DC, I don't think it is a good idea using the hg - you need very high temp to soften the epoxi (burning the back or the belly is not avoidable). I have several times used the hg to tear off td sleeves for correcing the position, but here the heat got applied to the metal not to the wood.
So, I see two ways: Mechanically like cutting, splitting, ....
or using a microwave (big industrial ones)
Good luck