On 22 Feb 2005 11:41:13 -0800, "scrooge" > wrote:

>
>I bought a new pepper grinder about a year ago. Its primary appeal was
>its "easy fill" character: the clear plastic top simply unscrews from
>the grinder bottom, so there's a good size hole to dump new peppercorns
>into.
>
>Except that the second or third time I tried to fill it the damn' top
>wouldn't unscrew! I've tried the rubber holder-onners, even tried
>vise-grips (but they're too small to tighten down).
>
>I've also tried soaking the (plastic) screw ring in hot water... no
>help.
>
>At this point I'm reduced to using pre-ground pepper, which EVERYONE
>knows is not a good alternative.
>
>Short of breaking the top off, I'm out of ideas as well as out of
>pepper.
>
>Scrooge
>
>(PS: Obviously any ideas will be welcomed. I do love freshly ground
>pepper.)

Have you tried soaking the *whole* thing in warm, sudsy water? It's
worked for me on certain occasions in the past.