[Phlogiston]

(Chuckling a bit) no, the first part is correct. Pop the bottom loose, reach under and cut the wires and the base will be free. Now if you are lucky, a few of the spot welds on the side of the can will have failed or will with a little push. OTHERWISE, it is not as easy, but not as bad as an AK power can.

Turn the can on its back, tar side up. Drill a ~3/8 hole deep into the tar & foil & other goo. Drive a lag screw into the goo at least 2 - 3 inches. Now at this point you have the opportunity to make yourself less popular with your neighbors or your wife/kids by heating the unit with:

1. A torch
2. The BBQ grill
3. The oven/ toaster oven/ hot plate

However, if you want to avoid such notoriety, it is best to WARM the unit with a heat gun, top and sides, not the exposed tar side, for about 2 minutes with the gun on high. It is not necessary to heat it so much that the paint bubbles off. It will be too warm to hold with your hands but not so with a towel. Then ,pull the nasty out with a set of pliers, pulling on the lag screw and holding the unit with the rag or setting it so that the flanges are supported and the entire tar filled area is exposed - and pull. It is surrounded by paper, pull that out too before it cools.

You may then mount the tar-baby on a plaque as a triumph over technology and display it in a public spot, OR drop it into a paper bag before you get the tar on anything else.