How to I get my pipes un-stuck?

Pipe joints are almost always stuck because of moisture issues.  I'd suggest that the first line of "fixing the problem always involve getting rid of the excess moisture.  In the larger view, however, there are  three approaches to this problem - shrink/swell, press/pull and twist/torque.

SHRINK/SWELL

The premise here is that the reason that something is stuck is that the hemp has swollen.  Sometimes just waiting a couple days (without playing) will resolve the issue as the moisture will evaporate.  You can accelerate drying out the hemp by placing the affected part in a warm place, an oven at 150 F, in the hot sun, or using a hair dryer.  I would ONLY apply heat as a last resort. Beware rapid heating as you can get stress build-up and cause the wood to crack.  If the joint involves the stocks, I'd be cautious about the impact of heat on the bag, too.

PRESS/PULL

If drying doesn't work, this is the preferred approach.  Basically we use a "wedge" to force the pieces out of the stocks without any twisting.  The basic methods are:

•  take stout weight of thread (carpet thread works really well) and start winding it tightly into the crack. As each layer presses on the one below, there's nowhere for the force to go but "up" and the sections will pop. Occasional rocking of the two pieces may facilitate the separation.  This approach is better than knives wedged into the crack because it causes no damage to the wood or ferrules and better than twisting because there is no torque.

The thread approach works well for most joints and is preferable for chanters, practice chanters and blowsticks.

• using a series of narrow, sharp knife blades and forcing them into the joint.  Beware damage to the joint (silver is soft, wood is soft, mounts are brittle), cutting yourself (this operation is a bit clumsy).  Don't use a screwdriver as it lacks sufficient surface area and you'll damage the wood.

This works acceptably for lower drone sections.

• For tuning slides, make a  "U" shaped slot in a piece of wood, wrap the tuning pin with masking tape (for protection), slip the slot over the tuning pin and put the two tips into a vice.  Hold the piece firmly against the receiver and tap the wood with a hammer.  This is a "poor man's slide hammer"
• Alternatively, cut several "U" shaped pieces to fill up the space and then wrap hemp/thread/string into one slot to force things apart.

This works for tuning pins/slides.

TWIST/TORQUE

Again, if drying doesn't work...This is a good way to break chanters and tuning pins.  For threaded blowstick mouthpieces, consider using a Dremel tool to cut down the side and split the old mouthpiece off!  A vice with rubber pads can be helpful.  Wrapping a piece with rubber tape and using pliers can work.

This approach is best for lower drone sections in stocks.