As you all know, I did receive a copy of the [freezing] method I asked
for last week.  On the weekend, I decided to give it a go.  I followed
the steps as accurately as possible, bearing in mind that the
expression boxes we have over here are usually different to the US
version.

After the third blow with the hammer, the box did pop open as said.
The method therefore works but the box got quite substantially damaged
in the process.  (Nothing I can't fix).  In my case, the glue was
stronger than the wood in almost all places and the wood splintered
apart just above and below the glue line.  Also, the parts I knocked
on cracked that part of the box right through, and the driving block
left a rather deep impression.  Well, practice makes perfect and I have
another box coming next week or so.

Maybe some of the more experienced users of this method can advice me
if I maybe hit too hard or something.  Maybe the surface I rested it on
(4 layers of towels) was too soft?

Over all, the damage is about as bad as when I use the knife method but
it _is_ a lot quicker!  Excluding the time it took to make space in the
wife's freezer for the box, it took about two minutes to open the box.
Any opinions?

Regards,

Bernt Damm
Cape Town