Smooth sides, it might work though.

 

[slowmotion]

Bin them and spend a few happy hours in IKEA. Go on, you know you want to.

 

[slowmotion]

Compressed air wouldn't work. It'd leak out the side of the patterned dishes. Smooth sides, it might work though.

My compressed air line isn't exactly noodle dick. It delivers.

Edit: OK, duct tape to seal the workpiece.

 

[classic33]

I'm uncertain of the coefficient of expansion of ceramics, but am certain that someone here has the answer.
If it helps, the top and sides are glazed, but the underneath isn't.

Expansion/contraction will be minimal, which is why you need to apply opposites at the same time.